APP Sensor Tests (2005-2009 3.5L Chevy Malibu And Pontiac G6)

TEST 2: Testing The Resistance Between Terminals E And F (APP Sensor 1)

How To Test APP Sensor 1 And APP Sensor 2 (2007, 2008, 2009 3.5L Chevrolet Malibu and 3.5L Pontiac G6)

In this test section, we're gonna' test the continuity of terminals E and F while we manually depress the accelerator pedal.

Terminal E is the terminal that outputs the APP sensor 1 signal to the fuel injection computer. Terminal F is the one that gets 5 Volts from to the fuel injection computer.

As the accelerator pedal is depressed, your multimeter's resistance readings should decrease smoothly and without gaps.

As you slowly release the accelerator pedal, the resistance reading should increase back to the original resistance value you observed at the start.

NOTE: All multimeter connections are done on the male spade terminals of the APP sensor assembly itself.

These are the test steps:

  1. 1

    Disconnect the APP sensor assembly from its electrical connector.

  2. 2

    Place your multimeter in Ohms mode.

    Connect the red multimeter test lead to terminal E.

    Connect the black multimeter test lead to terminal F.

  3. 3

    At this point you're gonna' see about 1.9 K Ohms.

  4. 4

    Slowly depress the pedal by hand till it bottoms out.

    The resistance value should decrease to about 1.1 K Ohms.

  5. 5

    Slowly release the accelerator pedal.

    The resistance value should increase back to 1.9 K Ohms (the value you observed in step 3).

Let's examine your test results:

CASE 1: The multimeter registered the indicated resistance values. This is the correct test result.

The next step is to check the resistance between terminals E and D: TEST 3: Testing The Resistance Between Terminals E And D (APP Sensor 1).

CASE 2: The multimeter DID NOT register the indicated resistance values. This lets you know that APP sensor 1 is bad. You'll need to replace the APP sensor assembly of the accelerator pedal.

To be a bit more specific: The correct test result is that the resistance should decrease/increase smoothly and without any gaps as you depress/release the accelerator pedal. If this did not happen, then APP sensor 1 is defective.

TEST 3: Testing The Resistance Between Terminals E And D (APP Sensor 1)

How To Test APP Sensor 1 And APP Sensor 2 (2007, 2008, 2009 3.5L Chevrolet Malibu and 3.5L Pontiac G6)

In this test section, we're gonna' test the resistance between terminals E and D while we depress/release the accelerator pedal.

The expected test result is for the resistance to increase/decrease smoothly and without any gaps in the resistance reading as the pedal is depressed/released.

NOTE: All multimeter connections are done on the male spade terminals of the APP sensor assembly itself.

These are the test steps:

  1. 1

    Disconnect the APP sensor assembly from its electrical connector.

  2. 2

    Place your multimeter in Ohms mode.

    Connect the red multimeter test lead to terminal E.

    Connect the black multimeter test lead to terminal D.

  3. 3

    At this point your multimeter should read about 1 K Ohms to 1.2 K Ohms.

  4. 4

    Slowly depress the accelerator pedal till it bottoms out.

    The resistance value should increase to about 1.8 K Ohms to 2 K Ohms.

  5. 5

    Slowly release the accelerator pedal.

    The resistance value should decrease back to 1 K Ohms to 1.2 K Ohms (the value you observed in step 3).

Let's examine your test results:

CASE 1: The multimeter registered the indicated resistance values. This is the correct test result.

If APP sensor 1 passed TEST 1, TEST 2, and TEST 3, then you can conclude that it's not defective.

The next step is to test APP sensor 2. For the first test go to: TEST 4: Testing The Resistance Between Terminals A And C (APP Sensor 2).

CASE 2: The multimeter DID NOT register the indicated resistance values. This lets you know that APP sensor 1 is bad. Replace the accelerator pedal position (APP) sensor assembly.

Chevrolet Vehicles:

  • Malibu 3.5L
    • 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

Pontiac Vehicles:

  • G6 3.5L
    • 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010