Basic Functions Of Throttle Position Sensor

Knowing more on the basic functions and symptoms of throttle position sensor will be useful. As people know that the throttle position sensor is type of potentiometer. The location of this sensor is on the throttle body. It is involved in the throttle plate. You can find it in the opposite of throttle linkage. There are three wires available. They are 5-volt reference, battery voltage and also signal wire.

Basic Functions of Throttle Position Sensor

The signal has its principle to indicate the powertrain control module or PCM. It indicates the speed and the amount of the throttle opening. When you see this indication then it means also the demand to place the engine at that time. The powertrain control module will see the signal as the sign that there is acceleration or load and also computes. It is the right fuel trim strategies or injector durations or advance in the ignition. It is necessary in accommodating the time of the demanding. You can check the powertrain control module too. If the powertrain control module shows the sign that indicates the failure in the basic function of throttle position sensor, then the failure may happen. This is commonly happen when one failure happen, the other will indicate as well. The cause of the failure may be because of some factors. It can be due to throttle position sensor having low input or perhaps high input. Moreover, it can be because of there is no signal or maybe out of range.

Testing Procedures

To know more on the basic function of throttle position sensor, first you have to turn off the engine. Then disconnect the connector on the throttle position sensor. The connector is the electrical one. Turn on the key to the position of accessory. Make sure you don’t crank the engine. Set the volt or ohmmeter in the signal of 5 volts. Check the back probe of the engine. You can see it in the engine side of the harness terminal. If you happen to find no voltage in the terminal, then there must be the problem. The problem may be in the wiring between the PCM and harness. It may happen because the PCM is not grounded properly, or check also the power. In addition, it can be because of the PCM is not working. Commonly, the problem is at the electrical connector. It is usually at the base. Moreover, you can find the problem in the broken wire or the connector which is pulled out of the pin. The next procedure is to plug the connector right into the throttle position sensor. As the key is on, then the back prone will give the signal wire. Explore the wire as the sign that the throttle position sensor is opening. With the throttle is closing, the signal wire should indicate about 0.5 to 1.0 volts. If the throttle is more advanced to be open wider, then the voltage should be slowly approaching 4.5 to 5 volts. It should be no glitches and dropouts. If the voltage doesn’t climb then the basic function of throttle position sensor may be bad.