A better Throttle Position Sensor

[fanworks]

Okay, I'm getting sick of having problems with my Throttle Position Sensor and having to replace the blasted thing every year.

Once again, my truck has ceased shifting into Over Drive. The annoying thing is its sporadic. When the trucks cold, it won't do it, when it warms up, it still won't do it for a while till I goose the engine up to 55+ then it'll shift and then will properly shift in and out of overdrive after that.

Last time this happened, I replaced three things on my truck back in October 2008. Throttle Position Sensor, Vehicle Speed Sensor, and the tranny fluid/filter.

It stopped having problems after that, but unfortunately, I did all at once, so I have no clue which was what actually fixed the problem.

The only reason I'm suspecting that it might be the TPS is going out is its started doing some weird throttle things during start up. It would rev real high, then cut back and stall on the first try here or there. Engine would start backup fine afterwards and not have starting problem again for a while.

I've been through five of these Niehoff sensors over the last several years. The last time I brought the subject up, someone suggested upgrading to a potentiometer.

While a great suggestion, he didn't link to anyone who supplied a bolt on replacement for the OEM TPS.

Truck Details:

1992 Dodge W-250 Power Wagon
Pre-Magnum/Pre-Multi-Port Fuel Injection 5.9L V8 that uses the older Holly 2 barrel TBI, similar to the 1991 model.

[troy1]

Maybe go to Dodge and get a OEM one if they still are available.

[riverat440]

Are you sure it isn't an idle air control problem? TPS going bad is easy to check with an ohm meter and usually isn't an intermittent problem.

[fanworks]

At this point, no clue what the problem was. I replaced the TPM with a different brand/make this time and its working better, but it never had any effect on the transmission shifting issue.

Ironically, the transmission problem went away of its own accord after about 700 odd miles of driving. Still plan to replace the fluid and filter again, given that this truck has seen alot of heavy load/dusty road conditions over the past year.

The fluid, btw, is still a nice pink color, and has no burnt smell.

Guess when a truck has nearly 170,000 miles on it, one should begin to expect the weird and unexpected.

[Chris Stewart]

What does the speedo do during these events?
My '92 speedo would just go to 0 and not shift into OD. I could tap the speed sensor with a stick and it would start working again. I ended up replacing the speed sensor to solve my problem. Also rebuilt the steering shaft coupler about once a year.

[fanworks]

Speedo tracks with the acceleration, no problems there.