Throttle Position Sensor: Description and Operation

Throttle Position Sensor & Soft/Hard Closed Throttle Position Switch:

PURPOSE
To provide the Engine Control Module (ECM) with a voltage signal that corresponds to the opening angle of the throttle plate.

Throttle Position Sensor/Switch Voltage Readings:

OPERATION
The Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) has both a linear potentiometer (sensor) and Idle/Wide Open Throttle (WOT) switches. The sensor receives a 5 Volts DC reference signal from the ECM. At idle, the sensor will output approx. 0.4 Volts DC to the ECM and upwards of 4.5 Volts DC at wide open throttle. The ECM uses this voltage signal to calculate throttle opening angle and the speed at which the throttle was opened.