Throttle Position Sensor: Description and Operation

Throttle Position Sensor:

DESCRIPTION
The TP sensor is mounted on the side of the throttle body opposite the throttle lever. It senses the throttle valve angle and relays that information to the PCM. Knowledge of throttle angle is needed by the PCM to generate the required injector control signals (pulses).

OPERATION
The PCM provides a 5 volt reference signal and a ground to the TP sensor and the sensor in turn sends a voltage signal representing throttle position back to the PCM. As the throttle angle increases, the voltage signal increases and as the throttle angel decreases the voltage signal decreases.
A closed throttle angle will result in a voltage signal near 0 and wide open throttle will produce a signal near 5 volts.