How To Test The Throttle Position Sensor (2001-2006 2.4L Cirrus And Stratus)

TEST 2: Verifying TP Sensor Has 5 Volts And Ground

If you've reached this point, you have confirmed that the TPS is not creating a voltage signal that increases/decreases as you open/close the throttle plate.

In some cases this is caused by a lack of 5 Volts or Ground to the throttle position sensor.

So in this test section, we're gonna' make sure that both are present. The wire that supplies power to the TPS is the violet with white stripe (VIO/WHT) wire.

Ground is supplied to the TPS by the black with light blue (BLK/LT BLU) wire of the TPS connector.

NOTE: Ground is provided by your Chrysler or Dodge vehicle's fuel injection computer. So be careful to not apply battery power to the Ground wire or you'll fry the computer. The voltage test I'm describing below (to test for Ground) is a safe way of verifying the presence of this Ground.

These are the test steps:

1. 1

   Place your multimeter in Volts DC mode.

2. 2

   Turn the key the ON position but don't start the engine.

3. 3

   Disconnect the TPS sensor from its electrical connector.

4. 4

   Verify that the VIO/WHT wire has voltage (4.5 to 5 Volts DC) with the key on but engine off.
   
   Connect the red multimeter test lead (using the appropriate tool) to the VIO/WHT wire. Connect the black multimeter test lead to the negative battery terminal.
   
   Your multimeter should read 4.5 to 5 Volts DC.

5. 5

   Verify that the BLK/LT BLU wire has Ground with the key on but engine off.
   
   Connect the black multimeter test lead (using the appropriate tool) to the BLK/LT BLU wire. Connect the red multimeter test lead to the positive battery terminal.
   
   Your multimeter should read 10 to 12 Volts DC.

Let's analyze your test results:

CASE 1: 5 Volts and Ground are present. This is the correct test result.

You can conclude that the TPS sensor is defective and needs to be replaced if you have:

• Confirmed that the TPS voltage signal does not increase/decrease as you open/close the throttle plate.
• Verified that the VIO/WHT wire is supplying 5 Volts.
• Verified that the BLK/LT BLU wire is supplying Ground.

Check my TPS sensor recommendations here: Where To Buy The TP Sensor And Save.

CASE 2: 5 Volts are NOT present. Without these 5 Volts the TPS sensor will not function.

Although it's beyond the scope of this tutorial to troubleshoot these missing 5 Volts, the most likely cause is an open-circuit problem in the wire between the TPS sensor's connector and the fuel injection computer's connector.

CASE 3: Ground is NOT present. Without Ground the TPS sensor will not function.

Although it's beyond the scope of this tutorial to troubleshoot this missing Ground, the most likely cause is an open-circuit problem in the wire between the TPS sensor's connector and the fuel injection computer's connector.

More 2.4L Chrysler And Dodge Tutorials

You can find a complete list of 2.4L Dodge tutorials in this index:

• Chrysler 2.4L Index Of Articles.

Here's a small sample of the tutorials you'll find in the index:

• How To Test Engine Compression (2.4L Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth).
• How To Test For A Blown Head Gasket (2.4L Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth).
• Ignition System Wiring Diagram (1995-1998 2.4L Cirrus, Stratus, Breeze).
• Fuel Injector Circuit Wiring Diagram (1995-2000 2.4L Cirrus, Stratus, Breeze).