P2119 means Throttle Actuator Control Throttle Body Range/Performance. The electronic throttle plate is not moving to the position the computer commands, or is moving too slowly. It is a generic OBD-II code, so the definition is the same on any make, but the most likely cause varies by engine; confirm with a scan tool and the service information for your vehicle before buying parts.
What P2119 means
Most vehicles built in the last two decades use electronic throttle control instead of a throttle cable: the accelerator pedal carries two or three position sensors, and the throttle body has a motor and two position sensors of its own. The computer compares the redundant sensors constantly, and any disagreement triggers reduced-power mode as a safety measure. Older engines with a throttle cable control idle with a separate idle air control valve.
P2119 symptoms
- Reduced power or limp mode
- Rough or high idle
- Stalling
- Check engine light
Common causes of P2119
- Carbon buildup on the throttle plate
- Failing throttle body motor or gears
- Ice or debris in the throttle body
- Wiring or connector fault
How to diagnose P2119
- Inspect and clean the throttle body
- Compare commanded and actual throttle position on a scan tool
- Check the throttle body connector
Can you drive with P2119?
Use caution; the engine may go into reduced power.
P2119 tips
Do not push the throttle plate open by hand on an electronic throttle body with the key on; clean it with the key off and battery disconnected if the procedure calls for it.
Will P2119 clear itself?
If the fault stops, the computer turns off the check engine light by itself after several drive cycles without seeing it again, and the code stays in memory as history for a while. Clearing P2119 with a scan tool after a repair is fine, but if the cause is still there the code returns, sometimes within one drive. Disconnecting the battery also clears codes on most vehicles, but it erases learned fuel trims and idle settings as well.
Related codes
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| P2101 | Throttle Actuator Control Motor Circuit Range/Performance |
| P2111 | Throttle Actuator Control System – Stuck Open |
| P2112 | Throttle Actuator Control System – Stuck Closed |
Guides that help
When it is more than a sensor
Throttle and idle codes are fixed at the throttle body, the pedal, a sensor or a leak. If those check out and the engine still runs poorly, a compression test separates a control problem from a worn engine; compare engines by code on our engines page.
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