P2106 / P0500

So, coming home late from the bar my car hesitates and suddenly goes into a lower gear and all sorts of messages popup on my dash (ECP Safe Mode, Check Parking Brake / Check Transmission)... run the codes and get a P2106: issue w/ throttlebody.
Take it to the dealer, they come up with P2106 & P0500 and they suggest a new Throttlebody & ECU ($1800). I laugh and pay the $100 for the advice.
The car is an '03 w/ AdvanceTrac, so after 2 mos of avoiding the OEM and searching for a used t/body I give in and order from the local dealer ($490). Install the new tb only to have the same issues.
The car will run perfectly after sitting cold but once shut down and restarted it will randomly do this.
Now, looking @ the quote I actually see they listed the ABS controller.

Any experience out there w/ this or suggestions before I return the tb and order the ABS controller ($570)???

The factory service manual for a P2106 (Electronic Throttle Control issue) states that if any other diagnostic trouble codes are present, address the other codes first. Since the dealer shows that you also have a P0500, which indicates an issue with the vehicle speed sensor (VSS), you should address that first.

The VSS is derived by the ABS controller, so that is probably why the dealership suggested the ABS controller as the problem. That would basically be a worst-case situation in the event the problem is not a loose connection or broken/intermittant wire.

-Rod

Rod, thanks for that bit of info (that the dealer decided not to share because replacing too expensive parts is always better than one!)... anyways, i ordered an ABS controller yesterday ($350 less than what the dealer quoted) and am just waiting for that. Any ideas where I might find this on the car? I'm being lazy knowing I could probably figure it out myself. Thanks again.

So you're choosing to not attempt to diagnose the individual wheel speed sensors before replacing the expensive parts?

When you open the hood, you won't hardly be able to miss spotting the ABS control module. However, according to the service manual, the module configuration will need to be downloaded to the new module so you will probably have to visit the dealer to have that work performed. And the current configuration would need to be read out first.

-Rod

Got the new/used ABS controller today and spent 2 hrs in 10* weather putting my old throttle body in, the ABS controller, air intake and jumping my dead battery (also involved removing my sub which is the next "resize" project). Good news... no more Limp Mode, for 12 miles anyways, but still have the ABS and Brake lights lit. I'm hoping this is just because of the pads/rotors that were also suggested by the dealer or the fact that I let the brake fluid run low and didn't bleed the brakes yet (because 4 new cross-drilled rotors and ceramic pads will be here Thursday).
So debating stopping at the AZ down the street and getting the codes pulled or just waiting till I get the pads/rotors in.... I'll keep you posted with the results.

PS- For anyone researching this is an '03 Lincoln LS V8 3.9 with AdvanceTrac

Autozone likely won't be able to access why the ABS light is on. The low fluid may explain the brake light, but likely not the ABS light. That might be due to the ABS module not being programmed to the car.

-Rod

so i'll probably have to revisit the dealer to have them (re)program the controller for my car?

Probably, but as I mentioned in post #4 above, the service manual indicates the configuration of the original controller needs to be downloaded so that it can be loaded into the replacment.

I don't know if that just applies to brand new modules or if that is also for modules that have been configured to a car. I suspect that it applies to both, but I don't have experience in this area. I'm just going off of what the factory service manual states.

-Rod

I'm gonna install the pads/rotors and fill/bleed the brakes and see where that puts me. I'll call the dealer and see what they say, but I would guess if the car was the same the programming would be too. BUT, when I ordered the controller it was a different part # and they confirmed it was for my car. Is it possible it was from a different year, hence slightly different programming?

Rod, do you have the service manual?

I have the factory service manual for the 2002 model year. There were some fairly significant changes made for the 2003 and subsequent years, so your car may be different from what my manual details.

Also, I could potentially understand the module programming to differ for different sized wheels/tires, certainly for traction control versus AdvanceTrac, trip computer, V8 versus V6, etc. With the modules having different part numbers, I'd be hesitant to expect them to play well in the same applications.

-Rod

yahhhhhh! got the new ABS mod installed and finally programmed and no more LIMP MODE! passed inspection, also new cross drilled rotors and ceramic pads, fixed my driver window, new eclipse stereo w/ handsfree and added the steering wheel control... fun to drive again!

just a few other things i want to do but will post in new threads, thanks again though