Parts for your 2013 Holden Colorado-Throttle position sensors

2013 Holden Colorado throttle-position-sensor: used or not?

For the 2013 Holden Colorado (RG series) sold in Australia and New Zealand, a traditional, standalone throttle-position sensor (TPS) like you’d find on a petrol engine isn’t used. The 2.8‑litre turbo‑diesel controls engine torque with fuel, not a driver‑operated throttle plate. Driver demand is measured by an Accelerator Pedal Position (APP) sensor at the pedal, while an electronically actuated intake throttle valve (sometimes called an air doser or intake air flow control valve) is fitted for EGR flow management and smooth shutdown. That intake valve contains its own internal position sensor and motor as one assembly, rather than a separate, serviceable TPS.

What this means for anyone hunting a “TPS” for a 2013 Colorado is that there isn’t a separate TPS part to replace. Relevant components are:- The APP sensor on the accelerator pedal (drive‑by‑wire input to the ECU).- The intake throttle/air‑flow control valve assembly, which includes an integrated position sensor used for EGR and shutdown control.

Why it’s set up this way: diesel engines don’t need to throttle incoming air to control power, so there’s no conventional throttle body with an external TPS. The ECU meters fuel to meet requested torque. The only throttle plate present is there to assist EGR and to prevent shudder at shutdown, and its position is monitored internally by the assembly’s own sensor. If you’re seeing “TPS‑type” symptoms or codes, they typically relate either to the APP sensor (e.g., pedal correlation faults) or the intake throttle/air‑flow control valve (e.g., position or performance faults). Diagnosis focuses on checking wiring/connectors, confirming fault codes, cleaning carbon build‑up in the intake throttle valve, and replacing the valve assembly if the motor/sensor has failed. The sensor in that assembly is not serviced separately.

• Technical sources cited: GM Global Service Information (Holden Colorado RG, Engine Controls 2.8L Diesel) – Description and Operation for Accelerator Pedal Position (APP) and Intake Air Flow Control Valve/Throttle Valve.
• Holden Colorado RG 2012–2016 Workshop Manual – Diesel engine control overview and component serviceability.
• Genuine GM/ACDelco parts catalogue – Intake air/throttle valve supplied as a motorised assembly with integral position feedback, no standalone TPS listed for 2.8‑diesel Colorado. APP sensor listed separately at the pedal.

FAQs

Does a 2013 Holden Colorado have a throttle-position sensor?
Not as a separate, serviceable TPS like a petrol engine. It uses an APP sensor on the pedal for driver input, and a motorised intake throttle valve with an internal position sensor for EGR and shutdown control.

Where is the “throttle sensor” on a 2013 Colorado diesel?
Two places matter: the accelerator pedal (APP sensor) inside the cabin, and the intake throttle/air‑flow control valve assembly in the engine bay, typically between the intercooler outlet piping and the intake manifold.

I’m getting TPS‑style fault codes—what should I check?
On the diesel, look for APP correlation codes or intake throttle valve position/performance codes. Inspect harnesses and plugs, clean carbon from the intake throttle valve, and replace the valve assembly if its motor or internal sensor has failed. The sensor isn’t serviced separately from the valve body.