mk3 code 41

[suprabran]

The book says it is the Throttle position sensor. I have been trying to adjust it becuase my idle is bad. But with the code does that mean the sensor is bad or can it still be adjusted? Also where is the cheapest place to buy one other than the junk yard?

[Jeeves]

Have you been properly adjusting it? Or just at random? It has a very, very specific adjustment. Anything outside of that will throw the code and it is one of the most important sensors in the car.

[suprabran]

The code has been on for a while, I have been trying to adjust it every now and then. I live in a apartment they get mad about every time I open my hood. I have read how to adjust it, but it seems complicated. How is the best way to adjust it Jeeves? The Haynes manual talks about checking the sensor closed, fully open, and between 2 measurements with a feeler gauge. So what is the best way to use? Also the protector over the wires to the senor are burned through to the rubber, so I thought maybe the wires could be bad the wires look good though I used some electrical tape to cover it back up. But I don't know the best way to check the wires. I wanted to make sure I do it right. I was thinking use the negative side of the battery with a volt meter, and go to each wire. But I wanted to wait and make sure I do it right.

[bgrieger]

It is a little tricky, but it is only precise, not tough. From the TSRM (can't find my Haynes now to test...it's probably in the garage somewhere)

Insert a .7mm (.0276) between the throttle stop and the lever and you will put the ohm meter across E2 and IDL (bottom 2 pins on the GTE, top 2 on the GE, and E2 is the first pin). With the sensor turned all the way counter clockwise, start to turn the sensor clockwise until the ohm meter drops and bolt it down. A needle type will deflect, a digital will either drop to infinite or waver toward it. You may need to do it a couple of times to get a feel for it. Confirm then once you think you have it that at .5mm (.0197) you have continuity, and at .9 (.0354) you don't.

If you get it set and still have the code, or if you can't get any readings, you need to test the sensor itself. That one is tougher and takes more feelers and time with the Ohm meter, and needs the sensor adjusted correctly to do all of these.

Closed (no feelers) - E2 and VTA (E2 is top pin on a GE, bottom on a GTE and VTA is third from E2) is supposed to be between 0.2-1.2 KOhm.

.5mm feeler - E2 and IDL (pin 1 and 2, refer above for where the E2 is) should be under 2.3KOhm.

.9mm feeler - E2 and IDL should be infinite (no continuity)

full open throttle - E2 and VTA should be between 3.5-10.3 KOhm

At any position - E2 and VC (pin 4 counting from E2) should be between 4.25 and 8.25 Kohm

[Jeeves]

The instructions I'm fond of are saved from the old SOGI EMail List:

Reset TPS: Loosen the two screws of the TPS, insert a 0.58mm
thickness gauge under the throttle stop screw (down by the Dash
Pot), connect an ohmmeter between IDL and E2 at the TPS,
gradually turn the TPS sensor counterclockwise until the needle of
the ohmmeter deflects (yep, an analog ohmmeter will be a better
indicator than a digital one), and secure the two screws. Check
that the setting is OK by inserting a .40mm thickness gauge
(continuity) and then a .75 thickness gauge (no continuity).

Arlene Lanman
88T automatic