Short answer
On a GM engine with a cable throttle, the TPS is usually a separate three-wire sensor on the throttle body. On engines with an electronic throttle, the sensors are usually built into the throttle body. Diagnose with codes and a sweep test, then buy by VIN or the number on your old part. ACDelco is GM’s own parts brand; Standard Motor Products, Delphi, Dorman, Walker and Hitachi also sell GM-fit sensors.
First: which kind of throttle does your Chevy have?
Open the hood and follow the intake tube from the air filter to where it meets the engine. That is the throttle body. If a cable from the gas pedal connects to a pulley on it, your Chevy has a cable throttle and the TPS is normally a separate sensor on the end of the throttle shaft. If there is no cable and the throttle body has a motor housing, it is an electronic (drive by wire) throttle, and the position sensors are usually built in. TPS vs throttle body explains the difference.
What is specific to GM
Older GM fuel-injected engines used a separate three-wire TPS, and listings such as Dorman’s 3-wire GM sensor still cover 1990s Buick, Chevrolet and Pontiac models. Some of those sensors are adjustable: BBK’s instructions for 1985 to 1997 Tuned Port and LT1 throttle bodies note that Tuned Port sensors are factory slotted and set to the factory voltage with a digital voltmeter. See how to adjust a TPS.
Many GM engines since then use electronic throttle bodies, where the fix for a sensor fault is usually the throttle body. RepairPal’s estimate for a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze throttle body replacement is $346 to $495, mostly parts (RepairPal).
Search terms such as LS, Duramax and specific model years all lead back to the same question: is your sensor separate, and what part number fits? Your VIN answers both.
Chevy TPS symptoms and codes
The symptoms are the same as on any vehicle: hesitation, surging, a rough or high idle, stalling, odd automatic shifts, and reduced power on electronic throttles. The generic codes are the same too:
Generic OBD-II throttle position codes. Titles from OBD-Codes.com; your maker may word them differently.
| Code | Generic title | In plain English | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| P0120 | Throttle Position Sensor/Switch A Circuit Malfunction | The signal is outside the range the computer expects. | P0120 guide |
| P0121 | Throttle Position Sensor/Switch A Circuit Range/Performance | The signal does not match what the engine is doing (RPM, airflow). | P0121 guide |
| P0122 | Throttle Position Sensor/Switch A Circuit Low Input | The signal voltage is too low, often an open or a short to ground. | P0122 guide |
| P0123 | Throttle Position Sensor/Switch A Circuit High Input | The signal voltage is too high, often a lost ground or a short to voltage. | P0123 guide |
| P0124 | Throttle Position Sensor/Switch A Circuit Intermittent | The signal drops in and out: wiring, a connector or a worn track. | Codes hub |
| P2135 | Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor/Switch A/B Voltage Correlation | The two sensors in an electronic throttle body disagree. | P2135 guide |
Chevy may add its own related codes and word the titles differently. Your service information has the exact set conditions.
Testing a Chevy TPS
The method is the standard one: check the 5 V reference and the ground, then back-probe the signal and sweep the throttle slowly, looking for jumps and dropouts. On electronic throttles, watch both throttle signals in live data while pressing the pedal rather than forcing the plate. Full steps: how to test a TPS sensor.
Buying a TPS for your Chevy
-
01
ACDelco (GM OE)
Best for: an exact match to the original
- GM’s own parts brand
- Usually the highest price
-
02
Delphi
Best for: an OE-supplier aftermarket option
- Former GM parts arm
- Sensor line includes TPS
Source: Aftermarket News: Delphi expands OE replacement sensors
-
03
Standard Motor Products or Dorman
Best for: lower-cost replacements
- Wide GM coverage
- Match by part number
Brand notes: the TPS brand table on the home page. Cost: TPS replacement cost. Install: how to replace a TPS sensor.
Questions people ask
Can a Chevy TPS be adjusted?
Some older GM sensors can. BBK’s instructions for 1985 to 1997 GM Tuned Port and LT1 throttle bodies say Tuned Port sensors are factory slotted and should be set to the factory voltage with a digital voltmeter. Most others mount through round holes and are not adjustable.
Is ACDelco better than aftermarket?
ACDelco is GM’s parts brand and is the exact match by design. Aftermarket sensors usually cost less. Whichever you choose, match it to your VIN or the old part number.
Where is the TPS on a Chevy truck?
On the throttle body, at the end of the throttle shaft. Follow the air intake tube to the engine; the throttle body is where it bolts on. The exact side and access vary by engine.
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-10-12. General guidance only: specs, procedures and fitment vary by vehicle, so confirm in your service manual and on the listing before you buy or wrench.