#1 [url]

Apr 18 09 2:11 PM

From the sound of it you are reading the haynes manual for setting the TPS. It is just about as bad as the Ford SM. Haynes has you check the voltage with a volt meter in the first steps then if it doesnt meet spec they magicly toss that meter out the window and start using some unspecified "meter" that only measures continuity as a open or short! What the heck????

The Ford manual never has you check with the ignition on, they do not have you check voltage. It has you check resitance. in a nutshell, 5k for wide open throttle and then the typo of under 1 ohm which should be under 1k in the idle postion.

Haynes manual is bogus because if you account for only continuity when measuring a variable resitor, the "yes/no" point for deciding when there is or is not continuity is dependent on the tester you are using. For example, is 1.8k ohms called no continutity or is it called continuity? Just depends on your particular tester and that is no way to decide. It will vary from one inturment to the other.

The way to set it is using a ohm meter. Rotate the TPS so that you do have 5k from the Ref to Sig as they call it in the haynes manual or center pin to outside pin on the car and then that same test should read 1k or under when you do it with the throttle in the iddle postion. Both tests are preformed with the car off and the conector from the wiring harness removed with testing preformed on the TPS itself.

I personaly have found that a iddle setting of 1.4k and WOT at 5k is fantastic for fuel economy without running to lean.

The TPS is the big kahoona for the engine control unit for deciding how much gas to send into the cylinder via the injector. It only makes sense, if the throttle is closed dont inject much fuel, wide open, dump all it can in and find out where the throttle is by the throttle postion sensor. From the contol units perspective this is a voltage from this TPS of from 5v to about a half a volt. The 5 volts sent to the TPS is varried (or lowered) by the variable resitance of the TPS in what ever postion it is in. This lowered voltage is sent back to the control unit and the amount of time the injector is opened is varried accordingly.

Clear as mud now?

Set it for between 1 to 1.4k in the closed postion and make sure it reads 5k when wide open as well. Thats the place to have it!

Ziggy 1 --- '95 white 2dr, 5sp, a/c added, 252k, 43 top mpg (still got 'em)
No Name --- '95 teal 2 dr, 5sp, 98K, bad clutch, sold it b4 I named it
Ziggy 2 --- '95 white 2dr, 5sp, a/c 147k split rear seat, 49.3 top mpg (deceased, mortally injured in towing accident 2008)
Kermit --- '95 teal 2dr, 5sp, a/c 103k, upgraded interior package - the daily driver now
(Had 2 1988 Festivias in the '90's. Over 200k on them too)

All pulled "Trapper" the '89 kamparoo camper on the back roads I should'a been drivin' my jeep on (4x4 aspire??)