How To Test The Throttle Position Sensor (2.5L V6 Grand Vitara)

The throttle position sensor, on your 2.5L V6 Grand Vitara, can be tested with a simple multimeter to see if it's bad or not. That's right... no scan tool needed!

In this tutorial, I'm gonna' show you how to do it in a step-by-step way.

NOTE: This tutorial applies only to the 2.5L Grand Vitara and 2.5L Chevrolet Tracker. For the specifics, check out the Applies To: box on the right column.

Symptoms Of A Bad Throttle Position Sensor

The throttle position sensor's job is to simply report the throttle plate angle to your 2.5L Grand Vitara's PCM (Powertrain Control Module).

Why? Well, in a nutshell: This is due to the fact that the throttle plate is connected (via a cable) to the accelerator pedal and the PCM wants/needs to know when you're stepping on/off the pedal.

The info the TPS provides the PCM makes it one very important sensor! So, when it fails, your Grand Vitara's engine performance is gonna' take a major hit!

When the TPS fails, you'll also see one or more of the following symptoms:

1. Check engine light (CEL) illuminated on your 2.5L Grand Vitara's instrument panel.
2. A TPS diagnostic trouble code (DTC) stored in the PCM's memory:
   • P0121: Throttle Position Sensor Circuit Performance.
   • P0122: Throttle Position Sensor Signal Voltage Low.
   • P0123: Throttle Position Sensor Signal Voltage High.
3. Your Grand Vitara's fails the smog check (state mandated emissions test).
4. Bad gas mileage.
5. Hard start and/or extended cranking time (after shut off).
6. Black smoke coming out of the tailpipe.
7. Hesitation when accelerating your vehicle down the road.

Thankfully, the TPS can be tested without a scan tool and in the next section we'll start with the very first test.

Where To Buy Your TP Sensor And Save

Buying your 2.5L Suzuki Grand Vitara's TPS online is your best bet at saving some bucks. The following links will help you shop and compare:

Not sure if the above TP sensor fits your particular 2.5L Grand Vitara? Don't worry, once you get to the site, they'll make sure it fits by asking you the particulars of your vehicle. If it doesn't fit, they'll find you the right one.

TEST 1: Testing The Throttle Position Sensor Voltage Signal

The throttle position sensor's job is to inform the fuel injection computer of the throttle plate's angle as it opens or closes.

The TPS uses power and Ground to create a throttle angle voltage signal. It sends the throttle angle voltage signal to the fuel injection computer thru' the RED/GRN wire of the TPS electrical connector.

The first order of business, to see if the TPS is working correctly or not, is to tap into this wire with a multimeter, and see if the TPS is creating a correct throttle angle voltage signal while we manually open and close the throttle plate.

NOTE: The throttle position sensor has to remain connected to its connector for this test to work (this is where a wire piercing probe comes in handy to get to the signal inside the wire. To see what one looks like, click here: Wire Piercing Probe Tool).

OK, let's start:

Part 1:

1. 1

   Place your multimeter in Volts DC mode and with the red multimeter test lead probe the middle wire of the sensor's connector. This is the RED/GRN wire that connects to TPS pin #2 in the illustration above.

2. 2

   Ground the black multimeter test lead on the battery negative (-) terminal. Have your helper turn the key ON, but don't start the engine (this will power up the TP sensor).

3. 3

   Your multimeter should report a voltage between 0.2 to 0.9 Volts DC. If your multimeter doesn't, don't worry about it just yet, continue with the other steps.

Part 2:

1. 4

   Now, slowly open the throttle (by hand and from the engine compartment) while you observe the change in voltage numbers on your multimeter.
   
   For this test result to be accurate, you need to open the throttle by hand and not from inside the vehicle.

2. 5

   As the throttle opens, the voltage numbers will increase. This increase in voltage should be smooth and without any gaps or skips. Once the throttle is wide open, your multimeter should read somewhere between 3.5 to 4.5 Volts DC.

3. 6

   Now, slowly close the throttle. As the throttle is closing, you should see the voltage decrease smoothly and without any gaps or skips, to the exact same voltage you noticed in step 4.

Part 3:

1. 7

   OK, now you'll need someone to help you lightly tap on the throttle position sensor with the handle of a screw-driver (or something similar, and I want to emphasize the words 'lightly tap') as you slowly open and close the throttle and observe the multimeter.
   
   If the TPS is bad, the tapping will cause the voltage numbers to skip or go blank. If the TPS is OK, the tapping will have no effect on the voltage numbers.

2. 8

   Repeat step 7 several times to make sure of your multimeter test results.

Let's take a look at your test results:

CASE 1: The throttle angle voltage increased and decreased as you opened and closed the throttle plate. This test result confirms that the TP sensor is OK and not defective.

I suggest one more check, and this is to see if the TPS is adjusted correctly. For this adjustment check, go to: How To Adjust the Grand Vitara TPS.

CASE 2: The throttle angle voltage DID NOT increase (and/or decrease) as you opened and closed the throttle plate. This test result confirms that the TPS is behind the TPS trouble code lighting up the check engine light (CEL) on your 2.5L Grand Vitara.

I'm gonna' suggest that you make sure that the TP sensor is getting both power and Ground by performing the last two tests in this tutorial. To check that the TPS is getting power, go to: TEST 2: Verifying Throttle Position Sensor Has Power.

CASE 3: The multimeter DID NOT register any voltage. This test result doesn't condemn the TP sensor as bad just yet. Why?

Because the TP sensor may be missing either power or Ground. So the next step is to check that the TP sensor is getting power, go to: TEST 2: Verifying Throttle Position Sensor Has Power.