P0120 Throttle Position sensor malfunction A circuit

[midnightblue97]

This happened yesterday.
I got into my car at the end of the day and started it up from a pretty much dead cold.
It was Idling high (close to 2000) because of the sub-zero temperatures and as I touched the gas ever so slightly the RPM would drop significantly, probably almost 1000 RPM my guess would be. shortly after, my CEL came on. I drove home and just a few minutes ago I hooked up my scanner and the code was a P0120 "Throttle/pedal position sensor/switch A circuit malfunction".
As the engine warmed up the problem went away and I did not notice any reduction in performance from the ~1HR highway drive from Oakville to Niagara Falls. Early this afternoon I had to go to the bank and when I started the car, the same **** happened again this time causing me to stall it a couple times coming out of the driveway. I don't really see that as an added problem since I could have just waited for the RPM to rise before slipping the clutch to get moving, and it wouldn't have stalled.
THis has happened before on different occasions since I got the car, though only very intermittantly, and I do not remember the conditions surrounding the occurances, like cold weather, cold engine etc.. but I've never had a check engine light because of it.
I'm positive that the particular TPS which I have in my car can not be adjusted since I took it off in the spring time when I removed my TB for a thorough cleaning and there was only one position that it would attach to the TB.
I can assume that since the CEL has now come on that my TPS is living on borrowed time, but I'm just wondering what this "A circuit" could be, thinking that perhaps there could be another reason besides the sensor itself such as low voltage going to/coming from the sensor, or too much resistance on either side for example.
Anybody have some insights??

[midnightblue97]

Unfortunately my scanner isn't that good.
Perhaps, I should have been more specific and said "code reader"

[Intruder]

Unfortunately my scanner isn't that good.
Perhaps, I should have been more specific and said "code reader"

Can't you get a scanner from Autozone (or similar)?

[midnightblue97]

I don't know what you mean.
I have a code reader, I refer to it (incorrectly I suppose) as a scanner.
I picked it up at Canadian Tire A couple years ago. It has proven quite useful to me, though it will only read and clear DTCs it won't tell me what the ECU is seeing.

[Intruder]

I was referring to a full blown "scanner". One that is able to read the ECU's data. Can't you rent one of those at a local auto parts store?

[midnightblue97]

Ohhhh, I don't know. I'll have to look into that.

[OCD-SPEED]

TPS with a BP cant really be adjusted on a 97-98. I found that out the hard way. 97-98 TPS's auto adjust FOR THE BP. I would say check getting a new one. I thought i had a spare i could of sold you but i dont think i have it anymore.
EDIT: On second thought, TPSs are very sensitive to even a slight change in voltage so maybe such extreme cold weather could change the conductive properties of the metal within the tps?

[midnightblue97]

Perhaps. I will have my new one from the dealer on Monday.
I was thinking about that recently, but that brought to mind a similar situation that has happened to me while driving in the summer. Though to a lesser extent, and without a CEL. Anyways, it will be replaced Monday evening after I'm finished work.
Thanks for the insights/info.