Throttle Position Sensor: Description and Operation

Throttle Position Sensor (TPS):

This sensor is used to send input signals to the Single Board Engine Controller II (SBEC II) to indicate the current angle of the throttle blade. This sensor is a variable resistor that has a 5 volt reference signal applied to it by the SBEC II. The Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) sends signals back to the SBEC II in the range of approximately 1 to 4 volts, depending upon the throttle shaft angle. The SBEC uses these input voltages to determine the current position of the throttle.

An input voltage of approximately 1 volt indicates a minimum throttle opening or idle condition. An input voltage of approximately 4 volts would indicate a maximum throttle opening or wide open throttle condition.

The SBEC II uses the voltage signals from the TPS and other input sensors to determine the proper air/fuel mixture and ignition timing for certain operating conditions. Some of these operating conditions are: acceleration, deceleration, idle, and wide open throttle.