Powertrain, generic · Fuel and air metering

P0124 Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor/Switch A Circuit Intermittent

Check engine lightOn
EmissionsRelevant
Drive cycleNot required
Limp modePossible

Sensor A is, in practice, throttle position sensor 1 at the throttle body; the accelerator pedal has its own codes (P2120 onwards). With a cable-operated throttle there is a single potentiometer (about 0.5 V closed to 4.5 V wide open). Electronic throttles have two sensors sharing a 5 V reference and ground, usually running in opposite directions – on GM throttle sensor 1 falls from 3–4 V at idle to below 1 V at full throttle. P0124 covers short, recurring dropouts of sensor A. The only manufacturer source naming it is Ford's 2020–2023 summary for digital SENT throttle sensors: an error lasting more than 0.4 s sets P0124, one lasting more than 4 s sets P0120, so brief dropouts are kept apart from lasting faults; MIL and wrench lamp come on. GM does not use P0124 in the tables checked – its low/high monitors already catch intermittent shorts. For analogue sensors the description rests on CARB and component information. Typical causes are loose contacts, a chafed harness or a worn potentiometer track.

Likely causes

Loose contact in the connector (spread terminals, corrosion)
Chafed or partly broken wire in the harness
Worn potentiometer track (dropout at a certain position)
Sensor electronics faulty (SENT)

Symptoms

  • Check engine light, possibly only intermittently
  • Brief hesitation or power drop
  • Limp mode that disappears after restart
  • Rough idle

Repair estimate

DifficultyMediumDIY possible
Parts and labour€20–450
Time0.5–2.5 h

Typical range across vehicles; the real cost depends on what the testing finds.

Parts involved

throttle position sensorthrottle bodysensor wiringsensor reference voltage

Related codes

P0120P0122P0123P0224P2135U0606

References: law.cornell.edu, fordservicecontent.com, saabwisonline.com.