OBJECTIVES

Automotive Fuel and Emissions Control Systems, 2/eBy James D. Halderman and Jim Linder

© 2009 Pearson Higher Education, Inc.Pearson Prentice Hall - Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

OBJECTIVES

After studying Chapter 15, the reader will be able to:1. Prepare for ASE Engine Performance (A8)

certification test content area “E” (Computerized Engine Controls Diagnosis and Repair).

2. Discuss how throttle position sensors work.3. List the methods that can be used to test TP

sensors.4. Describe the symptoms of a failed TP sensor.5. List how the operation of the TP sensor affects

vehicle operation.6. Discuss TP sensor rationality tests.



THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS

• Most computer-equipped engines use a throttle position (TP) sensor to signal to the computer the position of the throttle.

FIGURE 15-1 A typical TP sensor mounted on the throttle plate of this port-injected engine.



THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS

• Potentiometers– A potentiometer is a variable-

resistance sensor with three terminals.

FIGURE 15-2 The signal voltage from a throttle position increases as the throttle is opened because the wiper arm is closer to the 5-volt reference. At idle, the resistance of the sensor winding effectively reduces the signal voltage output to the computer.



TP SENSOR COMPUTER INPUT FUNCTIONS

• The computer senses any change in throttle position and changes the fuel mixture and ignition timing.

• The throttle position (TP) sensor used on fuel-injected vehicles acts as an “electronic accelerator pump.”

• The PCM supplies the TP sensor with a regulated voltage that ranges from 4.8 to 5.1 volts.



PCM USES FOR THE TP SENSOR

• The TP sensor is used by the powertrain control module (PCM) for the following reasons.– Clear Flood Mode– Torque Converter Clutch Engagement and Release– Rationality Testing for MAP and MAF Sensors– Automatic Transmission Shift Points– Target Idle Speed (Idle Control Strategy)– Air-Conditioning Compressor Operation– Backs Up Other Sensors



TESTING THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR

• A TP sensor can be tested using one or more of the following tools:– A digital voltmeter with three test leads connected in

series between the sensor and the wiring harness connector or back probing using T-pins.

– A scan tool or a specific tool recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

– A breakout box that is connected in series between the computer and the wiring harness connector(s).

– An oscilloscope.




FIGURE 15-3 A meter lead connected to a T-pin that was gently pushed along the signal wire of the TP sensor until the point of the pin touched the metal terminal inside the plastic connector.




• The procedure for testing the sensor using a digital multimeter is as follows:– Turn the ignition switch on (engine off).– Measure the voltage between the signal wire and ground

(reference low) wire. The voltage should be about 0.5 volt.

– With the engine still not running (but with the ignition still on), slowly increase the throttle opening. The voltage signal from the TP sensor should also increase.

– With the voltmeter still connected, slowly return the throttle down to the idle position. The voltage from the TP sensor should also decrease evenly on the return to idle.




FIGURE 15-4 A typical waveform of a TP sensor signal as recorded on a DSO when the accelerator pedal was depressed with the ignition switch on (engine off). Clean transitions and the lack of any glitches in this waveform indicate a good sensor. (Courtesy of Fluke Corporation)



TESTING A TP SENSOR USING THE MIN/MAX FUNCTION• Many digital multimeters are capable of recording

voltage readings over time and then displaying the minimum, maximum, and average readings. To perform a MIN/MAX test of the TP sensor, manually set the meter to read higher than 4 volts.– Connect the red meter lead to the signal wire and the

black meter lead to a good ground on the ground return wire at the TP sensor.

– With the ignition on, engine off, slowly depress and release the accelerator pedal from inside the vehicle.

– Check the minimum and maximum voltage reading on the meter display. Any 0- or 5-volt reading would indicate a fault or short in the TP sensor.



CHECK POWER AND GROUND BEFORE CONDEMNING A BAD SENSOR

FIGURE 15-5 Checking the 5-volt reference from the computer being applied to the TP sensor with the ignition switch on (engine off).



CHECK POWER AND GROUND BEFORE CONDEMNING A BAD SENSOR

FIGURE 15-6 Checking the voltage drop between the TP sensor ground and a good engine ground with the ignition on (engine off). A reading of greater than 0.2 volt (200 mV) represents a bad computer ground.



TESTING THE TP SENSOR USING A SCAN TOOL

• A scan tool can be used to check for proper operation of the throttle position sensor using the following steps.– With the key on, engine off, the TP sensor voltage display

should be about 0.5 volt, but can vary from as low as 0.3 volt to as high as 1.2 volts.

– Check the scan tool display for the percentage of throttle opening. The reading should be zero and gradually increase in percentage as the throttle is depressed.



TESTING THE TP SENSOR USING A SCAN TOOL

– The idle air control (IAC) counts should increase as the throttle is opened and decrease as the throttle is closed. Start the engine and observe the IAC counts as the throttle is depressed.

– Start the engine and observe the TP sensor reading. Use a wedge or thin object to increase the throttle opening slightly. The throttle percentage reading should increase. Shut off and restart the engine. If the percentage of throttle opening returns to 0%, the PCM determines that the increased throttle opening is now the new minimum and resets the idle position of the TP sensor. Remove the wedge and cycle the ignition key. The throttle position sensor should again read zero percentage.



TP SENSOR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES

• The diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) associated with the throttle position sensor include the following.



THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR DIAGNOSIS



























SUMMARY

1. A throttle position (TP) sensor is a three-wire variable resistor called a potentiometer.

2. The three wires on the TP sensor include a 5-volt reference voltage from the PCM, plus the signal wire to the PCM, and a ground, which also goes to the PCM.

3. The TP sensor is used by the PCM for clear flood mode, torque converter engagement and release, and automotive transmission shift points, as well as for rationality testing for the MAP and MAF sensor.

4. The TP sensor signal voltage should be about 0.5 volt at idle and increase to about 4.5 volts at wide-open throttle (WOT).

5. A TP sensor can be tested using a digital multimeter, a digital storage oscilloscope (DSO), or a scan tool.



REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What is the purpose of each of the three wires on a typical TP sensor?

2. What all does the PCM do with the TP sensor signal voltage?

3. What is the procedure to follow when checking the 5-volt reference and TP sensor ground?

4. How can a TP sensor be diagnosed using a scan tool?



CHAPTER QUIZ

1. Which sensor is generally considered to be the electronic accelerator pump of a fuel-injected engine?a) O2Sb) ECT sensorc) Engine MAP sensord) TP sensor



CHAPTER QUIZ

1. Which sensor is generally considered to be the electronic accelerator pump of a fuel-injected engine?a) O2Sb) ECT sensorc) Engine MAP sensord) TP sensor



CHAPTER QUIZ

2. Typical TP sensor voltage at idle is about ______.a) 2.50 to 2.80 voltsb) 0.5 volt or 10% of WOT TP sensor voltagec) 1.5 to 2.8 voltsd) 13.5 to 15.0 volts



CHAPTER QUIZ

2. Typical TP sensor voltage at idle is about ______.a) 2.50 to 2.80 voltsb) 0.5 volt or 10% of WOT TP sensor voltagec) 1.5 to 2.8 voltsd) 13.5 to 15.0 volts



CHAPTER QUIZ

3. A TP sensor is what type of sensor?a) Rheostatb) Voltage generatingc) Potentiometerd) Piezoelectric



CHAPTER QUIZ

3. A TP sensor is what type of sensor?a) Rheostatb) Voltage generatingc) Potentiometerd) Piezoelectric



CHAPTER QUIZ

4. Most TP sensors have how many wires?a) 1b) 2c) 3d) 4



CHAPTER QUIZ

4. Most TP sensors have how many wires?a) 1b) 2c) 3d) 4



CHAPTER QUIZ

5. Which sensor does the TP sensor backup if the PCM determines that a failure has occurred?a) Oxygen sensorb) MAF sensorc) MAP sensord) Either b or c



CHAPTER QUIZ

5. Which sensor does the TP sensor backup if the PCM determines that a failure has occurred?a) Oxygen sensorb) MAF sensorc) MAP sensord) Either b or c



CHAPTER QUIZ

6. Which wire on a TP sensor should be back-probed to check the voltage signal to the PCM?a) 5-volt reference (Vref)b) Signalc) Groundd) Meter should be connected between the 5-volt reference

and the ground



CHAPTER QUIZ

6. Which wire on a TP sensor should be back-probed to check the voltage signal to the PCM?a) 5-volt reference (Vref)b) Signalc) Groundd) Meter should be connected between the 5-volt reference

and the ground



CHAPTER QUIZ

7. After a TP sensor has been tested using the MIN/MAX function on a DMM, a reading of zero volts is displayed. What does this reading indicate?a) The TP sensor is open at one point during the test.b) The TP sensor is shorted.c) The TP sensor signal is shorted to 5-volt reference.d) Both b and c are possible.



CHAPTER QUIZ

7. After a TP sensor has been tested using the MIN/MAX function on a DMM, a reading of zero volts is displayed. What does this reading indicate?a) The TP sensor is open at one point during the test.b) The TP sensor is shorted.c) The TP sensor signal is shorted to 5-volt reference.d) Both b and c are possible.



CHAPTER QUIZ

8. After a TP sensor has been tested using the MIN/MAX function on a DMM, a reading of 5 volts is displayed. What does this reading indicate?a) The TP sensor is open at one point during the test.b) The TP sensor is shorted.c) The TP sensor signal is shorted to 5-volt reference.d) Both b and c are possible.



CHAPTER QUIZ

8. After a TP sensor has been tested using the MIN/MAX function on a DMM, a reading of 5 volts is displayed. What does this reading indicate?a) The TP sensor is open at one point during the test.b) The TP sensor is shorted.c) The TP sensor signal is shorted to 5-volt reference.d) Both b and c are possible.



CHAPTER QUIZ

9. A technician attaches one lead of a digital voltmeter to the ground terminal of the TP sensor and the other meter lead to the negative terminal of the battery. The ignition is switched to on, engine off and the meter displays 37.3 mV. Technician A says that this is the signal voltage and is a little low. Technician B says that the TP sensor ground circuit has excessive resistance. Which technician is correct?

a) Technician A onlyb) Technician B onlyc) Both Technicians A and Bd) Neither Technician A nor B



CHAPTER QUIZ

9. A technician attaches one lead of a digital voltmeter to the ground terminal of the TP sensor and the other meter lead to the negative terminal of the battery. The ignition is switched to on, engine off and the meter displays 37.3 mV. Technician A says that this is the signal voltage and is a little low. Technician B says that the TP sensor ground circuit has excessive resistance. Which technician is correct?

a) Technician A onlyb) Technician B onlyc) Both Technicians A and Bd) Neither Technician A nor B



CHAPTER QUIZ

10.A P0122 DTC is retrieved using a scan tool. This DTC means ______ .a) The TP sensor voltage is lowb) The TP sensor could be shorted-to-groundc) The TP sensor signal circuit could be shorted-to-groundd) All of the above are correct.



CHAPTER QUIZ

10.A P0122 DTC is retrieved using a scan tool. This DTC means ______ .a) The TP sensor voltage is lowb) The TP sensor could be shorted-to-groundc) The TP sensor signal circuit could be shorted-to-groundd) All of the above are correct.

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OBJECTIVES