How do I test the TPS on my truck. I know you need a Oem meter. Please let me know how to do it. Thanks all

 

Disconnect the TPS sensor from your wiring harness.

There are three pins. The center pin is the wiper, so you measure the resistance from the center pin to one of the outside pins, and move the throttle body and watch the needle move. Then move the ohmmeter to the other outside pin (with the center pin still connected), and move the throttle body, the needle should move the other way.

if not, the TPS sensor itself is bad. Sometimes its the connector on the wiring harness, so you might want to look for corrosion in the connector as well.

 

Use a volt meter, and probe the TPS wire (the center one) and probe the negative to the black wire (signal return). Leave the harness plugged in, and turn the key on, but do not start the engine. With the throttle closed, it should be ~.9V and wide open throttle should be ~4.8V. This will show you what the computer sees from the sensor. In between closed and full throttle, the voltage should gradually progress upward, and not jump around. If you don't have the correct voltage there, check the orange wire for a constant 5V (key on). If you do check resistance, (tps unplugged) you only need to probe between the tps signal wire and the signal return (black wire). Resistance at closed throttle should be 3-4K Ohms, and 350 Ohms at wide open.

 

last night i took my tps off to test it and i have three prongs in a triangle form i have a black wire an orange wire and a green wire which holes to put the prongs in on my new 1994 302 any help appreciated thanks


tim

 

Two great write-ups here:

Throttle Position Sensor Testing, Replacement and Adjustment - FSB Forums

Ultimate Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) Thread - FSB Forums

 

2003 (and the 04 Heritage) was the last year for the three pin TPS. They all have 4 pins now. Two TP signal wires, one +5v sensor power feed and one sensor ground. I just joined Ford-trucks.com and I've been hunting hi and low for a 4-pin test procedure with no luck. I ended up calling an old guy I know out on the West Coast and he walked me through it over the phone.