Guide To P0124 OBD Error Code Solutions

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Circuit Low Input codes read when there is a low battery voltage (that does come with many possible outcomes), where negative connections are being sent across electrical connectors or earlier fixed wiring, including damage in electrical connections.

Low input voltages are the result of other possible causes that include insufficient poor installation of aftermarket parts, bad quality aftermarket parts like fuses, relays and switches, and moderation of the electrical system that may come with using conductors not valued for use for a certain application. Regardless, negative connections frequently cause high resistances in some of the circuit’s parts, making it crucial to execute resistance and progressive checks during the procedure of diagnosis.

What causes this problem with the Throttle Position Sensor/Switch A Circuit?

• Faulty or unmodified TPS
• Open or shorted TPS "A" wiring or connectors
• Tethered or damaged throttle plate
• Defected PCM or a PCM programming error

1. Boost Pressure Sensor - With a faltering boost pressure sensor, you will notice a loss of boost power and a decrease in engine efficiency. When there is damage to your boost pressure sensor that means you should replace it to keep your turbocharged car from losing its effectiveness.
2. Turbocharger - Low oil levels may induce the turbocharger to fail, this means excessive heat and friction will eventually disintegrate the bearings that are inside. As a result, you need to replace the turbocharger or use internal lubricants to make sure the parts are moving fast and accurately.
3. Supercharger - A supercharger can start failing for a range of reasons, such as a poor level of supercharger oil, broke down pulley, and overheating or faulty seals/gaskets. If your car's supercharger is not performing correctly, it had to be replaced immediately.
4. Knock Sensor - When checking a knock sensor, be sure there are no damaged terminal or no damaged wires and connections. A faulty knock sensor decreases your car’s performance, effects the fuel economy and results in pricey damage to your engine, so it’s important to get that correct knock sensor for your kind of car make.
5. Spark Plug - A defective spark plug might happen when acceleration is slow, power is at loss, fuel economy is low, engine misfires, and car has difficulty starting. In conclusion, it is highly recommended to replace your spark every 30 months or 30,000 miles your car is running.
6. Intake Manifold - A leak in the intake manifold can put cautious aftermath on your car's engine, inducing the manifold to suck in extra air from outside through the source of leak, causing more air to access intake ports and hinder with the air-fuel ratio in the cylinders. You should consider replacing the faulty manifold right away to stop any further damage from harming your car's engine.
7. Boost Pressure Gauge - If the boost pressure gauge is defective, you will notice a reduction of boost power and decrease of efficiency in your engine. If there is corrosion to your boost pressure sensor, you should have it replaced to keep your turbocharged car from losing its quality of power.
8. Powertrain Control Module - A defective PCM may cause your car to fail in starting or begin to stall when running. In addition, low emissions can happen because of the incompetence in controlling the emissions system, so if your PCM is not working properly, you should have it replaced right away.
9. Engine Control Module - Your car may be unable to start even after making sure that the battery and starter are working accurately. If your car's problems wind down to a defective engine control module, you need to replace it as soon as possible to stop further intense risks to harming your car.
10. Wastegate - If too much exhaust gas is passed through the turbine, the unit can speed too much, inducing mechanical stress on it and can cause all sorts of problems, for instance fragmented shafts, faltered compressor wheels, or a torrent to the engine's internals and power delivery. It’s appropriate to adjust the turbo itself and replace an upscale version with one specially designed for the job.

The TPS engages in an important part of engine drivability, thereby a stored code P0124 should be called forward at a level of swift action. Symptoms of a P0124 code may include:

Common Symptoms

• Pausing at full speed increase
• Engine exhaust emits black smoke (especially on startup)
• Engine startup delays (specifically on cold start)
• Waning fuel efficiency
• Supplied emissions equivalent codes may provide a P0124

The OBD Code P0124 problems can be fixed with some of these common solutions for your particular car engine;

• If having a scan tool to access, see what functionality the idle and WOT (wide open throttle) readings bring for the TPS. Detect if they're close to the identifications brought up from above. If not the case, then exchange the TPS and re-examine.
• If you don’t notice problems, then carry out a wiggle test. To achieve this by wiggling the connector and harness as you watch the pattern. Does it successfully drop out? If does so, exchange TPS and re-detect.
• If you don’t have a TPS signal, then check at the connector for 5 Volt references. If presently in view, detect the ground circuit for open or shorts.
• Ensure that the signal circuit is not 12V. It shouldn’t ever have battery voltage. If so, trace the circuit for short to voltage and fix. 

View for any sign of water in the connector and exchange TPS as needed.

It’s beneficial to always check for technical service bulletins (TSB) in advance for your specific car. You may have a known issue with your engine that has a known fix easily sought by the manufacturer that can save you time and money during this diagnosis. It is common to use a diagnostic scanner, a digital volt/ohmmeter (DVOM) and a precise car information source (ALL DATA DIY) to diagnose a code P0124. 

• A diagnosis that is successful typically starts with a visual detection of all system equivalent wiring and connectors. It is wise to test the throttle plate for any signs of carbon coking or damage. Fix or replace faulty wiring or parts as needed, then redetect the throttle body and TPS. Connect the scanner to the diagnostic connector; receive all stocked trouble codes and write them down for future referral. Just in case, keep any equivalent frame data. These methods are helpful to take note of if stocking code proves to be irregular. Next thing to do is clear the codes and test-drives the car.
• Keep on with the diagnosis if the code has reset. If not reset, the state has to worsen before making a correct diagnosis. Run the car normally until the PCM enters scanning mode or the code has reset.
• Continue by detecting for technical service bulletins (TBS) that contribute to the certain function failure (and car) as an inquiry by consulting your car information source. If relevant, use the information held in the rightful TSB to assist with your diagnosis.
• The scanner data stream may give helpful data in regards to errors and infrequencies in the throttle position sensor. If narrowing the scanner data stream to showcase only proper data, you will get a more exact data response.
• If having detected no errors, use the DVOM to test the TPS. Using the DVOM provides access to live data if the correct test leads are connected to the ground and signal circuits. Visualize the DVOM display when performing the throttle on a manual status. View for any errors in voltage as the throttle is slowly motivated from the closed position to wide-open throttle. Voltage is usually in a range from 5-volts at closed throttle to 4.5-volts at wide-open throttle. If errors or other changes are observed, surmise that the sensor being examined is faulty or unfixed.

Additional Diagnostic Notes:

• If having replaced the TPS and continuing to supply a P0124, consult the car information source to request TPS adjustment specs
• Use the DVOM (with the test leads connected to the ground and signal circuits) to repair the TPS correctly

Common Mistakes When Diagnosing The P0124 Code

• Not visually inspecting for the source of the problem first
• Not scanning, documenting, clearing and retesting the codes to verify any failures before attempting any repairs
• Replacing the TPS sensor without verifying through tests that there is a problem
• Not comparing TPS sensor A and B to be within specification before and after repair or replacements