The throttle position sensor is also known as the throttle opening sensor or throttle switch. Its main function is to detect whether the engine is in idle or load conditions, acceleration or deceleration. It is essentially a variable resistor and several switches mounted on the throttle body. The shaft of the resistor is linked to the throttle, and it has two contacts: a fully open contact and an idle contact. When the throttle is in the idle position, the idle contact is closed, to the computer output idle condition signal; when the throttle is in other positions, the idle contact is open, the output is relative to the throttle different angle of the voltage signal, the computer will be based on the value of the signal voltage to identify the load of the engine; according to the signal voltage in a certain period of time to identify the rate of change in the acceleration condition or deceleration condition. The computer corrects the fuel injection quantity according to the information of these conditions, or carries out fuel cut-off control.
The Throttle Position Sensor Adjustment Procedure Is Divided Into Several Steps
The throttle position sensor adjustment method has the following steps:
(1) Loosen the two fixing screws of the throttle position sensor
(2) Insert a thickness gauge of 0.35mm between the throttle limit screw and the limit lever, and at the same time measure the conduction of the idle switch with a multimeter
(3)Turn the throttle position sensor counterclockwise to disconnect the idle switch contact, and then slowly turn the throttle position sensor in clockwise direction until the idle switch is closed.
(4) Tighten the two set screws of the throttle position sensor.
(5) Insert a 0,30mm and 0.40mm gauge between the throttle limit screw and the limit rod, and measure the conductivity of the idle switch at the same time. When the thickness of the gauge for 0.30mm, the idle switch should lead; when the thickness of the gauge for 0.40mm, the idle switch should be disconnected. Otherwise, the throttle position sensor should be readjusted.
Throttle position sensor is not properly adjusted, will make the throttle shut off when the idle switch is still not closed or throttle has a certain degree of openness when the idle switch is still closed, thus affecting the engine computer's idle control function, resulting in the engine idle operation is not normal, such as idling too high or too low, idling unstable, idling easy to flame out and other consequences.
Common Conditions Of throttle Position Sensor Failure Are
1 - Check Engine Warning Light
The throttle position sensor is a key component of the entire internal combustion engine process. If this sensor goes bad, your engine will eventually not be able to produce enough power for your acceleration needs.
When this problem exists, the engine control unit will detect it and then activate the Check Engine warning light on your dashboard. This way, you will realize that your engine has some sort of problem that needs to be fixed.
2 - Weak Acceleration
A damaged throttle position sensor means that the engine control unit is unable to manage the throttle position correctly. As a result, the engine will not be able to receive the right amount of air. Whenever you accelerate your vehicle under these conditions, the acceleration will be weak. You will be lucky if you can move your vehicle at 30 miles per hour. This will cause you to consume a lot of gasoline and ultimately ruin the fuel economy of your car.
3 - Rough engine idle
When you stop or park your vehicle somewhere, it should idle near 600 to 900 RPM. If you notice that your engine RPM is below or above this range when your vehicle is stopped or parked, you have a serious or erratic idling problem with your engine. If you are experiencing some of the other symptoms on this list, this could be due to a damaged throttle position sensor.
4 - Excessive Fuel Consumption
Since the throttle position sensor has a major impact on the proper air/fuel mixture for combustion, inaccurate readings can result in too much fuel being injected into the combustion chamber. This leads to an excessive air/fuel ratio, which in turn leads to poor fuel economy. In addition, other sensors depend on accurate readings from the TPS. If this does not happen, these sensors usually compensate for too little or too much airflow. The end result is usually the need to refuel more often than usual.
5 - Acceleration Changes
A very strange acceleration issue that can occur is increased acceleration without stepping on the gas. You may be driving down the road and your car will suddenly accelerate. This is obviously very dangerous. Of all the acceleration problems that can occur, this particular one is a clear indicator that the throttle position sensor is the culprit.
Role of Throttle Position Sensor
The main function of the throttle position sensor is to detect whether the engine is in idle or load condition, acceleration or deceleration. It is essentially a variable resistor and a few switches, mounted on the throttle body, which passes these signals through the circuit to the car's ECU electronic control unit of a device, and then the car's ECU electronic control unit through the signals transmitted to determine how much fuel should be allocated to the fuel system.
The throttle position sensor has two pairs of contacts, the idle contact (IDL) and the full load contact (PSW). A cam coaxial to the throttle controls the opening and closing of the two switching contacts. When the throttle is in the fully closed position, the idle contact IDL is closed, and the ECU determines that the engine is in idle condition according to the closing signal of the idle switch, so as to control the fuel injection according to the requirements of idle condition.
When the throttle is open, the idle contact opens, and the ECU carries out the injection control from idle speed to the transition condition of small load according to this signal.
Full load contact in the throttle from the fully closed position to the small and medium opening range has been in the open state, when the throttle is opened to a certain angle of the position, the full load contact began to close, to the ECU to send out the engine is in the full-load operating conditions of the signal, the ECU according to the signal for the full-load thickening control.
Throttle Position Sensor Detection
In order to make the detection of the throttle position sensor more easy to understand, to give you an understanding of the situation: an automobile idling instability, after repeated whole idling screw, still no better, which may be the throttle position sensor malfunction caused by.
Detection process: tune fault code, the method is: open the fault diagnostic box located near the engine (labeled Diagnosis), with a wire connected to the socket in the TE1 (fault detection) and E1 (grounding) two jacks. Turn on the ignition switch (do not start the engine), the Check Engine warning light on the meter began to flash, fault code 41, said for the throttle position sensor signal is bad.
Check the car sensor wiring, no disconnection. Dial down the sensor plug, found that the IDL (idle foot) and VTA (output foot) surface oxidation corrosion traces. Descaling, cleaning, mounting, start the engine and adjust the idle speed screw, the speed can be stabilized at 75Or/min.
Then disconnect the ignition switch to clear the fault code. The method is: remove the battery hitch cable more than 3Os, you can clear the fault code stored in the computer.
Then, turn on the ignition switch, after double-checking the fault code has disappeared, proving that the fault has been completely eliminated. After that, take out the connecting wires in the diagnostic box.
Types of Throttle Position Sensors
There are two types of throttle position sensors, one is analog position sensor and the other is switching type throttle position sensor.
1. Analog Throttle Position Sensor
The analog throttle position sensor (TPS) is a variable resistor (potentiometer) that tells the computer the position of the throttle. Most throttle position sensors contain a sliding contact arm connected to the throttle shaft that slides on a resistive material segment placed around the shaft of the movable contact.
The throttle position sensor is a three-wire sensor. One wire draws 5V from the computer's sensor power supply to supply power to the sensor resistive material, and another wire connects to the other end of the resistive material to provide a ground for the sensor. The third wire is connected to the sensor's movable contact to provide a signal output to the computer. The voltage at each point on the resistive material is detected by the movable contact and is proportional to the throttle angle.
2. Switching Throttle Position Sensor
Switching throttle position sensor is composed of two switch contacts constitute a rotary switch, a normally closed contact constitutes the idle switch, throttle at idle position is: it is located in the closed state, the engine control computer idle input signal terminal grounded lap, the engine control computer receives this signal, you can make the engine into the idle closed-loop control, or to control the engine in the "backward drag". "Backward drag" state to stop fuel injection, another normally open contact throttle opening to reach the full load state, the engine control computer's full load input signal terminal grounded lap. After the engine control computer receives this signal, it can make the engine enter the full load thickening control state.
Concluding Remarks
To summarize, a malfunctioning throttle position sensor can lead to problems such as loss of engine power, rough idling and reduced fuel economy. To solve these problems, try recalibrating the throttle position sensor and restoring its factory settings. If the problem persists, it is recommended to get it repaired and replaced by a professional auto mechanic in time.