P2111 means Throttle Actuator Control System – Stuck Open. The computer has detected that the electronic throttle is not closing as commanded and is stuck further open than it should be. 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 P2111 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.
P2111 symptoms
- High idle
- Reduced-power mode
- Poor throttle control
Common causes of P2111
- Throttle plate sticking from carbon or ice
- Failed throttle motor or return spring
- Wiring or connector faults
How to diagnose P2111
- Inspect and clean the throttle body with the ignition off
- Check that the plate moves freely by hand
- Check the throttle connector and wiring
- Run the throttle relearn if required
Can you drive with P2111?
Limited; high idle and reduced power make driving unsafe. Repair promptly.
P2111 tips
In cold, wet weather, ice can form on the throttle plate overnight and set stuck codes on start-up. Carbon is more common: cleaning the throttle body with the ignition off and running the relearn fixes many cases.
Will P2111 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 P2111 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 |
|---|---|
| P2112 | Throttle Actuator Control System – Stuck Closed |
| P2101 | Throttle Actuator Control Motor Circuit Range/Performance |
| P2135 | Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor/Switch A/B Voltage Correlation |
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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