Login Register

Code P0120 - Throttle Position Sensor

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

Post Reply
Dmck
Posts: 65
Joined: 29 June 2018
Year and Model: 1995 850
Location: Austin, TX
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 3 times

Code P0120 - Throttle Position Sensor

Post by Dmck »

Hi all,

So after battling my car back from the grave (blown head gasket from broken water pump propeller) all I have left as a check engine code is for the throttle body position sensor

I already went to junkyard and switched out the throttle position sensor with another one. It could be possible I used a bad one again...

Other than it being the sensor itself, what other issues could be causing this code to fire?

It would be great to not have the check engine lights glow burning a hole in my brain.

User avatar
erikv11
Posts: 11800
Joined: 25 July 2009
Year and Model: 850, V70, S60R, XC70
Location: Iowa
Has thanked: 292 times
Been thanked: 765 times

Post by erikv11 »

How is the TPS connector on the wiring harness, and the little pigtail back to the main harness? Maybe a wire got pinched etc.

How about the fuel relay under the radiator cowl, is it connected well and its connector not falling apart? I have read of problems with this relay affecting the TPS, but I've never checked out the wiring diagram to try to understand why.
'95 854 T-5R, Motronic 4.4, 185k
'98 V70, T5 tune-injectors-turbo, LPT engine, 304k, daily driver
'06 S60 R, 197k
'07 XC70, black, 205k
'07 XC70, willow green, 212k
'99 Camry V6 :shock: 153k
gone: '96 NA 850 210k, '98 NA V70 182k, '98 S70 NA 225k, '96 855 NA 169k

Dmck
Posts: 65
Joined: 29 June 2018
Year and Model: 1995 850
Location: Austin, TX
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 3 times

Post by Dmck »

I'll look into it. I fooled around with the wire a tiny bit this morning and reseated it into the TPS

When I first start ignition the check engine light isn't on. It takes a second to click on.

If I start the engine and then rev it or take out of park, it turns on right at that moment of either of those actions.

If it were wiring I would think it would be an automatic check light and not delayed, but not sure.

I'm going to take off the intercooler tube tonight and fiddle

User avatar
misha
Posts: 5379
Joined: 7 December 2008
Year and Model: '97 850 2.5 20v
Location: Serbia
Has thanked: 152 times
Been thanked: 402 times

Post by misha »

Dmck wrote: 07 Aug 2018, 13:29 ...If it were wiring I would think it would be an automatic check light and not delayed, but not sure...
No...the ecu will need to go through about 3 check cycles before it sets check engine light ON.
'97 850 2.5 20v / fully equipped / Motronic 4.4 from the factory / upgraded with S,V,C,XC70 instrument cluster / polar white wagon
History of Volvos in the family:
'71 144 S
'73 144 De Luxe
'78 244 DL
'78 244 DL
'79 244 GLE
'85 340 GLS

marcello916
Posts: 1
Joined: 30 October 2025
Year and Model: 1996 850 turbo plat
Location: sacramento

Post by marcello916 »

Dmck wrote: 07 Aug 2018, 13:29 I'll look into it. I fooled around with the wire a tiny bit this morning and reseated it into the TPS

When I first start ignition the check engine light isn't on. It takes a second to click on.

If I start the engine and then rev it or take out of park, it turns on right at that moment of either of those actions.

If it were wiring I would think it would be an automatic check light and not delayed, but not sure.

I'm going to take off the intercooler tube tonight and fiddle
did you ever figure out the issue? i have the same problem right now and the check engine lights is annoying me

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post