How to Find, Remove and Test a Throttle Position Sensor: Caravan and Others

An erratic idle followed by a check engine code signaled trouble in the throttle position circuit in a Dodge Caravan. This video will help with locating, testing, removing and replacing the faulty sensor.

[@goclunker]

I am watching this because I installed a autozone tps after the factory one completely crapped out. Full throttle and the van decelerated to a stop and stalled. I am not convinced the autozone one is good. Here is why: No cel. Sometimes it feels like there is a lag between pushing the accelerator and the engine reacting. Easy to replicate with ac on, and car in gear. Doesn’t always happen with ac off, just i have felt it. Sometimes, turbo effect. At WOT, sometimes it will feel like a turbo suddenly kicks in at high rpms and the van pulls more. Sometimes, holding the throttle steady at very low idle speed, it feels like the van surges. Finally, surging in 4th gear in cruise control going down hill. 3.8L with autostick (that’s how i can get the 4th gear-surge) Everything else is brand new and OE. This is the only non OE sensor and I am feeling like it is causing some issues. The original TPS was def bad. It even killed one injector. I have a spare mopar tps i am gonna try to swap in tomorrow and see if there are changes. Oh, and the fuel economy in the city…christ.

[@ericharrison7545]

Thanks man

[@quicoanderson6585]

Hola! espero lea español y me puedas ayudar? tengo una caravan 93 motor (3.0 L 6g72) si no me equivoco modera a 950 rpm promedio. mi camioneta esta en 800 promedio me marca el escaner! tengo map nuevo, tps y válvula iac por las dudas pero no llega a las 950 rpm. consulta: sabe usted si las vueltas las regula la computadora o hay que regular tambien del tornillo de la mariposa? o si la computadora tiene atraves del escaner la posibilidad de grabar las vueltas. mi escaner me deja subir las vuetas y la computadora responde pero no se si este modelo tiene la capacidad de grabar? gracias saludos

[@iambobby3537]

Thanks for the video. What was that red wire you held at the end?

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

That's the output wire. I made up a test lead to help in troubleshooting. 1:02

[@josemanuel-nt7nb]

Esto esta vueno

[@theapostolicwaydcjcapostol1645]

How do I do this particularly for a 3.8 dodge grand caravan?

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

The sensor can be found on the throttle body. It make look and mount a little differently but testing and replacing should be similar.

[@Official_Dominatus]

So I have a 2005 Chrysler town and country 3.3 V6. I have replaced the sensor twice now and ended up going back to the original because the problem doesn't go away. Well the first sensor was able to turn backwards, that made it not work at all (bought the cheap one from o'reilly auto parts first) I could tell it wasn't working using my ohm meter and also by the fact I lost cruise control completely! The second one I got from amazon and it worked for about 75 miles and the problem came back, maybe it never left but it seemed to run great after cleaning the throttle body till it was silver again. I was then going to check that one to see if the throttle body had leaded oil/fuel onto it like the old TPS, it was getting covered in oil coming from the throttle body (maybe that throttle body is bad?). So when i tried to pull the connector off the entire TPS exploded and only the back half came off... Are TPS this bad these days!? So the old one is back in, still having the same issues and kinda scared to try and get another one. Is there a higher quality TPS that won't explode or easily turn backwards/bust internally? I am still sure its the TPS as the van can kick ass at full speed. Some people tell me to check the fuel filter or pump, some said to check for water in the tank (idk if that is likely without vandals) then someone else said to check the relays going to the fuel pump... So many possible causes for the jumpy acceleration at lower throttles (especially during cruise) according to everyone I been talking with. I am still sure its the TPS and im just having very bad luck with them... Back to the throttle body, do those normally have oil pass through and gunk up the TPS/Connectors causing resistance issues? (on the OLD TPS I can tell that is the case as it has a bad seal and is obviously getting the oil to pass through completely). Also wondering if the throttle body might be torqued slightly causing the TPS to be slightly off at lower throttle if thats even possible. Maybe my best bet is to check the voltage as you show I can probably poke through the wire and watch it then just tape it up or sneak the leads of my meter behind the connector while its running? Thanks for reading all of this if you did! Any suggestions would be amazing as I have been fighting this for 2 weeks lol replaced my EGR thinking it was going bad, plugs were pretty bad and the wires went with that. And I dread having to change any injectors... or any fuel related item ill leave that for a mechanic probably

[@Official_Dominatus]

Just read that its possible for a clogged PCV valve to cause oil to come through the throttle body! Is this something you are aware of?

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

There shouldn't be oil in the throttle body. The tps is just a variable resistor and oil shouldn't effect it. OEM (Mopar) might be your best (and more expensive) option. I like Rock Auto for variety and quality.

[@Official_Dominatus]

@@TheOriginalMechanic yeah not sure what the liquid was but it was black/dark like oil and had the same consistency. Some oils do conduct electric current so if it really was passing through the TPS/POT it will cause random resistance values. When I pull this again, likely tomorrow sometime if the throttle body that I cleaned 100% has any fluid in the chamber leading to the TPS I'll have to figure out what's going on. And yeah Mopar is super expensive but I don't see the point for such a simple component, may be looking into other issues but will find out for sure soon enough

[@kestutislinkus5543]

I found in my crysler, that MAP sensor was foulty/oiled/not clean, then all the stuff was going bad. It was not clean becouse of spark plugs feilure couse oil come to trottle and whole air flow intake. Changed but like posters here already found- they both must talk to each other same, otherway it will not make changes to beter. So im going to change the trottle position sensor to new, and see things hapen. Ordered 2 already, but both spins other side, not clokvice. waiting for third to come.

[@kestutislinkus5543]

Spark plugs where foulty becouse of faults in Camshaft Position Sensor Spark plugs where stil operating, but causing choucks on low spins+ tention: driving to small hill or just parking backwards.

[@harrellkendra]

Will this make my car won’t start

[@TheOriginalMechanic]

no

[@harrellkendra]

My son hooked the jumper cables up wrong now my 2009 dodge caravan won’t start