Parts for your 2017 Nissan Navara-Throttle position sensors

2017 Nissan Navara throttle-position-sensors: are they used, and what owners should know

For the 2017 Nissan Navara (D23/NP300) sold in Australia and New Zealand, a conventional, standalone throttle position sensor (TPS) is not used on the common 2.3‑litre YS23 diesel engines. Technical sources point to an electronic accelerator pedal position (APP) sensor for driver demand, and an intake throttle control valve (also called a throttle control actuator) that includes its own position feedback sensor built into the assembly. The Nissan Navara D23 Series Service Manual (2015–2019), Engine Control System (EC) for YS23DDT/YS23DDTT, lists the APP sensor and the throttle control actuator as the relevant components and specifies the actuator is replaced as a complete unit, a separate TPS is not listed as a serviceable part. The same EC section details related DTCs for the actuator (e.g., P2101, P2112) and for the APP sensor (e.g., P2122–P2128). In markets where a 2.5‑litre QR25DE petrol was offered, the Electronic Throttle Control has a throttle body with an integrated position sensor, again, the position sensor isn’t serviced separately from the throttle body (ref. EC section for QR25DE).

Why it isn’t used like a petrol engine: the YS23 diesel doesn’t meter engine load with a driver‑controlled throttle plate. Diesel torque is governed by fuel quantity and boost, so there’s no traditional throttle body with a discrete TPS that mirrors pedal movement. Instead, the ECU reads the APP sensor to understand how much go the driver wants, and it commands fuel, turbo, EGR and the intake throttle control valve as needed for emissions, EGR flow stabilisation and smooth shutdown. Because the throttle control valve’s position sensor is integrated, there’s no individual TPS to replace or maintain on the diesel Navara.

What owners usually service: if the ute hesitates, surges or drops into limp mode with “throttle” style symptoms, workshops typically inspect and clean the intake throttle control valve and EGR passage for soot binding, check the APP sensor signal and wiring, and scan for codes like P2101/P2112 (actuator) or P2138/P2122–P2128 (APP). If the actuator’s position feedback is out of range or the motor is jammed, the fix is to replace the entire throttle control actuator. There’s no separate TPS to swap on the diesel models.

Does a 2017 Nissan Navara have a throttle position sensor?

On the 2.3‑litre YS23 diesel, there’s no standalone TPS. The vehicle uses an accelerator pedal position sensor and an intake throttle control actuator with an integrated position sensor. Some markets had a 2.5‑litre petrol where the throttle body includes an internal position sensor, but it isn’t serviced separately from the assembly.

What causes throttle‑related fault codes on a 2017 Navara diesel?

Common causes include soot‑sticking of the intake throttle control valve, wiring or connector faults at the actuator or pedal, and faults in the APP sensor. Typical codes include P2101/P2112 for the actuator and P2138/P2122–P2128 for the pedal. Cleaning, connector checks and, if needed, replacing the complete actuator generally sort it.

How is throttle control serviced on a 2017 Navara diesel?

There’s no TPS to replace. Workshops clean the intake throttle and EGR passages, verify pedal and actuator live data, perform harness repairs, and update ECU software where applicable. If the actuator fails electrically or sticks beyond recovery, the remedy is to replace the entire throttle control actuator and carry out the required relearn procedures.