
- Unhook the negative cable from your battery for a few minutes. This can be found behind the driver side kick panel on your dash board. ...
- Wait for five minutes. This is important because it will allow your throttle body to cool down after all these years of being exposed to heat. ...
- Remove the fuse for your engine control module (ECM). ...
Full Answer
What are the signs of a bad throttle position sensor?
What Are The Symptoms Of A Bad Throttle Position Sensor
- Weak Acceleration Response. This is a common bad throttle position sensor symptom. ...
- Hesitation Or Jerking While Driving. Hesitation or jerking can be a symptom of a bad throttle position sensor. ...
- The Car Will Not Pass A Certain Speed Limit. ...
- Car Speeds Up On Its Own. ...
- Lacks Engine Power. ...
- Unstable Idle. ...
- Gear Shift Problem. ...
- Affects Fuel Economy. ...
What does a bad throttle position sensor do?
The throttle position sensor census how much air is flowing into the engine and into the internal combustion system. The most dangerous symptom of a bad throttle position sensor is random acceleration, even when the gas pedal is barely pressed. You can reprogram a faulty sensor and most of the issues from the bad sensor will go away.
Will a throttle position sensor keep a car from starting?
A throttle position sensor, or TPS, is a sensor that is used to monitor the position of the throttle in an internal combustion engine. The position of the throttle is important because it controls the amount of air that enters the engine. If the TPS is not working properly, it can cause the car to not start.
What are the symptoms of a bad Accelerator Position Sensor?
- Hesitations during acceleration
- Poor power
- Difficulty and/or delay in gear shifting
- Unusual surges while accelerating

How do you fix throttle position sensor?
The easiest way to reset your throttle position sensor is to unhook the negative cable from your battery for up to five minutes or to remove the fuse for your engine control module.
Can you clean the throttle position sensor?
9:3314:57HOW TO CLEAN THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis doesn't get dirty that much so you can do this at least once a year or every six monthsMoreThis doesn't get dirty that much so you can do this at least once a year or every six months whichever you prefer as you can see it's not that hard to remove. This. So you can clean it anytime.
How do I know if I have a faulty throttle position sensor?
Your engine might stall, idle slowly or misfire when your car is stopped. The car might accelerate itself, hesitate to accelerate, or lack power when you are trying to accelerate. You may also experience difficulty in changing gears.
What happens when a throttle position sensor fails?
What happens when my throttle position sensor goes bad. When a TPS goes bad, then the car's throttle body won't function properly. It could either stay shut or it won't close properly which is a severe issue. If it stays shut then your engine is not going receive air and it won't start.
How do you test a throttle position sensor?
To check it, touch the negative multimeter probe to the negative wire TPS tab and the positive problem to the positive tab. You should see around 5 volts on the multimeter if everything is working. Now, you should check the signal voltage.
What is a common throttle position sensor failure?
Common signs include lacking power when accelerating, rough or slow idle, stalling, inability to shift up, and the Check Engine Light coming on.
Do you have to reset computer after replacing throttle position sensor?
After replacing the throttle body to your engine, if the engine light was on and has a pending code, the code will go away. If the code was a hard permanent code, then the ECM (computer) would need a hard reset.
Will a throttle position sensor throw a code?
a faulty tps can set a trouble code in the computer if the voltage value is either not present, sporadic, slow or constant, and this can illuminate your check engine light.
How much does it cost to fix a throttle position sensor?
The average replacement cost for the throttle position sensor is anywhere from $110 to $200. The parts cost is anywhere from $75 to $105 while the labor cost is anywhere from $35 to $95.
Can you clean car sensors?
It's safe to clean the sensor every time you change the air filter. The job is simple enough to be a part of your routine maintenance. If your check engine light comes on and there's a trouble-code related to the MAF, that would definitely be a good time to clean the sensor.
What are the symptoms of a dirty throttle body?
When the throttle body gets dirty, it has a direct effect on how smoothly the engine operates. Signs indicating a problem include rough idling, jumpy or sluggish acceleration, poor fuel economy, and stalling. With the use of a throttle body cleaning product, the dirt and debris buildup are easily removed.
How do you clean a throttle body without removing it?
1:222:58Safely Clean Electronic Throttle Body Without Removing / How ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can also spray the cap cleaner directly on the paper towel. Taking the plank off the gas.MoreYou can also spray the cap cleaner directly on the paper towel. Taking the plank off the gas.
How do I reset my throttle body after cleaning?
1:112:42Throttle Body Relearn: When Should I Reprogram My Car's ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou might have to let it run for three minutes and then shut the vehicle off. And then run it againMoreYou might have to let it run for three minutes and then shut the vehicle off. And then run it again for three minutes. It depends on the type of vehicle.
What Does a Throttle Position Sensor Do?
A throttle position sensor is similar to the motor cortex in the human brain, it controls one of the most important components of the car that keeps your engine running like a throttle body. Picture a little module in the car that reads how far down you have pressed the gas pedal. It gathers that information and relates it to the mass airflow sensor and the engine's RPM to make sure that the correct amount of air/fuel ratio is going into your engine properly.
How much to fix throttle sensor?
If your vehicle has the throttle out in the open in a visible and accessible area then the job shouldn't be too hard and it could cost you under $500 fix with parts and labor. Now some cars can get complicated as the throttle is inaccessible at first and will require tons of disassembling like taking off the intake manifold and air filter box. The price could easily double and get close to $1000.00 just for one small sensor.
How does an engine stay running?
An engine needs two things to stay running which is air and fuel. Normally a car will pick up air through the intake and passes it through the Mass Airflow Sensor. The air will travel up the intake and it will reach your throttle body. The throttle body is a circular valve that’s located in between your air filter and Intake Manifold. In the old days, there was a wire attached to the gas pedal of your car and it would move accordingly to how you pressed it. Nowadays there is an electric system that's far more efficient than the old ways but it can still have issues.
What happens when a TPS sensor goes bad?
When these sensors start to go bad then other modules might start working differently to compensate for lack or abundance of airflow. In most cases when your sensor goes bad, you will see the vehicle consuming more fuel than usual
Why is my car idle rough?
Unstable Engine Idle: Faulty position sensors can cause sporadic idle conditions due to fluctuating airflow. If you see your car misfiring, Idling rough, or stalling out while you drive then you definitely want to have a professional check out that sensor.
Why won't my car start if the throttle is stuck?
When the throttle gets stuck in an open position than your vehicle will receive too much air and cause it to have a high or fluctuating idle.
What happens if a car sensor is faulty?
If the sensor is faulty, it will cause your car to shake heavily. Eventually, if this issue is left unattended it will put major stress on your motor and transmission mounts to the point where they will give out and will need replacement.
What Happens If Your Throttle Position Sensor Is Faulty?
The throttle position sensor can gradually fail or all at once. It can be faulty due to many causes.
Why is my throttle position sensor bad?
As mentioned above, due to the engine’s inefficiency, poor fuel economy will be one of the inevitable bad throttle position sensor symptoms. The throttle position sensor works alongside other sensors to ensure the engine gets everything it needs to run smoothly.
How does the throttle butterfly valve work?
Each time you press down on the gas pedal, the throttle butterfly valve rotates to let a precise amount of air enter through the engine’s intake manifold into the combustion chamber. As you press the pedal farther in, the valve opens more.
How does the power control module work?
To determine the exact amount of air needed for the engine at any specific time, the car’s computer, known as the Power Control Module, collects data continuously, as much as many times per second, including air mass flow, engine RPM, air temperature, the position of the throttle butterfly valve, and how fast the valve’s position sensor changes.
Why is my car idling rough?
Faulty throttle position sensors can cause rough idling due to fluctuating airflow. If you see your car misfiring, idling rough, or stalling out while you drive, it is highly likely that you’re having a faulty throttle position sensor.
How long do TPS batteries last?
The batteries in the TPS sensors are made to last 5 years. They are built into the sensor so they can not be replaced like those of a flashlight.
Why does my car use more fuel when my sensor goes bad?
For instance, if the engine is receiving more air than it needs, the computer will compensate by injecting extra fuel to rebalance the air-fuel mixture. Therefore, in most cases when your sensor goes bad, your car will be noticeably consuming more fuel than usual.
How to program throttle position sensor?
Steps on How to Program a Throttle Position Sensor for a Throttle Valve Closed Position Learning. Step 1. Start by forming the throttle valve closed potion leaning. Step 2. Be sure that the accelerator pedal is totally freed or released. Step 3. Then grab the keys and turn “ON” the ignition switch. Wait 10 seconds.
How to check if throttle valve is working?
Try to ensure that the throttle valve changes during above 10 seconds by confirming the operation sound. This is the way you confirm that the throttle valve is working.
How to program a throttle in a car?
First step calibrating or programing your car throttle is to sit in your car and form the accelerator pedal released position learning. Do not depress the accelerator pedal when you turn the keys on wait for at least 2 seconds for each action. You need to know that the timing of this is important. So when you positioned yourself ready ...
When you have just changed or finished installing your car electronic throttle, what is next?
When you have just changed or finished installing your car electronic throttle, next thing in line is to reprogram, reset or calibrate the throttle for start functioning effectively. This post will show you how to program a throttle position sensor.
How to release the accelerator pedal?
Step 1. Make that the accelerator pedal is completely released or free, then turn “ ON” ignition switch and wait for 3 seconds. Step 2. You want completely depress the accelerator pedal very hard and fully release the accelerator pedal as quickly as possible 5 times within 5 seconds.
