how do i check tps
- Thread starter romgolferman
- Start date
Jaswir
Member
Setting the TPS: you'll need a good Digital Voltmeter (DVM) to do the job. Set the TPS voltage at .5- 1.19 range. Because of the variables involved with the tolerances of both computer and DVM, I would shoot for somewhere between .6 and .9 volts. Unless you have a Fluke or other high grade DVM, the last digit on the common DVM is probably fantasy. Since the computer zeros out the TPS voltage everytime it powers up, playing with the settings isn't an effective aid to performance or driveablity. The main purpose of chcking the TPS is to make sure it isn't way out of range and causing problems.
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.
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)
1.) 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.
2. 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.
3. Always reset the computer whenever you adjust the TPS or clean/change any sensors. I just pull the battery lead for 10 minutes.
4. The key is to adjust the TPS voltage and reset the computer whenever the idle screw is changed.
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.
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)
1.) 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.
2. 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.
3. Always reset the computer whenever you adjust the TPS or clean/change any sensors. I just pull the battery lead for 10 minutes.
4. The key is to adjust the TPS voltage and reset the computer whenever the idle screw is changed.
iwashmycar
20+ Year Stangneter 
jtfairlane
New Member
- Mar 5, 2006
- 468
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The hard stop idle screw is part of the throttle body assembly, on the bottom of the throttle body. It's what the throttle lever rests on when the throttle is closed.
bill302
Active Member
in the pic below you can see my idle set screw on the throttle body. i removed the factory screw and replaced it with a longer screw with lockwashers and nuts on each side of screw plate to hold its position....i would reccommend to change this as i did because its alot easier to adjust.... to remove factory screw just carefully tap old screw out with a hammer the screw and thread insert will come out easily and replace as stated above. there is some good info in this link....http://www.muscularmustangs.com/maintain.php
stang&2Birds
Founding Member
For most people, the TPS is plug and play. You ONLY ADAPT the TPS if you put on a non-Ford TB or set the idle higher than spec.
Here is more than you ever wanted to know about how the Ford EEC-IV+ systems use the TPS:
Quick Summary:
You never have to adjust a Ford TPS unit on a Ford TB (that has the idle set to spec)- NEVER!! For people that adjust their idle higher than spec to keep their engine running with their setup, or people that use a NON-Ford TPS, then they may have to adapt the TPS unit (by making slots) so that it reads from ~0.6v to ~1.1v at idle.
http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/Mustang-TPS-FAQ.html
The reason I say ~1.1v instead of ~1.2v is because people will mostly likely check it with the engine off. So, the battery voltage will be lower. So, the vref from the ECC will be at it's lower range.
