Throttle position sensor

HASSAN SHUAIBU

MEMBER
1996 HONDA ACCORD
2.7L
V6
2WD
AUTOMATIC
123,000 MILES

Hi, my car TPS (throttle position sensor) has been given me problems. The engine rpm surges at 1500 rpm in idle when I press the gas pedal. But when I remove the TPS 3 pin socket from the throttle body and press the gas pedal, the surge is gone. Reconnecting it surge comes back again. Even when am driving, the engine surges at 1500 rpm especially when gear wants to change. I use DMM meter and check the setting. At close throttle, the reading is 0.5 volts and 4.44 volts at full open throttle. Do I have to reset the reading or change the TPS completely? And when I check the 3 pin wires to identify the ground wire, one is reading five volts other's show no reading. The one that reads five volts is colored yellow with a blue stripe.

3 Replies

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,815 POSTS

Hi Hassan,

Unplugging the TPS would result in the ECM compensating for the missing information from the TPS and that is the reason it does not surge.

The reading you provided indicates all are within specs. Is the malfunction Indicator light showing? A fault with some sensors would result in surging (hunting) as the ECM tries to compensate and if the MIL is indicating, you need to have it diagnosed first.

Was any repairs or parts replaced prior to this occurring? Does it surge while you are driving at 1500 rpm?

K H Low

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Friday, October 27th, 2017 AT 6:45 AM

HASSAN SHUAIBU

MEMBER
40 POSTS

No part was changed sir and there was no mil light but the throttle body was removed and washed with petrol and map sensor was washed with water and detergent. What are the likely sensor that can cause this surging and how can I test them to verify there status?
Yes it surges at 1500 rpm while am driving and it does a lot of surging when automatic gear change is about to occur. And can idle air control valve cause this because it was also washed with petrol?

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Friday, October 27th, 2017 AT 11:12 PM

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,815 POSTS

If the idling speed is too high, it would cause this problem.

After cleaning the throttle body, the idle would increase and you need to reduce it by adjusting the idle adjust screw. It is the brass (copper) screw on top inner part of throttle body. Turning it clockwise would reduce the idling speed.

Idling speed when engine is warmed up should be 700 rpm. The IAC and cold start control valve are 2 other things you need to check.

Remove the air cleaner hose and start engine.
Just inside the throttle body are 2 ports for air flow, one to the cold start/IAC and the other for the idle control.
After engine is warmed up, use a finger to close one port and if engine speed drops drastically, that is the area where you need to check the problem. Close each port individually to test.

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Monday, October 30th, 2017 AT 7:33 PM