The third generation Mitsubishi Eclipse (2000-2005) is a very popular platform, despite moving away from the turbocharged 4G63T. Available in the 2.4 liter and the 3.0 liter variety, today we’ll be looking at the Eclipse TPS Sensor or the throttle position sensor. The Mitsubishi TPS is mounted to your throttle body shaft, and transmits the angle of your throttle blade to your Mitsubishi ECU.
This sensor is a basic variable resistor type potentiometer that creates a voltage signal as your throttle opens. The bottom of this sensor swings open to match the opening of your throttle body, and today I’ll be showing you how to test this part in a 2003 Eclipse with a 3.0 liter engine in it.
When your Eclipse TPS sensor starts going bad, your 3.0 liter Mitsubishi engine will start acting up.
Some of the more common Mitsubishi Eclipse issues from a bad TPS are your engine not responding to throttle input, or revving on it’s own.
Of course the first indicator of any issue will be through your Mitsubishi Eclipse check engine light. When you see your OBDII trouble code indicator light up, you’ll need a scan tool to read your check engine code.
Symptoms of a bad Eclipse TPS sensor
- Poor performance
- Engine hesitation
- No throttle response
- Check Engine Light ON
To begin this DIY guide to testing your Eclipse TPS Sensor, you’ll need a digital multimeter. We’ll be testing the throttle sensor of your 3.0 liter engine by checking for power first.
Open your Mitsubishi Eclipse hood and locate the throttle body. Pull out the metal clip that retains the TPS connector and disconnect he throttle sensor.
You can find the TPS by following your intake tract back to your intake manifold. The TPS is mounted to the side of your Eclipse throttle body.
When you have this connector freed from your throttle body, you can begin testing. Turn your Eclipse ignition to the “ON” position, and then put the black lead of your multimeter to the negative terminal of your battery.
Now gently touch the red lead of your multimeter to the female engine connector for your throttle. Refer to our Mitsubishi Eclipse TPS wiring diagram below to check for the wire that leads to PIN C.
PIN C should return a switched power signal at the ENGINE harness. If you have power here, the next wire to check is the one leading to PIN A.
Once you’ve confirmed that ground and power are present, this means your Eclipse TPS Sensor has what it needs.
The last part of the testing guide will involve measuring the voltage signal at PIN B. This wire is the one that transmits the voltage to your Mitsubishi ECU.
To test this last part of this guide however, you’re going to have to plug the TPS connector back in. Now pierce the wire going to PIN B with the red lead of your multimeter, and measure the voltage with your throttle plate closed.
With the key still at the “ON” position but the engine not started, you should have between .7-.9 of voltage at PIN B. Now ask a friend to push your throttle all the way open, or manually deflect the throttle body open until it hits the stopper.
At this position which is also known as wide open throttle or WOT, your voltage should be between 3.9 – 4.5 volts. If your variable resistor type TPS sensor does not respond in this manner, it’s time for a replacement Mitsubishi throttle sensor.
In order for you to install the new Eclipse TPS sensor, you will need your digital multimeter to properly calibrate it. Once it’s installed and torqued to 18 ± 4 in-lb then you can use your scan tool to clear your OBDII Eclipse check engine light.
Have any questions about this Eclipse TPS Sensor testing tutorial? Leave us a comment below and let us know!
