tps sensor

The TPS (throttle position sensor) does exactly what the name implies. It looks at how hard your are stepping on the throttle so that it knows how hard the engine is working. The fuel injection map, which tells the injectors how much fuel the engine needs, is determined by two functions, throttle position and rpm. The throttle position sensor is a variable resistor, meaning as the sensor rotates on the throttle shaft, the voltage value going back to the computer is changing. Normally from idle the voltage is close to zero and climbs to around five volts at wide open throttle. The tps is on one side of the throttle shaft, on the throttle body. Just have someone step on the gas pedal and watch the only part under your hood that rotates, it will be on one end of the moving shaft. If there is a problem with your TPS sensor you can test it. First inspect the plug to make sure it is tight. Also check that the plug wires are not cracked or broken. Now remove the sensor plug. Use a volt/ohm meter and set the range to 20k ohms. Next touch one lead to the center pin in the plug and the other to one of the outer pins. Slowly rotate the throttle until it’s wide open. The ohm’s should have been smoothly climbing or dropping as the throttle was moving. If the reading was jumpy and didn’t change smoothly, replace the sensor.