2007 V6 Accord 6speed Coupe with 80,000 miles
For the past few weeks I’ve noticed some random minor hesitations when accelerating hard. Two days ago I got a CEL and VSA off warning. Speed dropped and the throttle became unresponsive. I pulled over and restarted the car. It ran OK for the 10 miles or so it took to get home with Check Engine Light on and Vehicle Stability Assist warning off. I checked with a scan tool and got P2138 Code, THROTTLE/PEDAL POSITION SENSOR SWITCH D/E VOLTAGE. Freeze Frame data had TP 16.5% and TP-R 8.2% at 52mph and 1821 RPM. I assume the TP_R is a redundant or reference signal. I understand that Honda does not mirror the signals, and that they are at different voltages that are continuously compared. I looked at live data with ignition on, engine not running: TP CLOSED THROTTLE 18%, TP FULL THROTTLE 78.8%, TP_R CLOSED THROTTLE 8.2%, TP_R FULL THROTTLE 92.5%.
With two previous 94 Accords I found that intermittent problems with the starter motors on a wagon and sedan as well the fuel level sensors on both cars were all caused by connector plugs that needed cleaning rather than bad components, so I disconnected the plugs to the Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor and the Throttle Position Sensor and cleaned them with Deoxit. I also see that the factory manual suggests looking at the connectors for corrosion or burning. Since then, the car has been running fine with no hesitation that I could notice for two days. It seems the problem is more likely with the APP sensor than with the TP sensor. Also, the factory manual only mentions the APP sensor for this code. I’m due to make a long trip in a week and I am concerned that the problem will recur in heavy traffic on I-95. I would like to avoid buying a new APP sensor because the problem might have just been the connector or it could somehow be the TPS. I’ve read that the CEL and limp home mode are triggered by more than 2 seconds of uncorrelated data. Does anyone know if this is cumulative, all of the little hesitations adding up, or was there a full 2 seconds of bad data during the last incident. Also, would it be worth it to look at the throttle plate to see if it needs cleaning?
Yes it could be corrosion check that but if not that generally it is the pedal sensor itself inside the car
The pedal position sensor is actually on the firewall in the engine compartment on the passenger side, actuated by a cable coming from the the accelerator pedal. Signal is sent back to the ECU inside the passenger compartment and then more wiring goes back out to the throttle body on the driver's side. THANKS!