2005 civic lx auto- bought 3 mos ago, no warrantee- here's the whole story in case it helps:

1 month ago car unable to accelerate after stopping at red light with a noise as if I am pressing gas with it in park, yellow malfunction lamp comes on. As manual said, gas cap WAS loose- then car drives fine and light goes off after 3 trips.

Few weeks later same light and weird driving, gas cap may have been loose- didn’t feel like it- but then car drives fine and light goes off after 3 trips.


Few days later- light on and weird driving but gas cap is NOT loose and light doesn’t go out. Car can drive at higher speeds but cannot accelerate after I slow down a lot or stop. Have to restart car at every red light to get it to accelerate a little better. Mechanic pulls a p0122 code (tps malfunction and may be an intermittent problem) but he says cannot replace only the tps, need whole throttle body. Resets the code so light goes out and drives ok, but light comes on 3 trips later, again just after accelerating. Mech resets it again and its ok- but seems to lurch forward as if I’m slamming on the brakes while at low speeds or coming to a rolling stop. Accelerating very slowly seems to keep the light out and car driveable for this week.

Looking online- people say TB can be cleaned, mechanic says no, Honda says yes. Other say wiring problem, mech said “wires looked ok” Honda says maybe. Both say maybe to the TB replacement.

Honda charges $120 for diagnostic, which they say may or may not lead them to the definite solution. Labor $109/hr. TB itself is $350 through Honda which they say I should not get anywhere else. Mech said code says computer may have to be reset so he didn’t think he could do it. But honda says anyone can replace it and comp doesn’t have to be reset.


Bottom line and questions-------who should I believe? Everyone says the TB itself rarely has to be replaced. In the interest of being poor not getting ripped off, should I skip the diagnostic and just get the TB part and have my mech do it? Can I get it anywhere but Honda? Should I get the honda diagnostic in case its just dirty or worse, wiring problem that my mech doesn’t see? Is cleaning even possible or a culprit of the symptoms described? Did having a loose gas cap too often break the Tps?

Has anyone had the same problems described and what was the solution?

Thanks I am a clueless chic if you haven’t figured it out, with no smart men around who know **** about cars!

 

sounds similar to a not-so-common problem on the s2000. i'm guessing the TB has a TPS made by Denso? for some reason, the sensor is only sold w/ the complete throttle body assembly. anyways, people have taken the sensor off (a couple screws) then replaced it w/ another generic one. the sensor might require a little modification to the mounting holes though.

if you want to test the throttle position sensor yourself, grab an obdii scanner that can display sensor data. it should display the throttle posistion as a percentage. as you step on the gas, the % should increase until you reach 100%. do this w/ the engine off but the key in the on position. if the % jumps around and is non-linear, the sensor is likely bad.

 

The TPS is part of the throttle body, but it can be removed and replaced. You don't need to replace the whole throttle body. https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-2001-2005-78/02-civic-tps-question-2435378/

The problem is that the TPS is (from what I can tell after a brief Google search) more than half the price of a new throttle body. I'd look for a used Civic that I could nab one from, before I spent money on a new one.

However, if you wanted to buy a new throttle body, you can get one online for $229.95 Click Here

 

thanks so much for the help!

So if bought from that honda site, I just need the body for $230 and not any valves, washers, spacers, gaskets ect????

 

there's probably a gasket you need...on some cars, the tb gasket is very expensive...
check hondaautomotiveparts.com

 

The Service Manual says to replace the gasket that goes between the TB and the intake manifold. It's only $10.42 Click Here

After you replace the throttle body (if you do it that way) you'll need to do the following.

- Refill the radiator.
- Adjust the throttle cable
- Adjust the cruise control cable (if you've got it)
- Do the *Idle Relearn Process.

*
1. Make sure all electrical items are off.
2. Start the engine and hold it at 3,000 RPM without load (in Park or neutral) until the radiator fan comes on, or until the engine coolant temperature reaches 194° (90c)
3. Let the engine idle for about 5 minutes with the throttle fully closed.

If the radiator fan does come on, do not include its running time in the 5 minutes.

 

wow Thank you so much for the research and help.....if anyone needs physical therapy advice let me know hahahah thats about all I am good for. ahah thanks

 

No problem. That's why we're here. (well.. some of us, anyway)