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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Trucks / December 20061995 Bronco TPS fault
I have a 1995 Bronco, 5.8L. About this time last year it started having a problem with the idle, it would get stuck high or seek idle between a couple of values. It was very intermittent. When it was exhibiting the problem, it would display frequent Check Engine lights. It would come and go. I sometimes had success clearing it by shutting off the engine and restarting, other times not. It was never consistent enough that I could show it to the shop. They did check the stored fault codes, it was TPS (Throttle Position Sensor). That makes sense with what I was seeing. About late February, it just went away. Everything was fine through the spring, summer, and fall. Now, it's reappeared. It seems vaguely like it might be ambient temp related, but it didn't do it during very cold weather a few weeks ago, and the weather is actually very mild at this time when it's doing it quite a bit. As you can imagine, it's a PITA when driving, especially when parking. I'd like to get it resolved. One approach would be just to have the TPS replaced. It looks like about a $50 part if bought by the consumer, probably some shop markup in a repair situation. I don't know what the normal labor charge for that job would be. My concern would be replacing that and not resolving it. Are there other likely causes for this condition and/or fault code? Is there something I could have the shop look for even if it's not showing the condition? They really didn't work on it very much last time because they couldn't reproduce the error and had other things to do. Then it cleared up semi-permanently (until now) shortly thereafter. Brian  SignatureIf televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who won't shut up. -- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com) I too have a '95 Bronco with the same motor. I had a Check light that would come and go -- sometimes it would come and go in the same trip without me doing anything. In any case, I bought a code reader for about $30, which said that I had problems with an O2 sensor. I replaced the sensor and used the scan tool to reset the code. No problems since. If I was in your shoes, I'd unplug the TPS connector and clean it. Well, first I would buy a code reader and confirm the problem. I have a friend that has a "00 Explorer that was behaving similarly to your truck, and the problem could be mimiced repeatedly by disconnecting and reconnecting the TPS. I recall that the problem was resolved by cleaning the connector. My scan tool is the ACTRON Model CP9015, and is specifically designed to pull codes from domestic Ford products. > I have a 1995 Bronco, 5.8L. About this time last year it started having > a problem with the idle, it would get stuck high or seek idle between a [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > Brian > If I was in your shoes, I'd unplug the TPS connector and clean it. > Well, first I would buy a code reader and confirm the problem. I have > a friend that has a "00 Explorer that was behaving similarly to your > truck, and the problem could be mimiced repeatedly by disconnecting > and reconnecting the TPS. I recall that the problem was resolved by > cleaning the connector. I don't really work on my vehicles much anymore, it's a time thing. I'll look into your suggestion, it sounds good. Brian SignatureIf televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who won't shut up. -- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com) >> If I was in your shoes, I'd unplug the TPS connector and clean it. >> Well, first I would buy a code reader and confirm the problem. I have [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >Brian If you have gotten a TPS fault code it is probably bad since they are often bad without displaying a code. - IOW, it has to be pretty far out of range to set a code. The TPS is simple to replace with no adjustment possible. All you need is a properly fitting phillips screwdriver. Just pay attention to the way the blade is oriented when you remove the old one and make sure the throttl opens fully and freely after installation. You can reset the code by disconnecting the negative battery cable for 10 minutes or more. When you restart the engine, do not touch anything other than the starter. Allow it to idle 5-10 minutes to relearn it's idle and drive a few miles normally to complete the process. There is no way to clean a TPS as it is fully encased. You $50 price is in line with sealer prices. You should be able to get a good quality replacement for around $30. Lugnut > If you have gotten a TPS fault code it is probably bad since > they are often bad without displaying a code. - IOW, it has > to be pretty far out of range to set a code. Sounds you think it's almost certainly that and not something else. That sounds fine, I'll call the shop and get scheduled just to replace it. It was acting up again today, and I doubt that's good for the other drive train components. > The TPS is > simple to replace with no adjustment possible. I'm sure it is, but I just really don't work on it anymore at all. It's not easy for a short guy like me to even reach a lot of the engine stuff easily, and with the time factor it's better just to let the shop take care of the actual work. Thanks for information. Brian SignatureIf televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who won't shut up. -- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com) >> If you have gotten a TPS fault code it is probably bad since >> they are often bad without displaying a code. - IOW, it has [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >it. It was acting up again today, and I doubt that's good for the other >drive train components. It is one of several sensors in that circuit that are inrer realted. It is the only mechanical/electrical components subject to mechanical wear and environmental contamination which makes it by far the most likely of those components to fail. A sophisticated tester like the Ford STAR tester can usually pinpoint it in the hands of a knowledgeable technician. In the absence of that resource, I would simply replace it. If you have someone do the work for you, you should have them clean the throttle body and IAC (idle air control) at the same time to make sure the idle system is in good shape. This may eliminate a couple of other idle gremlins that may show up after a good TPS is installed. The IAC itself may be bad but, it will not cause a TPS fault code. Lugnut >> The TPS is >> simple to replace with no adjustment possible. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >Brian > >> If you have gotten a TPS fault code it is probably bad since > >> they are often bad without displaying a code. - IOW, it has [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > which makes it by far the most likely of those components to > fail. Ok, thanks. Brian SignatureIf televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who won't shut up. -- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com) > I have a 1995 Bronco, 5.8L. About this time last year it started having > a problem with the idle, it would get stuck high or seek idle between a [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > fault codes, it was TPS (Throttle Position Sensor). That makes sense > with what I was seeing. In case anyone was burning up with curiosity about this (and why wouldn't you interested in the minutiae of my life?) it turned out to be a combination of a bad idle air motor and a bad TPS. Brian > In case anyone was burning up with curiosity about this (and why > wouldn't you interested in the minutiae of my life?) it turned out to > be a combination of a bad idle air motor and a bad TPS. idle air control valvue? http://www.explorer4x4.com/iac.htm > > In case anyone was burning up with curiosity about this (and why > > wouldn't you interested in the minutiae of my life?) it turned out [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > http://www.explorer4x4.com/iac.htm Idle air control motor is what's on the invoice. I suspect it's the same thing. Brian SignatureIf televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who won't shut up. -- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com) > In case anyone was burning up with curiosity about this (and why > wouldn't you interested in the minutiae of my life?) it turned out to > be a combination of a bad idle air motor and a bad TPS. idle air control valvue? http://www.explorer4x4.com/iac.htm |
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