When the throttle position sensor on your Pontiac Grand AM goes bad it can wreak havoc on your driving despite being such a simple and easy fix. Here we talk…
When the throttle position sensor on your Pontiac Grand AM goes bad it can wreak havoc on your driving despite being such a simple and easy fix. Here we talk…
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No I haven’t solved my issue yet. I took it today to Advanced Auto and they tested it with a device that threw off a C1225 code something to do with ABS. I then took it to Auto Zone and they didn’t even bother testing it. The guy told me if I don’t get any light there is no reason to test it. I Think I just might have to take it to a shop. The transmission sounds like it is hitting hard now when it stalls. Still starts and rides fine it just stalls when I stop.
I’m having this exact same issue with my 2000 grand am. Did you ever find out what was wrong with it?
also it idles rough but i also found out as long as my ac is off it DOES NOT DIE but still idles rough,anyone have any info for me?
Above 40mph is when i notice a skip or surge like its holding back…it will kick down and go but i feel a surge almost.
2001 Pontiac Grand Am GT 3400. Runs and idles fine drives good around town…i do notice a surge when putting 3/4 gas pedal to the floor or more it acts like a skip or surge.What could be the problem?
same EXACT problem im having,it drives alright giving gas once it idles or comes to a stop it starts rumbling and shuts off or soon after i take off it dies,but it always starts up,mines a 2001 grand am se 2.4L
I have a 99 grand am that has a rough idol. I can feel the car shaking from time to time while it idols and the car has stalled at red lights and stop signs. There are times when I press on the gas and notice it hesitates before I can get moving. I was wondering if the sensor mentioned in your video could be the culprit causing these problems.
I have a 1990 V6 3.1 firebird with a similar setup. I had a code 21 thrown when the car was having all kinds of stalling and bad idle. Found out the TPS was bad. Replaced it, but in the process I snapped a screw head off. The bottom one is still serviceable so I tightened down on it, but the head is stripped so I couldn’t do much. I can’t seem to find a suitable replacement and can’t get the other screw out. If I end up getting a new screw, will one suffice?
Does your vehicle throw any codes? No codes = get transmission checked.
I am having shifting problems on my 02 Grand AM SE. At times the transmission does not want to shift until I let up on the gas. I have replaced all the censors,throttle position censor and all spark plugs and wires. I don’t know what else to try. Thanks
I have a 2004 Grand Am with the 2.2L Ecotec 4 cylinder motor with a 5 speed manual transmission. Sometimes it will die on me when I put the clutch to stop. Doesn’t do it while normal shifting. It has always restarted immediately. Seems to happen only when warmed up. Any ideas?
Thanks!
Ok great Ty! Just type in Theymightberacing in the search on fb?
I answer questions here, or you can ask them on our Facebook page.
Hey I have a couple questions, is there anyway you could email me plz? My email address is breanna12303@yahoo.com thank u so much!
You’re going to need to start doing manual diagnostics on your car. Step 1: Go buy the repair manual (e.g. Haynes or Chilton). Step 2. Buy a multimeter (if you don’t already have one). Step 3. Use the multimeter to test all of the ignition components one by one following the instructions in the manual.
my is saying it has 3 incompletes on sencers but it dont tell me what ones I dont even know what that means
1 out of 3
I have a 99 grand prix most of the time the trans.works great till it warms up and uou drive it awhile then 1 out of time but randomly when I stop and only then it acts like the trans is slipping but after it starts working I can take my foot of the gas and gas it again and its good like it never happened once I get moving its good I dont have any codes can the tps cause this and if so is there any way to make sure before I buy one
Btw, this might be a weird question, but there are two cables going to my throttle plate “actuator?”. One cable is pulling from the gas pedal, and the other one is from the cruise control ? I guess?
They do not have the same slack. Do you know of any “cable related issues” that can screw with your engine like that?
That was one of the first tests I conducted. I used a vacuum gauge on my intake manifold and was revving it according to instructions, then I used a IR thermometer to scan before cat temperature, and after cat temperature. Everything checked out fine. I have some posts under the name “Roughshod” on GAOC forum (Grandam owners). You can see everything I was advised and tried out. I wanna figure it out before I burn this garbage car down. My next car: Made in Japan — accept no substitutes.
my car is surging like that (2002 grand am gt) thought it was trans at first but then i realized it was driving just fine sometimes, so i dont think its that. then it threw a code and i changed my egr valve. replaced that and it still bogs down when going up hill and if i punch it down.. very slow acceleration and poor shifting. i now believe i for sure have a clogged catalytic converter after doing a bunch of research.. id look into that napornik
I had a check up done at a tranny shop where the guy took a large computer/scanner and we drove until the car made those surges and he said my tranny is a-OK.
I found a cable on the internet that hooks up to a laptop (and software with it) and I can read and record all data while driving. $35. Bette rthan a $250 OBD II reader that can record.
I am a owner of a 2004 grand am and one thing that I realized is that if your transmission is shifting poorly, then maybe it may be time to change your transmission fluid and filter. I did this when I first brought my Grand Am because it was accelerating and shifting poorly, but after changing the fluid and filter It started shifting smooth until about 35,000 miles later. I am due for another transmission fluid and filter right now and I can tell because it’s doing the same thing like before.
Well, it goes back to my initial concern. That sort of behavior can be from any number of different issues. The TPS is only one source. What bothers me the most is that there are no codes. That generally indicates that the engine is operating correctly. I’m thinking it may be time to take it to a mechanic. It’s entirely possible that the problem is somewhere in the transmission, which may prove to be too expensive to make repairing it worthwhile. It’s hard diagnosing over the internet.
I got two TPSs from two cars in a scrapyard. Installed them and drove on highway. Same story. No change. I don’t easily give up, but this car’s enigmatic rpm surges at a specific load is costing me years off of my life. ;/
There really isn’t a good way to test the TPS as it’s a potentiometer. There’s no on/off status or the like. Basically speaking, if you backprobe the device you should see a growing voltage as the TPS is turned with a minimum voltage closed and a maximum voltage open. The challenge is that the TPS may turn just fine when you’re turning it, but not necessarily when it’s installed.
I took the sensor off yesterday. Now… How do I test the sucker?
That may be the TPS. It’s not hard to get to, so I recommend testing it. That being said, it concerns me when people mention issues but state that there’s no diagnostic codes, as that can also be indicative of transmission issues.
Also, when I push harder on the gas, it downshifts OK, or when I manually go from D to 3, it will downshift. Only under that specific load does the car do this weird little rpm surging and failing to downshift. No codes of course.
Then found your video.
My 2000 Grand Am runs fine in all situations except when on the highway. There if my gas pedal is giving it a “medium load” or it encounters a slight hill at ~80kmh, the car behaves as if it cannot shift. It hesitates, rpms go up and down, exactly as if the tranny is “hunting” for a gear and changing its mind. Went to tranny place, had it checked, they said my tranny is 100% OK. Other dude told me about plastic square on TPS that get worn out, and that might be the problem!! (continued)
Good description, horrible camera placement. He’s saying “unscrew this and “here it is” yet the stupid camera never let’s yoy see what’s going on.
Helpful thanks.
anybody know how to fix a gas padal on a grand am? if so what do i need to do lol its loose (been that way ever since i got the car) just wasnt worry about it till now as it got more loose so how do i fix it..
Thank you, I had notices whitish plugs but didn’t know that meant lean burn.
Well, there’s multiple points that could be causing the issue. Is the car throwing any codes? If it is, then figure out the source of the code. If it isn’t, then I’d recommend removing a plug or two and examining them. Dark black plugs = oil burn or too much gas. White powdery plugs = lean burn. If it’s lean run some fuel injector cleaner through it.
I would try google or buy a manual for your car.
1997 pontiac grand am crank sensor location?
Maybe you could send some knowledge my way. I have a 1992 Pontiac grand am that starts fine, but when you push the gas to move it bogs down and almost dies. It has very little power while traveling down the road. The fuel filter and O2 sensor have been ruled out as the problem. I’m stumped.
Thank you so much for this video, my sensor just went yesterday. Diagnostic pulled up this as the only code. The video was a huge help
Awesome video. A little eye opening considering I just put a cold air intake on my Malibu… Lol Thanks for the post.
… it will start hard or rough and seem like it barely caught or like it may stall then rev up and then idle normal… any ideas??
I have the same car same year and when in park running and idling sometimes it will rev up to 1500 rpm or 2000 rpm by itself.. it hasn’t done that in a while but recently I changed the spark plugs wires and the serpentine belt. It now starts hard and idles rough, the rpm doesnt jump up and down the car just vibrates and runs rougher and as I said starts hard, sometimes before that it took longer to start it would turn over but not actually start right away. No it starts but starts hard for ex..
i have a grand am that is accelerating and will drive on its own as if its stuck on cruise control … i looked around someone said it might be the tps sensor do you think this is true
You’re a great teacher! Informative and professional - consider voice-over acting/teaching work! My new-to-me 2001 Chev Astro has a similar problem – high rpm at idle – I mistakenly loosened the Cruise Control cable, as I could still close the Throttle Plate a little by hand and jarred the CC cable in doing so. Reduced from 1200 to 600… BUT, I think TPS is the culprit! Will change asap. These new cars- ugh – I prefer my ’94 Astro – simpler and easier for large hands to access! Thoughts?