2003 LV V8 - 88,000 miles. So, I'm driving to work today and the car starts feeling like it's misfiring a little. no biggie since coils showed up at the house today. then the cel light starts flashing, then as i start to try to merge on the freeway info center says "ETC Engine Failsafe mode". Great, the car won't go past 20MPH now and get get to play a game of "lets dodge 80MPH wall to wall semis in my 20MPH Car" before I can find a spot to pull over. Towed to dealer and $400 for new throttle body and TPS. UGH, just venting.
Engine Failsafe Mode = assisted suicide
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Motodrew
Well-Known LVC Member
sorry to hear about your experience, but thanks for the enertaining storY! 
LincolnTech38
Well-Known LVC Member
03s were/are notorious for problems with the drive by wire. Its usually just the TPS sensor itself. It is available sererate from the throttle body now. In the begining it wasnt. You probably didnt need the entire thing.
I also had one in today that I thought was a throttle body but it turned out to be a bad coil. #4 right by the PCM was wigging out and the electric interference from the bad coil was interfering with the ETC signal from the PCM to the Throttle motor.
Jay
I also had one in today that I thought was a throttle body but it turned out to be a bad coil. #4 right by the PCM was wigging out and the electric interference from the bad coil was interfering with the ETC signal from the PCM to the Throttle motor.
Jay
chocolat1701
Dedicated LVC Member
damn now that had to be scarry
LincolnTech38 said:
Jay this is great info. would you be so kind as to provide part #'s? dealer said they had to replace the whole thing cause they couldn't just replace TPS. I would like to throw that in their face tomorrow and maybe get a discount. thanks a bunch!
JES_LS
Dedicated LVC Member
glad to hear that you survived the 'moment'.
But that is a prime example of why I do not want electronicly moderated fly by wire in one of my vehicles.
Don't get me wrong, a potentiometer and a linear motor (or rotary step motor) would have been great for the packaging job I had when I stuffed a tbird sc motor in what was a four cylinder mustang.. It took about three tries to get a cable to run from the gas pedal to the throttle body arm without trying to route it through a solid object or turn to tight a bend.
But I do not want anymore interference in the interface between my control inputs and the reactions of the vehicle.
But that is a prime example of why I do not want electronicly moderated fly by wire in one of my vehicles.
Don't get me wrong, a potentiometer and a linear motor (or rotary step motor) would have been great for the packaging job I had when I stuffed a tbird sc motor in what was a four cylinder mustang.. It took about three tries to get a cable to run from the gas pedal to the throttle body arm without trying to route it through a solid object or turn to tight a bend.
But I do not want anymore interference in the interface between my control inputs and the reactions of the vehicle.
WOW! This is exactly my problem! First time the Stealership said TPS/TB, replaced the whole thing for $350 CDN! The stalling, CEL happened again about 1 month after that! Then a few more times in the next 2 months. Stealership then says it's a bad coil and plug in the #6 Cylinder (I think it was #6) causing interference. Anyway, $250 for that, and it HAPPENS AGAIN, a couple more times. This time, I realize I can actually drive it in this condition. Call the Stealership and tell them I'm driving it in doing 60Km/h (25Mph) on the expressway. I get it in, they hook it up and tell me it's only running on 3 cylinders ('03 V6). They end up replacing my PCM ($1200CDN, which they covered even though my warranty has expired 1 year ago). Guess what?? It has happened 2 more times in the 3 weeks I've had the car back.
How do you know which coil is bad??? It's hella expensive to replace them all, but if I have to.....
How do you know which coil is bad??? It's hella expensive to replace them all, but if I have to.....
well I'll be damned if the thing didn't go into limp mode 1 mile after i left the dealership. unfortunately they were closed so I drove country roads all the way home and sure enough it was the #4 coil! So how would you all suggest I get my $$$ back from the dealership?????