Electronic Throttle Body Vs Throttle Position Sensor

Post by **St33lers33** » 01 Dec 2011, 15:10

I am trying to determine whether my 2000 volvo S70 is experiencing difficulty due to the Electronic Throttle Module or could it be the Throttle Position Sensor only since the cost of one is so much greater than the other. First, my volvo can experience a lack of response when pressing the gas pedal, then when things seem to catch up, the car will surge. While driving the car, it will continue to surge and hesitate while the gas pedal remains in one position. One mechanic says possible Electronic Throttle Module will be needed but can only be done by a dealer. The cost at the dearer is $1051.00. The dealer says that the warranty or recall on this item has expired so there is no other option. A second opinion said that what am describing sounds like what a bad Throttle Position Sensor would make a car act like. Cost of new sensor $52.00. Big difference in prices or are all of these things linked together in order repair the car. Any ideas, thoughts or knowlege of my plight?
I am asking because i bought this car out of an older persons garage in mint condition with only 60,000 mile for $3,000. I love the car and i would like to keep it, but in these tough economic times, it doesn't seem worth it to put a lot of money in to anything without the proper information to ensure things are being done correctly.

Post by **jblackburn** » 01 Dec 2011, 15:52

There are both a pedal position sensor and the electronic throttle body.

What it sounds like to me is the throttle body. You can try cleaning it yourself, but if it doesn't have a yellow sticker on it already, chances are the throttle body itself is going out.

Whatever you do, please go the XxModex route and don't pay that much for a new throttle body that will only fail again. It's a crap design by Volvo.

You can find a lot more reading on this subject here:
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... m.php?f=12
If you want me to move your topic to that room, I can do that as well.

I'd have the codes read by a Volvo dealer before you go forward with it - if you have the ETM or Check Engine lights on, it should tell you exactly what's wrong.

Post by **JRL** » 01 Dec 2011, 18:07

That car with that mileage is worth some bucks if the cosmetics match the mileage so whatever it is, fix it!
If it's determined to be the ETM you can go with the permanent XeMODex unit for about $500.
Read all about it here:
www.xemodex.com

Post by **mikealder** » 03 Dec 2011, 08:22

The only way to tell which part is at fault is to get the fault codes read, it most probably is the Electronic Throttle Motor bolted to the inlet manifold but it is possible the throttle pedal position transmitter has failed although this is quite a rare failure compared to the ETM - Mike

jake 32137 · Post by **jake 32137** » 14 Jun 2016, 15:52

http://www.volvowiringdiagrams.com/volv ... iagram.pdf

Post by **j-dawg** » 14 Jun 2016, 19:39

The throttle position sensor is the part in the ETM that goes bad. Unless the second opinion refers to the pedal position sensor, the TPS and ETM are the same thing.

Given that the ETM tends to fail due to abrasion, it'd be weird to have it fail so early: they tend to fail every ~100k, and time shouldn't affect the component as it does belts, bushings, etc. But it's probably still more likely that than the pedal sensor.

Congrats to the Pens. As a former (briefly - not quite two years) Pittsburgh resident, I kinda wished I was still there this week. Fantastic place. I miss it.