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Fuel Pressure A Adjustment Without Gauge

  • Thread starter Thread starter KENS89LX
  • Start date Start date Mar 10, 2014

KENS89LX

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Mar 12, 2006
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Cross lanes Wv
Mar 10, 2014
#1
  • Mar 10, 2014
  • #1
I need to adjust my fuel pressure but don't have a gauge. When engine is warmed up and I shut it off it will just turn over until I hit the gas pedal then it starts. To me that is too much fuel so which way do I need to turn to lessen the pressure ...in or out.
 

Bullitt347

I have been doing it wrong this whole time
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Mar 10, 2014
#2
  • Mar 10, 2014
  • #2
Or it could be not enough fuel and when you step on the gas the signal the ECU see's from the T/P sensor puts the fuel map in a different spot and the engine now gets enough fuel to start. It is a crap-shoot either way at best. Why not just try one turn out and see what happens, and if nothing, then go back in two turns and see what happens. I would try and keep track of your starting point, because without a gauge you just shooting in the dark.......at best.
 

84Ttop

They make new pistons every day, so why worry?
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Mar 10, 2014
#3
  • Mar 10, 2014
  • #3
Honestly you need a gauge to set it correctly. It could be exactly
where it needs to be and you could be chasing the problem from the wrong direction.
 
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KENS89LX

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Mar 12, 2006
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Mar 10, 2014
#4
  • Mar 10, 2014
  • #4
huh...i put a new tps a few months ago i will check that first to see if it is in range, of couse i got the multimeter from harbor freight..it was free what setting do i use dcv,acv,dca, or one slot has 1.5v/9v..
 

KENS89LX

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Mar 12, 2006
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Cross lanes Wv
Mar 10, 2014
#5
  • Mar 10, 2014
  • #5
well i did recently put a new tpi on it , and i just recently got a multimeter from harbor freight (it was free) what setting do i use ...dcv..acv..1.5v/9v..dca..any help would be appreciated
 

mikestang63

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Aug 27, 2012
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#6
  • Mar 10, 2014
  • #6
KENS89LX said:
huh...i put a new tps a few months ago i will check that first to see if it is in range, of couse i got the multimeter from harbor freight..it was free what setting do i use dcv,acv,dca, or one slot has 1.5v/9v..
Click to expand...

You need to check the flux capacitor. It needs to be calibrated at 88 gigawatts. Be sure not to spin the bearings in your battery cable.
 
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KENS89LX

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Mar 11, 2014
#7
  • Mar 11, 2014
  • #7
I'll check the muffler bearing also!!
 

jrichker

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#8
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Check fuel pressure:
The local auto parts store may rent or loan a fuel pressure test gauge if you don't have one.

Disconnect the vacuum line from the fuel pressure regulator. Check it for evidence of fuel present in the line by removing it and blowing air through it. If you find fuel, the fuel pressure regulator has failed. Reinstall the line; leave the fuel pressure regulator end of the vacuum line disconnected. Then cap or plug the open end of the vacuum line and stow it out of the way.
Connect the fuel pressure test gauge to the Schrader port located just behind the alternator.
Turn the ignition switch on & start the engine. Observe the pressure: you should see 37-41 PSI at idle.
Turn the ignition off; reconnect the vacuum line to the fuel pressure regulator. Then disconnect the fuel pressure test gauge. Watch out for squirting gas when you do this.




TPS adjustment and troubleshooting.

Setting the TPS at .98 or .99 volt is a Bozo Internet Myth. When the computer powers up and initializes the TPS sensor, whatever it reads is the zero starting point for it. In other words your .98 volt becomes 0 volts and the computer watches for increases in voltage from that point upward.


Setting the TPS: you'll need a good Digital Voltmeter (DVM) to do the job. Set the TPS voltage at .5- 1.1 range. Because of the variables involved with the tolerances of both computer and DVM, I would shoot for somewhere between .6 and 1.0 volts. Unless you have a Fluke or other high grade DVM, the second digit past the decimal point on cheap DVM’s is probably fantasy. Since the computer zeros out the TPS voltage every time it powers up, playing with the settings isn't an effective aid to performance or drivability. The main purpose of checking the TPS is to make sure it isn't way out of range and causing problems.


Wire colors & functions:
Orange/white = 5 volt VREF from the computer
Dark Green/lt green = TPS output to computer
Black/white = Signal ground from computer

TPS troubleshooting steps:
1.) Use the Orange/white & Black white wires to verify the TPS has the correct 5 volts source from the computer.
2.) Use the Dark Green/lt green & Black/white wires to set the TPS base voltage. Try this... All you need is less than 1.0 volt at idle and more than 4.25 at Wide Open Throttle (WOT). You'll need a voltmeter with a 1 or 3 volt low scale to do the job.

The Orange/White wire is the VREF 5 volts from the computer. You use the Dark Green/Lt green wire (TPS signal) and the Black/White wire (TPS ground) to set the TPS. Use a pair of safety pins to probe the TPS connector from the rear of the connector. You may find it a little difficult to make a good connection, but keep trying. Put the safety pins in the Dark Green/Lt green wire and Black/White wire. Make sure the ignition switch is in the Run position but the engine isn't running. Set the voltmeter on the 2 volt range if it doesn’t auto range.

Here’s a TPS tip I got from NoGo50

When you installed the sensor make sure you place it on the peg right and then tighten it down properly. Loosen the back screw a tiny bit so the sensor can pivot and loosen the front screw enough so you can move it just a little in very small increments. I wouldn’t try to adjust it using marks.

(copied from MustangMax, Glendale AZ)

A.) Always adjust the TPS and Idle with the engine at operating temp. Dive it around for a bit if you can and get it nice and warm.

B.) When you probe the leads of the TPS, do not use an engine ground, put the ground probe into the lead of the TPS. You should be connecting both meter probes to the TPS and not one to the TPS and the other to ground.

C.) Always reset the computer whenever you adjust the TPS or clean/change any sensors. I just pull the battery lead for 10 minutes.

D.) The key is to adjust the TPS voltage and reset the computer whenever the idle screw is changed.

The TPS is a variable resistor, must like the volume control knob on a cheap radio. We have all heard them crackle and pop when the volume is adjusted. The TPS sensor has the same problem: wear on the resistor element makes places that create electrical noise. This electrical noise confuses the computer, because it expects to see a smooth increase or decrease as the throttle is opened or closed.

TPS testing: most of the time a failed TPS will set code 23 or 63, but not always. Use either an analog meter or a DVM with an analog bar graph and connect the leads as instructed above. Turn the ignition switch to the Run position, but do not start the engine. Note the voltage with the throttle closed. Slowly open the throttle and watch the voltage increase smoothly, slowly close the throttle and watch the voltage decrease smoothly. If the voltage jumps around and isn’t smooth, the TPS has some worn places in the resistor element. When the throttle is closed, make sure that the voltage is the same as what it was when you started. If it varies more than 10%, the TPS is suspect of being worn in the idle range of its travel.

TPS will not go below 1 volt
Engine mounted sensor circuit: Check the resistance between the black/white wire on the TPS and battery ground. It should be less than 1.5 ohms. Higher resistance than 1.5 ohms indicates a problem with the 10 pin connector, computer or the splice inside the main harness where the wire from the 10 pin connectors joins the rest of the black/white wire.



See the graphic for the location of the 10 pin connectors:
Diagram courtesy of Tmoss & Stang&2birds



See the graphic for the 10 pin connector circuit layout.


Unplug the white 10 pin connector to do some resistance testing. It is good time to clean the connector pins and examine the connector for corrosion, broken wire or other damage. See http://oldfuelinjection.com/?p=85 for help in this department.

If the resistance on the TPS Black/White wire and pin 1 of the white engine fuel injector harness 10 pin connector, is more than 1.0 ohm, you have bad connection or broken wiring. Repeat the test using the pin 1 of the white body side 10 pin connector and battery ground. You should have less that 1.5 ohm. More than that is a damaged signal ground inside the computer or bad connections or wiring.
 
Last edited: Mar 11, 2014
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