There can be many reasons for you to test your throttle position sensor in your Ford Mustang. The throttle position sensor (TPS) may have failed, you may have installed an aftermarket throttle body or EGR delete, which all require you to remove and re-calibrate your throttle position sensor.
Today we’ll be showing you how to test a Ford Mustang Cobra TPS by giving you the location and wiring diagram for each wire. You’ll be wanting a multimeter or voltmeter for this DIY article. If you are not sure what a multimeter or voltmeter is, and want to know how to use one, check our guide here.
Our test vehicle is a 2000 Ford Mustang Cobra with the modular 4.6L DOHC engine in it. The TPS in this unit has been installed, and must be calibrated to make sure that it’s sending the proper voltage to your ECU, no matter where the throttle actually sits.
Where is my Ford Throttle Position Sensor?
The TPS unit on your 4.6 liter Ford engine is found opposite the throttle blade where your throttle cable runs. This throttle position sensor is connected via a three pin weatherproof connector.
Whenever you install a new throttle body or throttle position sensor, the TPS must be calibrated. This calibration is to ensure that the proper voltage range is transmitted to your PCM.
There’s three pins here, which represent switched power, low reference ground signal and the throttle position signal wire. This signal wire is what we’ll be testing first.
Referring to the diagram above, the wire you are looking for to backpin for signal is PIN B. This wire is black with white stripe, and it terminates at your ECU as the signal for your throttle body.
Never use the ground signal wire or low reference wire to test for voltage at any wire. Always use the battery, as grounds are usually supplied by the PCM and could cause electrical damage should you tee into the ground.
Now it’s time to learn how to Test a Ford Mustang Cobra TPS for signal, connect the black spade to the battery ground and backpin this middle wire. The multimeter you are using should read close to 1 volt with the throttle body completely closed.
If you don’t get this value, make sure you have the key in the ignition and turned to the “ON” position. This will power the sensors in your engine bay, making the throttle body signal test performable.
Now keep your multimeter teed into the back of your Ford Mustang Cobra throttle position sensor connector, and slowly open your throttle body by depressing the throttle butterfly.
Push your throttle open by hand until you reach the stop screw on your Ford throttle body. At this wide open point you should see close to 5 volts on your multimeter. Now that you’ve tested WOT as well as the closed position for your Ford throttle position sensor, now you will be releasing the throttle blade slowly.
Make sure that the voltage sweeps in a uniform and even manner and that there’s no gaps or the voltage does not jump around. You should see a steady and slow progression of declining voltage, you can check again by pushing down on the throttle and slowly releasing.
You now know how to test a Ford Mustang Cobra TPS for signal, and know that it’s in proper working condition. If you require a replacement TPS or your Ford Mustang TPS has failed, the replacement part number for this part is F4SF-9N989-AA.
Thanks for reading and if you have any questions or comments regarding our writeup leave them for us below!