on my way home with the boat in tow last week. Well, not that funny, since I thought I was going to get stuck going up the only hill in Peoria (45mph 4 lane city street with no useable shoulder)!

My van just wouldn't accelerate. I pushed on the gas, let off, not much difference. Went up the hill at 25mph! The the "service engine soon" light lit up. It went out as I cleared the crest, but since Autozone is on the way home (and has a place for me to park the truck/boat) I stopped for a code read. Now on a 1990 Chevy Van it's not the same as today's OBDII, but the guy got a code 21 and we went inside and it was Throttle Position Sensor. Made sense. I bought one for $39 total.

I went to install it yesterday and was dreading it, cause the factory one has bolts that are spot welded from the bottom side, so you are supposed to remove the throttle body to get to it. Well, after getting the motor cover off (that wasn't too bad this time) I made an interesting discovery. I do not need a TPS after all.

Anyone want to guess what I saw/found?

A sign that said Ya should've bought a Honda.

A Honda Ridgeline hiding under there?

A sticker that said "Made in Japan" ?

A grille that looks just like a Pilot?

Vermin?

Yep, absolutely should have bought a Honda!

The weird thing is, that after I unhooked the boat that day, I drove the van, and it accelrated fine from a standstill. But if you gave it gas to make it downshift, it would just downshift but not pull hard at all.

Getting close. (well, in my Monatana van's cabin air filter, i did find a dead mouse a year ago!)

I was thinking maybe a broken motor mount, but the mouse comment makes me think I'm way off.

a cat or a squirell nest? (cats love warm engines....so it cuddnt be a honda)

Getting real close there Knota. As far as a warm engine, I hadn't started the van for at least 2 weeks prior to that day.

A Honda engineer?

Your virginity?

a carburetor?