03 Tacoma TPS mystery

My TPS is going out. I ordered $50 replacement but found it was 3 prong instead of needed 4 prong. Re-ordered,$107 Toyota OEM part, only to find it has the spring rotation running clockwise, while my throttle runs counter-clockwise. So now I own a non-returnable $107 TPS that I can't use. Went to Toyota dealer, they ran my VIN & said they don't even show a separate TPS for '03 Tacoma, only through '02. After that, they apparently are integral to throttle body (which doesn't seem to make sense). Anyone else have this problem, and where do I find the proper sensor?

 

yep you might need to replace the whole throttle body to get that

just checked mine and it shows that part is "not available" doesnt even show a separate part number for it

not sure how you are ordering the wrong parts because all the dealers I go to only look up parts based on my vin number so they know they are ordering the right parts

I suggest you try the salvage yard or the for sale section here for people parting out their trucks

 

Getting the wrong parts was my fault. Ordered from Parts Geek and Autopartswarehouse where they don't get sufficiently specific about make and model. I learned my lesson. You're telling me the same thing the guy at Toyota dealer said, so its probably the only route I have. What I don't understand is that the TPS comes off as a separate part and the replacements all fit perfectly, except for the fact that they either didn't have enough prongs or turned the wrong way.

 

Go to a salvage yard.

 

yes some parts do come off but are sold only as part of a whole item, in this case the TB

try here and you might find something before having to buy new: http://www.car-part.com/index.htm

you might find someone willing to sell you just the TPS from one

how do you know for sure that yours is bad?

 

The code it's throwing and when we checked, there was about a 20 degree lag between engaging the throttle and response. It wasn't my assessment, but a friend of mine who has already forgotten more about engines than I know. Thank you for the information and the site. I've had this truck for 5 yrs, but its just now starting to have issues. Of course, it just turned over 204,000 miles too, so I understand. Just replaced driveshaft carrier bearing and about to do u-joints front and rear. This seems to be the only issue that's difficult.

 

yep, these trucks keep going and going and going and they don't cost a lot to fix either