How To Test The TPS (1997-2001 2.0L Honda CR-V)

TEST 2: Making Sure The TPS Has Power And Ground

As mentioned before, the throttle position sensor needs power and Ground to produce a throttle plate signal.

So if in TEST 1 the TP sensor did not produce a voltage signal (or the signal stayed stuck in one value), then we need to make sure that the yellow with blue stripe (YEL/BLU wire is providing 5 Volts DC.

We're also gonna' check that the green with black stripe (GRN/BLK) wire is providing Ground.

IMPORTANT: The fuel injection computer on your 2.0L Honda CR-V is the component that provides Ground to the throttle position sensor. Be careful to not short-circuit the Ground wire to battery voltage or you will fry the fuel injection computer. The multimeter voltage test indicated below is a safe way to test this Ground circuit.

Let's get started:

1. 1

   Check the YEL/BLK wire for power with the Key On Engine Off (KOEO) (see illustration above).
   
   Back probe terminal number 3 with the red multimeter test lead and connect the black lead to the battery negative (-) post.
   
   The multimeter should register 4.5 to 5 Volts DC.

2. 2

   Check the GRN/BLK wire for Ground with the Key On Engine Off (KOEO) (see illustration above).
   
   Back probe terminal #1 with the black multimeter test lead and connect the red lead to the battery positive (+) post.
   
   The multimeter should register battery voltage (12+ Volts).

Let's interpret your test result:

CASE 1: Both Ground and power (5 Volts) are present. This is the correct and expected test result.

You can now conclude that the TPS is defective if you confirmed (in TEST 1) that the TP sensor is not producing a signal (or the signal stayed stuck in one value).

Here's why: If the throttle position sensor is getting power and Ground, then it should produce a voltage signal that increases when you open the throttle plate and decreases when you close it. Since in TEST 1 the signal did not react to the throttle plate movement and you have confirmed that the TP sensor is being fed power and voltage, you can now conclude that the TP sensor is bad.

CASE 2: Either Ground or power ARE NOT present. Without power or Ground the throttle position sensor will not produce a throttle angle voltage signal.

A lack of power or Ground is usually the result of a problem in the wiring between the TP sensor connector and the fuel injection computer connector. Although it's beyond the scope of this tutorial to further diagnose this wiring problem, your next step is to check the continuity of the power and Ground circuits between the TPS and the fuel injection computer.

More 2.0L Honda CR-V Tutorials

You can find a complete list of tutorials here: Honda 2.0L Index Of Articles.

Here's a sample of the tutorials you'll find there:

• How To Test The Ignition Coil (1999-2001 2.0L Honda CR-V).
• How To Test The Ignition Coil (1997-1998 2.0L Honda CR-V).
• How To Test The Ignition Control Module (1999-2001 2.0L Honda CR-V).
• How To Test The MAP Sensor (1997-2001 2.0L Honda CR-V).
• How To Test Engine Compression (1997-2001 2.0L Honda).

On YouTube, check out my following videos:

• How To Test The Ignition Coil (1999-2001 2.0L Honda CR-V) (at YouTube).
• How To Test The Ignition Control Module (1999, 2000, 2001 2.0L Honda CR-V) (at YouTube).
• How To Test The Fuel Pump (1997-2001 2.0L Honda CR-V) (at: YouTube).