Digital Multimeter

[rasmeidirt]

I purchased a digital multimeter to test my TPS. My question is the simple basic use.
There are two wires, one is red and one is black. Where do they connect to. There are four slots on the body. one is 20A, one is Temp A mA, one is COM and one is VΏHz. There is a big switch in the middle, where do I switch it to?

[fixkick]

Back in the electronic, dark-ages (Marconi, Tesla, Bell) they had to buy 3 meters. http://www.fixkick.com/power-elect/DMM.html
fast forward to 1970s to now, we buy multi-meter. with 3 meters in one chassis box. (or even more. meters... as yours has, seem more each year now....)
for TPS testing or calibrating, we only need one , volts, to test, or resistance (ohms) to calibrate it. (ill skip calibrate method this time)

TPS idle test:101 (fast checks)
the meter not sure if your's is auto-ranging not, but the first test of any TPS is on a running car, called the live, volts test.
This test we use large sewing needles or official backprobing needles (all car shops have these) to measure the voltage on a running engine at the idle switch pins.

REDUX for SPORT, below is wrong but now fixed. jump to SPORT,
G16B non sport.
The TPS on 16v is not like the 8v (they work the same but are not pinned out the same, called PIN-OUT. in electronics.
the 16v the bottom 2 pins are IDLE , Ill assume this is 16v and that the meter is manual ranged.
insert the black test lead in the com (common) meter banana jack. keep this here for all voltages tests.
now the red lead in to the VΏHz (nice omega symbol, very good)
set the dial to Volts 20vdc. this measure 0 to 20v. 20vdc not 20vAC. direct current volts, only.
connect the black lead to the engine ground, is best here, this is same as bottom TPS pin, 1.
then put a needle on the read test lead end. someway.
start engine, make sure the throttle cables are loose, not tight, there is a spec on the play of the cables, never ever tight. parked, foot off the gas pedal.
back probe the #2 wire on the TPS.
this is idle. switch
it will read 0 to 0.5v, if correct or 5vdc, if wrong, (4.75 to 5.25 volts is wrong)
blip the throttle say 5 times, see that it (pin2) always returns to 0v, if yes, then the TPS IDLE switch is OK, next up are good ideas.while here.
Factoid:
the idle switch is calibrated but never the throttle angle. The TPS has 2 functions (and parts inside)
next:
then back probe pin 4 top pin, its 5vdc. give or take a 1/4v (0.25 more or less) if not 5v or near the ECU is VERY sick ask for help.
and last, check the TP pin3, The TP pin is really in english, throttle Angle pin,.#3
it will ABOUT 0.5 to 1v, (never 0v and never 5v) about one volt DC>
that is it, for volts checks, if you need to calibrate it , ask, i can show the least steps to do that,
on the 16v engine removing the TPS is the most easy way, but if a strong back, laying on top car works easy too. via my way, "called bracket off" way.
if car is 8v , tell me, as the details are totally different. (connections and calibrations)


refr. pages: for 16v engines up to 1998. usa.
TPS 16v official ohms test calibration

horsed up, by me... this... for locations and
http://www.fixkick.com/sensors/95-TPS-adj1w.jpg
for those reading, the idle switch must work....
or you cant set spark timing,
engine will not idle regulate at all,.. idle out of control... (not the only cause !)
nor can you set idle duty cycle , (a calibration) for idle, authority. the 50% duty rule.
this idle pin, also when bad causes driving problems,... (at throttle cut or when shifting manually)
end volts 101: (hope this is clear and easy !!!)

SPORT , 1.8L J18 or J20 (see here first)
the sport is set with only voltage on one pin,
no need to start engine,
just key on
set the TP pin to 0.5vdc +-0.15vdc
done.
seen here, same page at G16 but here.
http://www.fixkick.com/sensors/tests/TPS...ml#1.8_cal

the pin can be seen here, more clear in the schematic.. PIN D17, gray wire, TPS. 0.5v is perfect. (adjust tps with its screws to attain this reading)
gry-yell = ground (0v)
gry-red, +5v (out of ecu power out)

http://www.fixkick.com/ECU/18L/18LiterECU1.pdf




FYI:
back probing needles, seen here (one can go to walfart, walk to sewing depart, and find leather (huge) sewing needles for $1 , these work great.)
this page even shows how to back probe, a skill all auto techs. learn. it's not hard, or high tech, just a method.
see backprobing:
http://www.agcoauto.com/content/news/p2_articleid/244

tell me what car you have? and can answer 10x better.
cheers !


QOD1:

I purchased a digital multimeter to test my TPS. My question is the simple basic use.
There are two wires, one is red and one is black. Where do they connect to. There are four slots on the body. one is 20A, one is Temp A mA, one is COM and one is VΏHz. There is a big switch in the middle, where do I switch it to?

[rasmeidirt]

Thank you for the kind reply. I will follow your advice and in case of some problems, will ask you further.
My car is shown in my signature. The Sport is always the 16v! Thank you again.

[fixkick]

Thank you for the kind reply. I will follow your advice and in case of some problems, will ask you further.
My car is shown in my signature. The Sport is always the 16v! Thank you again.

sorry i missed your sig, its super helpful that.

[fixkick]

REDUX, its now for both engines. 16v engines,
its a 1.8L j18, engine the TPS is set to .5v? and that is it.
super easy to do.
no idle switch either there.

[fixkick]

revised, now
see JUMP to sport to see TPS calibration

the TP pin can be tested for 0.5v to 4v operation too , same as G16s, by advancing the throttle and see the voltage change 1 for 1. throttle to voltage. this is throttle angle, in truth.
same wire
PIN D17, gray wire

[rasmeidirt]

Thank for the reply.
If I measure the ohms or the resistance, what do I need to move regarding the two red and black wires and the center dial?

[fixkick]

Thank for the reply.
If I measure the ohms or the resistance, what do I need to move regarding the two red and black wires and the center dial?

sorry, im working blind here,
there like 1000s of dmm made since the 70's vast. from Fluke to china imports

ohms
rule one, no power allowed on ohms to any tested device. (key off or remove device)
the device means TPS, ECT, IAT, and so on.
dial to OHMS , will be marked, like...
R, RX2, RX20, RX200, ,if only ONE R marking on the dial that tells you the meter is autoranging. feature.
Resistance
ohms,
or omega symbol.

black test lead to com, or common. black means common or minus...
red to jack marked R (red mean hot lead, or plus)


short leads, see 0 ohms, or 0.1. to as much as 0.5 ohms. shorted leads. (this is lead and connector resistance in the tool)
then open leads, it reads infinity
of the 1000s of meters, the LCD shows, infinity as "OL" "OR" or -- or or what the book shows you that came with meter, I just short the leads and see the change from infinity to zero.

happy metering,,,,,,!!!

[fixkick]

http://www.fixkick.com/videos/FLV-all/sh....html#TPS1

3 videos, on TPS 16v G16 1992 to 1998 USA car years.
its same on all kick cars, with 4 pins, only which pin is which is a question,sure.

The J18 or any J20
engine has no idle switch and has just 3 pins, so that is a dead giveaway there.
its also just a pot, a simple variable resistor,

a pot looks like this, only in a car, its a block of plastic hanging off the TV valve end.
but works just like all other pots in all of electronics, for ever.




so on the J20. the output is on the middle pin, the pure gray wire is same as 2 above.
see that pin?
that is called throttle angle, set it to 0.5vdc, using the side adjustment clamp screws. set loose turn TPS get 0.5v and lock it down
key on, but do make sure engine is hot so any fast idle devices, are off.
can be done on a running engine, at 800 rpm, the normal idle is that.

same way,
show a photo of your meter, there are 1000s of types, made,

black wire to ground, engine metal.
red to output of TPS, the TP throttle angle min
dial to 2v range or 20v if thats missing.
black wire to comm jack
red to R jack. (omega,V, ?)

[fixkick]

r2 is inside ECU
Pot1 is TPS
VIN is 5vdc all the time key on, this is power.
R2 holds throttle angle at zero, for safety so that if you drove car, and the plug fell of, no danger. see?
its called in electroncs, a R2 pull down restore
the ECT has a pull up resistors.,

the calibration is done so that the throttle is not stuck open in any why shape or form
that includes, things like , bad sticking throttle cables.
or gunk under the TV plate, it is assumed the plate is fully closed.
or the calibrations will fail.
on my H27, engine, there is a thermal valve that opens the TV (cold fast idle) , so I must do this hot engine, so that valve is working right, and TV is closed 100%
what I do is look at my TV , and say to self is it closed, with flash light, in hand.
if yes, it can be done just keyon.