I want to adjust my TPS but the screws are impossible to get to, so the TB has to come out.

Instead of replacing it with tolerable bolts/screws, i might as well adjust it while its off the car. I understand it needs voltage (obviously) to make this adjustment work.

Would using an isolated 6 volt or even a 5 bolt battery if there is one work for this adjustment while the TPS/TB is off the car? I dont see why not.

I know the TPS only needs like 5 volts. I was thinking of using 12V off another car and using gator clips to make this adjustment but i think the 12V might be an overkill so i found a 6 volt batt at radio shack with the little spade terminals perfect to hook up the gator clips to, then i put the positive to the terminals on the tps, ground the ground and adjust, right?

Or am i missing something?

 

I suppose if you did that, you should measure the voltage source and scale the measurement numbers accordingly. So if the spec says 3v and you're using a 6v source, set it for 3*6/5 = 3.6v.

I was successful loosening the screws and using a pliers to turn the heads when I wanted to tighten them.

 

Dear God Rob...you've been struggling w/ your TPS for what, 6 months now?!

 

I had tried to see if anyone could recommend a way of calibrating the thing when it was off the car but I was basically told to not bother. One member did spec out the resistances across the two wires, which might help you some. In the end I ended up adjusting it on the car. I used a long screwdriver bit from a drill in a pair of vice grips. That worked okay. Here's the thread:

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/calibrating-tps-w-resistance-554460/

 

Actually i never even started. The car basically sat with the sickness all summer. I just started it up once a week and moved it up and down the driveway.

I wanted to get this thing back on the road before mid sept latest.

 

Honestly if you just set it near the middle you're almost guaranteed to get all the voltages within spec. I did that to get a good starting position and ended up having the readings near the middle of each spec range.

 

But doesnt age affect that?

Otherwise there wouldnt be a need for adjustment and everyone would just set it to the middle.

 

Never heard that. Not sure. Either way, from my experience the spec range is broad enough.

Regardless of if you adjust it off the car I'd still replace those screws with bolts.

 

why don't you just remove the throttle body, leave the tps plugged in and do it from a different angle. with the throttle body off, you can flip it around and get at the screws with absolutely zero effort or problem.

 

Try that and you'll see why no one would suggest that.

Oh yea, postwhoring Rob's thread... maybe i'll make it to 1600 posts this weekend.

EDIT: I'll just tell you why it's a bad idea:

1) The TPS connector is incredibly short. It's difficult getting enough slack to remove it.

2) It already hard enough taking voltage readings while opening and closing a spring loaded throttle body. Add to that having to some how hold the TB while it's flopping around on the TPS connector.

 

^^Yes

I can hardly unplug the TPS harness off the TPS because its sooo short!!

I feel like if im gonna pull it off, the wires would break. But anyway, the TB hanging is not a good idea unless you have a longer harness to work with. Plus bending over and trying to opening and closing the throttle plates while adjust, nah, it wont work like that.

dgeesaman, i knew about that, thanks man.

I will get that battery from radio shack and do it this weekend. Thanks yall.

O and yes i will replace the screws with something easier for the future. I hope i dont have to adjust the TPS anymore after this time.

 

it was just a thought

 

I know, it was a well thought out idea, just not something i would do. Im sure other people did it that way though.

 

Do you think its an overkill to use an isolated 12V??

I can use my discharged battery jumper. Its prob at like 9V now since i havent charged it in a month or so.

I cant find any 5-6 volt batteries anywhere. Radioshack said it will take 3 weeks to get one. I wanna do my TPS soon already.

 

I agree that you can use an external source for calibration and scale it as required. (In fact, it is likely that the factory calibrated it this way--using automated equipment.)

HOWEVER, doubling the voltage across a fixed resistance will also double the current through it. What that means is that you will have quadruple, that is 4 times, the power dissipation in that resistance. This heating could be a problem for the part, unless it was designed to handle the additional power.

I would suggest sticking to a small battery or regulated source. And you can use a lower voltage as well, even 1.5v will do if you scale everything appropriately, e.g.; 1.5/5. (In this case you multiply all values by 0.3) For best accuracy, base the scaling on the actual voltage you measure across the battery with the TPS hooked up.

 

There is no good reason to do what you are trying to do, so why do it? I'd be more worried about the affects you will have with your 6 volt battery and gator clips than the shortness of your harness. BTW, there is plenty of slack for your TPS, and you must have something pinching it down lower.

Remove the TB and flip until you can plug in the TPS, sharpen a paper clip, stick the paper clip into the back of the 2nd wire from the top (hands free!) clip one of your gator clips to the paper clip, one to ground, and the rest on the tester.
Turn the key to on and then rotate the throttle, noting the top and bottom ranges. Repeat for the lower wire.

If it were me, I would just replace the bolts with a hex head (not allen), adjust it on the car and call it done.

There is a very fine line when rotating the tps to get the correct voltage.

 

Well the 12V i questioned, people already say 6 volt wont do any harm.

And if its for my comfort, ill take a chance with the 6 volt, regardless if i can flip the TB over and do it, why do i have to be bent over trying to open the throttle, and doing all that jazz? I know people been adjusting it like this for years but thats like changing the dreaded fuel filter every month and knowing the pain in the *** it is, they dont bother relocating it to an easier spot.

Im trying to make things easier for people in my situation for the future too. They can just pick up a 7 dollar portable 6 volt battery and adjust their TPS in their bedroom.

Just trying to look people out as well as myself.

But ill try flipping the TB like you said because radio shack doesnt have the 6 volt battery in stock and i wanna do this this weekend.

Ill update this thread.

 

Let me throw this out there, 4 ni-cad batteries will give you 4.8 volts. Also computer power supplies can provide you with a regulated 5 volt source.

 

I just pulled my TB off, replaced the screws with 7mm bolts, reinstalled TB, adjusted while on car, and called it a day....

 

You must be older than most to be worring about leaning over. Were talking five minutes to adjust the thing once you have the bolts replaced.

No comparison. Fuel filters don't get changed every month, and are much more difficult than adjusting the TPS.


It's a car, when do you work on a car in your bedroom? Why spend any money when it can be done for free and quicker?


This I believe. In the end it is your car, and if others want to do the same, more power.

I think you will be happy most this way. I wish you luck.

I look forward to your results.