Question re: Throttle Position Sensor failure

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jul 21, 2008 | 11:02 PM

guitar_199

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 71

Likes: 0

From: Deer Park USA

Question re: Throttle Position Sensor failure

If someone could please, tell me what a bad TPS is like. I realize that this is somewhat vague but, if there is a very frequent particular way that they fail.... what symptom tends to show up?

Thanks!

Jul 22, 2008 | 02:20 AM

fbama73

Senior User

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 126

Likes: 0

From: Indianapolis

Here's my experience with a TPS failure on my 96 302 with OBDII. Though I doubt that all will be the same. Most notable to you would be Conanskis method of testing the TPS

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...-guidance.html

Jul 22, 2008 | 02:23 PM

Maniac

Junior User

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 66

Likes: 0

My 1992 f150 5.0 automatic had a bad TPS and the first sysmptom to show up was occasionally it would buck and surge on the highway. The problem progressed to not wanting to idle and I had to constantly pump with the gas to get home. I had by then researched the problem. I checked the TPS and found the resistance wasn't linear or a smooth change as I went from CW to CCW. I think I couldn't check mine on the engine because of stuff in the way. I had read somewhere that the shift position sensor (not the exactly correct terminology) on the E4OD transmissions could cause the highway type problem I first had. If that shift sensor turns out to be your problem I only found it at Advance Auto.

Jul 22, 2008 | 03:27 PM

jroehl

Post Fiend

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 6,473

Likes: 4

From: Lafayette, IN

When mine went (in the '93), it would slam-shift, run rough at all throttle positions and it set a whole mess of engine codes.

Jason

Jul 22, 2008 | 03:28 PM

Eddiec1564

Cargo Master

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 2,935

Likes: 34

From: Arcadia, Fla

On my 89 F250, when the TPS acted up, it caused the engine to load up and run rich at low speeds and would stall at idle. Had to keep it floored to run at all. I unplugged it and caused the ECU to defalt in limp mode which for me got me home to figure it out...

Jul 22, 2008 | 08:39 PM

White Max

Laughing Gas

Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 959

Likes: 8

From: Imperial, MO

When mine failed on my 95 F150 5.0L/4R70W, the engine would increase rpm randomly when idling in park, and downshifting required manually moving the gear selector (it wouldn't downshift on its own unless you nearly came to a stop).

-Rod

Jul 23, 2008 | 12:50 AM

fbama73

Senior User

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 126

Likes: 0

From: Indianapolis

Wow, five TPS failure stories, with five different sets of symptoms.

Here's another nice little surprise- if you have a 96 with a 5.0, do NOT expect to just go down to your local auto parts store and expect them to pull one off of the shelf- I had to special order mine (took a few hours) because the 96 5.0 TPS is a one year only part.

I got my sensor from NAPA, and it was made by Delphi, who happened to be the OEM supplier. It would figure that the first engine management sensor failure I have turns out to be a part made by Generous Motors. I'm just glad it wasn't sourced from Chrysler- if that were the case, I'd be on my fourth or fifth one by now.