Can anyone help? Throttle Position Sensor (TPS)?

Question

I have a 2000 Ford Focus? Check Engine light came on and I had the diagnostic done. It said it was a bad Throttle Position (TP) Switch. I replaced It and it blew-out in ten minutes. Also the battery light comes on sometimes and just replaced that last month so I know nothing is wrong with the battery. I'm thinking it may be something electrical that is causing the new switch to blow-out and also make the battery light come on. Any suggestions or recommendation would help. Thanks!

Answer 1

You might have a short that's sending too much voltage to the TPS. This could cause that light to come on too if the car thinks the battery is at too high of a voltage... Take a voltameter to the battery while the car is running. Assuming its a 12V battery, test the voltage, anything over roughly 14.4V is too high.

Answer 2

What do you mean the new TPS "blew-out in ten minutes" ?
How did you determine that ?
The code will only tell you what circuit failed, not the actual part. The Low voltage reference wire or circuit could also be at fault, thus replacing a part that was not faulty in the first place would not solve your problem.
You need to have some diagnostics done by a qualified technician otherwise your just wasting your money on parts swapping.

Answer 3

I am not sure about an electrical system malfunction killing a TPS in such a short time, The TPS along with most other sensors of that nature operate from 5 volts that is generated out of the vehicles computer.
I am thinking the TPS was installed incorrectly, and that the battery light is a separate thing all together, although you do not say what the DTC was, (signal high, signal low, signal missing?)

Answer 4

Ya Think!? Take it to the dealer or you will keep wasting money throwing parts at it.