throttle positioning sensor

Service engine code is reading throttle positioning sensor. When it is going to crap on me "for good", what should I expect the wagon to act like? Wanting to die when I pull away from a stop sign? She's been chugging along for about a month now. Can't go anywhere without the light coming on (and going off).
'89 Chevy caprice estate
Thank you

 

I don't think it will act much worse than what you're experiencing now. It's very rare that you'll get a no start condition from it pooping out completely.

 

What you will find is that the fuel economy and drivablity are going to be lousy, and eventually you can clog up or burn out your catalytic converter. If the sensor is bad, best bet is to change it as soon as you can.

 

She is gonna nickle & dime me to death.
I know there are vacuum issues as well - I just dont have the knowledge to be fixing all of this myself. They Haynes manual can only tell me so much. And being it is my primary vehicle, I cant leave her with the mechanic for too long a period.
What happened last night is I was pulling away from a stop sign and when I stepped on the gas she bogged and acted like she was going to die on me. Chugging quite a bit last night every where I went. She doesnt like to "stop and go". She prefers to go somewhere and be done for a few hours. Not a quick stop here and a quick stop there.
:16suspect1:

 

I've never given much credit to any of the sensors on an electronically controlled carburetor. That said I would change the sensor (probably two to three screws) and systematically go through and change all of the vacuum lines one by one. If you take your time and do one at a time you should be able to do it yourself without much trouble. More than likely you have multiple cracked vacuum lines.

 

The carb makes me a little leery. I understand I need to replace seals if I "go into it". That and Im not all that comfortable getting near fuel. According to my Haynes manual - partial disassembly of the carb is required to replace the TPS - and I can see that under the hood as well. I was hoping it would be a bit easier than that - being Im "a girl" and "shouldnt" know what Im doing under a hood
Who knows. If my mechanic can fit me in this weekend, I may just take a stab at her ~ before I abandon her on the side of the road.

 

Good luck ! Under these modern hoods scares many of us.
You may check with your auto parts stores like NAPA and Advance. Ask questions. Some of those counter guys are very helpful. Like our own dewey here. But he's far far away!

 

I've got "my" Mike & Abby at Autozone

 

What Kevin said. Replace the sensor and the lines. Then....get a FACTORY shop manual off eBay and throw away the Haynes garbage.

 

What silverfox said. Don't be discouraged. It's a car and it's mechanical. Things happen. Also maybe Mike or Dear Abby can recommend a good shade tree mechanic who is good and reasonable.

 

I like my mechanic - retired army, good, reasonable - but other people like him too...including my dad (I knew I shouldnt have mentioned him to my dad ) May have been able to squeeze Edna in last night but my dad's radiator was peeing in the driveway. I offered to do it for him but he had already made the appointment. I did Edna's radiator two weeks after I got her. (And helped by husband with his radiator the same night.)

 

Where were you when Xavier needed a radiator technician for his Kia?
Poor Kia!

 

The vacuum lines are easy. The TPS sensor is a bit more daunting because it's built into the Rochester carburetor. The top half of the carb will have to be removed to replace the sensor. Not real hard to do but intimidating to those less experienced.

I just replaced all the vacuum lines on my '84 Cutlass last week and I've got the top of the carb off of that right now to clean it out and replace the needle & seat. I will also verify TPS function before reassembly.

 

Awe! Too bad I dont live in Southaven any more Greg You could do all that to Edna!

And as far as Xavier's radiator - I was right here all along ..well, not here on this forum, but here at my house.

 

Yea but you're more fun now that you are here on the forum. There are way too few female active members. My wife is allergic to computers. Thinking about it, that's a good thing for me!