Most of the modern motorcycles are equipped with the Electronic Fuel Injection system also called EFI. The EFI is found in most of the bikes in India above one lakh rupee price range. Most of the people have started to go with the Electronic Fuel Injection system because it performs well and is more responsive than the carburetor. The components of the Electronic Fuel Injection system are very reliable and failing parts can only be nit picked. One of those components that could fail is called the 'Throttle Position Sensor'.RELATED ARTICLE: Motorcycle Fuel Injection (Fi) System Explained
The Throttle Position Sensor is the part of the vehicle Fuel Management System that helps us to ensure that the engine is getting the right amount of air-fuel mixture at every moment. The TPS provides direct digital signals to the fuel injection system. The throttle position sensor signal is measured and combined many times per second with other data such as air temperature, engine RPM, mass flow rate and how quickly the throttle position changes. These data determine exactly how quickly and how much amount of fuel has to be injected by the injector for the next few seconds. This is done multiple times per second.
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If the Throttle Position Sensor and the other buddy sensors work properly together, then the vehicle will deliver the performance as the rider expects it to do, it also measures the angle of the throttle valve in the petrol engines. The signal of the throttle position sensor is used to more precisely calculate the fuel injection quantity.
The TPS tells the ECM where the intake butterflies are in their travel from fully closed to wide open. The information, combined with other data from the other sensors, allow the ECM to correctly meter the fuel being sprayed from the injectors. The main reason for the throttle position sensor to fail is due to its wear and tear. As we twist open the throttle, it eventually begins to wear out. The throttle position sensor can fail in multiple ways, all which result in poor performance. The sensor can fail gradually or can fail suddenly too. In most of the cases, the Check engine light turns on as a warning when the throttle position sensor failure is detected.
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The throttle position sensor has two main parts, a traveling contact also called the Wiper and the Surface that it moves along. This Surface has a conductive base with an overlaid variable resistance coating that is applied in a linearly decreasing manner from high resistance to low resistance as the closed throttle point to the low point where the throttle is fully open. As the throttle opens, the Wiper moves along the coating and sends signals to the ECM. The voltage rises as the throttle opens when the voltage starts it remains lesser than a volt and rises to a maximum up to 5 volts.
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Once the Throttle Position Sensor begins to fail, even partially, it must be replaced right away. Replacing the throttle position sensor will include clearing off the relevant faulty codes and may require software reprogramming, so it is always advisable to get it replaced by a professional.
Symptoms that are shown when the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) begins to fail:
* The vehicle won’t accelerate as it will do normally. The acceleration can be smooth but it will just lack the power that it must possess. Sometimes the motorcycle might just accelerate itself even when the throttle is twisted partially. If these problems occur, then the sensor must be replaced as soon as possible.
* If the engine begins to misfire, have bad idling issues, such as very low idling or roughness or stalling issues, then consider it's time to get the sensor replaced.
* Another major issue caused due to the Throttle Position Sensor failure is that the motorcycle tends to accelerates but won’t be able accelerate or shift after a certain limit. This can become a major issue.
* The engine warning light can come into an aid when the Throttle Position Sensor fails, but why wait for so long? If any of the symptoms mentioned above begin to occur, it is good to get it checked by a technician.
* It is always better to get the Throttle Position Sensor replaced rather than getting it cleaned because cleaning can come into handy for a few days, but over the long run, it may fail at any time. So make sure you get it replaced and not cleaned.
By: Rishath Suresh
* If the engine begins to misfire, have bad idling issues, such as very low idling or roughness or stalling issues, then consider it's time to get the sensor replaced.
* Another major issue caused due to the Throttle Position Sensor failure is that the motorcycle tends to accelerates but won’t be able accelerate or shift after a certain limit. This can become a major issue.
* The engine warning light can come into an aid when the Throttle Position Sensor fails, but why wait for so long? If any of the symptoms mentioned above begin to occur, it is good to get it checked by a technician.
* It is always better to get the Throttle Position Sensor replaced rather than getting it cleaned because cleaning can come into handy for a few days, but over the long run, it may fail at any time. So make sure you get it replaced and not cleaned.