What is the difference between the 3.8L and the 5L TPS? Would a 5L one be better on a 3.8L or give incorrect readings etc?
True dat. Better off with a wrecker or spending the big bucks on OEM, the $30 FleaBay jobbies are absolute **** (yes I was dumb enough once).
I've looked through the Holden VS and VT service manuals and I can't see any difference between the voltages on the TPSs of the V6 and V8 engines. They all have the same description: THROTTLE POSITION (TP) SENSOR The Throttle Position (TP) sensor is connected to the throttle shaft on the throttle body unit as shown in. It is a potentiometer with one end connected to 5 volts from the ECM/PCM and the other end to ECM/PCM earth. A third wire connects from a sliding contact in the TP sensor to the ECM/PCM allowing the ECM/PCM to measure the voltage from the TP sensor. As the throttle is moved (accelerator pedal moved), the output of the TP sensor changes. At a closed throttle position, the output of the TP sensor is below 1.25V. As the throttle valve opens, the output increases so that, at wide-open throttle, the output voltage should be about 4 volts. By monitoring the output voltage from the TP sensor, the ECM/PCM can determine fuel delivery based on throttle valve angle (driver demand). A broken or loose TP sensor can cause intermittent bursts of fuel from the injectors, and an unstable idle, because the ECM/PCM interprets the throttle is moving. The TP sensor is not adjustable and there is not a set value for voltage at closed throttle because the actual voltage at closed throttle can vary from vehicle to vehicle due to tolerances. The ECM/PCM has a special program built into it that can adjust for the tolerances in the TP sensor voltage reading at idle. The ECM/PCM uses the reading at idle for the zero reading (0% throttle) so no adjustment is necessary. Even if the TP sensor voltage reading were to change for some reason, the TP sensor will still be 0% because the ECM/PCM will learn the new value and it will become the new closed throttle value to be used and no driveability complaint will be present because the ECM/PCM learned a new setting. A TP sensor circuit problem will set DTC 21 or DTC 22.If the internal spring in the TP sensor fails, the TP sensor will be stuck high. A sticking TP sensor should set DTC 19.
To be honest, that's quite possibly correct, I've never put it to the test. I only know from word of mouth and the fact that commodore tps have multiple part numbers that relate to the engine number, differentiated by L27, L36 and the 5.0L. The same is the case with the iacv however I've never had an issue interchanging them (slight differences in the plunger head). Manufacturer semantics maybe?
Yeah I got a TPS recently from Ebay, weird revs the other day so I unplugged TPS and went back to normal, dunno what was going on exactly
After you change the TPS, turn the ignition on and press the accelerator to the floor and back up again a couple of times (without starting the engine). That will let the PCM/ECU quickly learn the voltage range of the new TPS.
So the shitbay TPS is a heap of ****? Lucky cos that's what I was gonna go for lucky I ask before I buy lol.
The one I grabbed from eBay lasted 2 months, until I got some erratic behaviour similar to what Frogsta was describing. I'd reset it, then it'd be fine for a day, then fluctuate and stall all over the place, reset it, fine for a day, then...... Went to a wrecker, grabbed one off a wreck, here we are 2 years later
When it comes to sensors get oem ones same with dfi modules and coil packs because 9 times out of 10 the cheap stuff fails or acts up and your then spending more to replace them
