How To Test The TPS Sensor (1995-2000 2.0L Dodge Stratus And Plymouth Breeze)

TEST 2: Making Sure The TPS Is Getting Power

The TPS needs both power and Ground to function; without these, it won't work properly. In this section, our focus is on checking that the TPS is actually getting the power it needs.

Power the TPS gets is in the form of 5 Volts DC and is provided by the fuel injection computer. To check for this, you'll need to use your multimeter again. The wire that supplies this voltage to the TPS is the violet with white stripe (VIO/WHT) wire.

The VIO/WHT wire connects to the female terminal labeled with the number 3 in the illustration above.

Once we're done and have confirmed that there are indeed 5 Volts supplied to the TPS, our next and last step will be making sure that it's also getting Ground from the fuel injection computer.

Let's get going:

1. 1

   Set your multimeter to its DC Volts function.

2. 2

   Disconnect the TPS sensor from its electrical connector.

3. 3

   Connect the black multimeter test lead directly on the negative (-) terminal of the battery.

4. 4

   Have your helper turn the key to the RUN position, but not crank or start the engine.

5. 5

   Gently probe the terminal identified with the number 3 using the red multimeter test lead.
   
   The female terminal identified with the number 3 connects to the VIO/WHT wire of the TPS sensor connector.
   
   NOTE: Be careful not to damage the female terminal with the multimeter's probe, or you'll have to replace the connector.

6. 6

   Your multimeter should register between 4.5 and 5 DC Volts if the VIO/WHT wire is supplying 5 Volts to the TPS sensor.

Let's take a look at what your test results mean:

CASE 1: The multimeter registered 4.5 to 5 Volts DC. This is the correct and expected test result.

Your next step is to make sure that the TPS is getting Ground from the black with light blue stripe (BLK/LT BLU) wire. For this test, go to: TEST 3: Making Sure The TPS Is Getting Ground.

CASE 2: The multimeter DID NOT register 4.5 to 5 Volts DC. Re-check your multimeter test lead connections and re-test.

If the multimeter still doesn't show the indicated voltage, then you've found the reason why the TPS isn't creating a voltage signal in TEST 1.

Although it's beyond the scope of this tutorial to find the reason why these 5 Volts are missing, the most likely reasons for these missing 5 Volts are:

• Open-circuit or short-circuit problem in the wire between the TPS connector and the fuel injection computer.
• Fuel injection computer is bad (very rare).
• Damaged TPS connector.

Your next step is to get a wiring diagram and check the continuity of this wire between the TPS and the fuel injection computer.

TEST 3: Making Sure The TPS Is Getting Ground

By this point, you've completed two crucial tests:

• First, you verified that the TP sensor is NOT generating an increasing and decreasing throttle plate voltage signal on ORG/DK BLU wire (TEST 1). Which means the fuel injection computer is not getting an accurate throttle input.
• Second, you've confirmed that the TP sensor is getting the necessary 5 Volts DC on the VIO/WHT wire from the fuel injection computer (TEST 2). This power is essential for the TPS to operate and send a throttle movement signal back to the ECU.

Now, the last test is to ensure that the black with light blue stripe (BLK/LT BLU) wire is supplying the TPS with the Ground it needs to complete its electrical circuit.

The BLK/LT BLU wire connects to the female terminal labeled with the number 1 in the illustration above.

CAUTION: Be careful and make sure not to short the BLK/LT BLU wire to battery voltage; otherwise, you risk damaging your Stratus or Breeze's fuel injection computer, which is a headache (and a costly mistake) you'll want to avoid. The multimeter voltage test I'm suggesting below is a safe way to check for the presence of Ground in this wire.

These are the test steps:

1. 1

   Set your multimeter to its DC Volts function.

2. 2

   Disconnect the TPS sensor from its electrical connector.

3. 3

   Connect the red multimeter test lead directly to the positive (+) terminal of the battery.

4. 4

   Have your helper turn the key to the RUN position, but not crank nor start the engine.

5. 5

   Gently probe the female terminal identified with the number 1 using the black multimeter test lead.
   
   The female terminal identified with the number 1 connects to the BLK/LT BLU wire of the TPS sensor connector.
   
   NOTE: Be careful not to damage the female terminal with the multimeter's probe, or you'll have to replace the connector.

6. 6

   Your multimeter should register between 10 and 12 Volts DC if the BLK/LT BLU wire is providing Ground to the TPS sensor.

Let's take a look at what your multimeter test results mean:

CASE 1: The multimeter registered 10 to 12 Volts DC. This test result confirms that the TPS is getting Ground.

You can conclude that the TPS is bad and needs replacement if you have:

1. Confirmed the TPS is not creating an increasing/decreasing throttle voltage signal (TEST 1).
2. Confirmed it's getting power (TEST 2).
3. Confirmed it's getting Ground (this test section).

CASE 2: The multimeter DID NOT register 10 to 12 Volts DC. Re-check your multimeter test lead connections and re-test. If the multimeter still does not show the indicated voltage, then you've found the reason why the TPS did not create a voltage signal in TEST 1.

Although it's beyond the scope of this tutorial to find the reason why this Ground is missing, the most likely reasons are:

• Open-circuit or short-circuit problem in the wire between the TPS connector and the fuel injection computer.
• Fuel injection computer is bad (very rare).
• Damaged TPS connector.

Your next step is to get a wiring diagram and check the continuity of this wire between the TPS and the fuel injection computer.