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Throttle Pedal Sensor???

27K views 14 replies 10 participants last post by  flingnlead  
#1 ·
Lately my throttle has beeen acting funny and my mechanic put his scanner on the truck and it said that the throttle pedal sensor was bad and the TPS was also throwing a code. Has anyone else ever had this problem and how much was it to get fixed?
Thanks,
Richard
 
#3 ·
he said that it was some kind of computer behind the pedal and that might have to be fixed, will that cost a lot?
 
#4 ·
Apex, that's a nice place. I'm just a few miles south of you in Sanford.

Your accelerator pedal has a position sensor. This sensor is mechanically connected to the pedal and electrically connected to the ECM, a.k.a. electronic control module, a.k.a. the "computer". It runs all of the functions of the engine and yes, it is expensive. I presume that you know that the accelerator has no mechanical connection to the engine, everything is run via the ECM. I seriously doubt that the ECM is your problem as they are pretty durable. In all due honesty, your mechanic sounds like he may not be extremely familiar with the PowerStroke. Locals tell me that Capital Ford in Raleigh is about the only "local" place to proficiently troubleshoot the PowerStroke.

If I were you, I would give replacing the sensor a shot. It's fairly cheap if it does not work. If that does not do the trick for you, then a trip to Capital might be in order.

Good luck!
 
#5 ·
Go down town and buy a Chiltons.
OK,OK,OK, everybody, simmer down, let me finish....
Sheesh!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif
Anyway, this repair is really simple and cheap and covered well in the Chiltons cheap-o manual.
Swap them out your self and save your hard earned dough.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif
 
#6 ·
Mine went out. Noticed it stoplight racing, and at full throttle it would go back to Idle. Was 115 bucks at Ford. You get the whole pedal and everything. And the new one is updated with a full throttle stop that the old one didn't. Fixed it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
#7 ·
When you say ECM are you talking about the main computer cause i just had a brand new computer put in mine. Yes i know that the pedal isn't mechanically operating the throttle, just learned it lastnight, but thanks anyway. When you say you got the whole pedal and everything did all that come with the throttle pedal sensor and how hard was it to change?

Thanks,
Richard
 
#10 ·
The "TPS" is the pedal. Obviously you're not going to find a butterfly in the intake system with a conventional TPS on it, so the pedal is the TPS for the system. The PCM uses the input from the accelerator pedal directly for strategy. Sometimes when it quits working all together it's the validation switch that's stuck. It has a validation "micro switch" that must first be tripped before the PCM will read the pedal voltage, if not the truck could run away on you if something went wrong in the pedal and you weren't even touching the pedal. The validation switch makes sure you're touching the pedal before the PCM reads it. I don't know the voltages to look for, but I'm sure someone on this site knows. You can put a standard voltmeter on the pedal and read the output from idle to full throttle to see if the voltage change is smooth and full range while sweeping the pedal through full cycle. Or just look at it on the scanner in real-time while cycling the pedal to see if the pedal voltage is proportionate. Just in general (don't quote me) but I believe the full range is from like 0 to 5 volts or something similar. It should at least change proportionatly no matter what, it shouldn't be jumping voltage in steps or roaming around with the pedal stationary or moving at constant speed.

.02

Charlie
 
#12 ·
I had a 97 with a similar problem. When I was barely pressing on the throttle going about 35-40 mph thru town the truck would rev and lurch. When I put the cruse control on it wouldn't do it. So I fugured it was in the sending unit at the foot. I took it to a "parts changer" at the local Ford dealer (there aren't real mechanics anymore, they just "change" what the computer tells them to). Anyway that's another story. They said they couldn't replace just the sensor, the whole pedal assembly would have to be ordered. It would be $400.00. So I unplugged the plug from the unit and took my air compressor on light psi and blew the dust out of the unit and sprayed some silicone in the plug and plugged it back in and it worked for years until I sold it.

Hope it helps /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
#13 ·
[ QUOTE ]
26.37 at the powerstrokeshop

[/ QUOTE ]

Big difference. Ouch. I'm way out of town, nearest Ford dealer is 60 miles away, so I guess I'm just glad when the right part comes in. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
#15 ·
How easy is it to just change the throttle position sensor and not change the whole pedal ass. nearest dealer is over a hour away.My truck started surging only around 1300 RPM any where elese and it is fine. Also seems to do it more when its cold. Truck has 48,000 miles on it. Anyone have directions or pictures of the sensor being changed.