Throttle position sensor.

On my son's 2004 3.4L, the check engine light came on and it lost throttle response. He turned the truck off, started it back up and it ran fine but the check light stayed on. I plugged it up, checked the code and then cleared it (pic of code below). It ran fine one more day and happened again. I bought a new throttle position sensor and installed it today. After getting the idle adjusted a little, it ran fine for about 2 miles and the check light came on and lost throttle response. Pulled over, turned off truck , started back up and it ran fine back home but the light is still on. Any ideas what else this could be?

 

03/04 Tacomas have the 4 prong TPS sensor, not the 3 prong one that the earlier models have. Unfortunately Toyota doesn't sell it separately so most people end up having to buy an entirely new throttle body, unless you can source a used one from somewhere. Don't mess around with aftermarket sensors on these trucks as they'll almost always cause more problems than they solve

there was a thread where someone found the right 4 prong OEM TPS sensor from overseas but I can't seem to find it...if I do I'll link it in a post

 

Here this thread is a bit older but has some info in it you might find helpful

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2003-04-tacoma-tps.334363/page-2

 

You can get it now at Advance Auto. Same part # and even has Toyota on it.

 

huh, interesting...I would've thought Denso was the OE supplier but maybe not. But this is the sensor that gave you trouble after installing it?

 

Yes. It's just doing the same thing as the old one was doing. Making me think this isn't the actual problem.

 

Just in case you're wondering, here's the old one and the new one. New one is installed and old one is on the desk calendar

 

That is good to know, I had been under the impression based on outdated info that the 03/04 would most likely require a new TB if the sensor failed. Good stuff

Hope you can get to the bottom of why the issue is persisting, haven't fought with this code yet myself

 

Here's the original from my 1996 Taco. As you can see, it's a Denso part.

 

Remember it is always the complete circuit .

chewed or rubbed wires

 

Well, replacing that sensor worked for about two days and it started acting up again. This time it went to a trusted mechanic who determined the front sensor was bad and you had to buy the whole throttle body from the dealer. $600 later it's running great again. Sucks but it was the first time something has broke on it in 18 years.