QuestionSir on follow up to my question here is the additional information you requested. The idle sensor that I am refering to is the throttle position sensor(TPS) and it is a 4 wire. When the car is driving down the road it has normal power and shifts fine. The check engine light has not come on. If you need any more info please just ask. I sure could use the help to understand why it is dying when I go to park and why it seems so hard to start. Thank you
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The text above is a follow-up to ...
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I am trying to fix my niece's car but without sucess. It is a 97 sonata 4 cyl. it will start but takes a lot of cranking to start it> I had to origionally primed it by pulling the plugs and adding a little gas in each cyl. Once the car starts it idles a little rough and low. When the car is placed into drive it dies. The only way I can put it in drive is to give it gas and hold the brake while putting in drive. I can drive it up and down the rad but have to keep gas applied before stopping or it will die. I have verrified the plug wires and new plugs also I have replaced the timing belt.(note the problem exsisted prior to belt replacement.)Also installed a new idel speed sensor. But could not set it up per the manual? not sure why. What can I do to keep this car running when in drive?
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First, lets start with the part you've called an idle sensor, since I'm not sure to what you're referring. Can you describe its shape? Where does it attach to the engine? How does the electrical connector attach? How many wires are there in the connector? This will help me know what part has been replaced and whether you need to make any adjustments due to the replacement.
Second, how does the car run when you're not stopped? Do you have the normal amount of power? Does the transmission shift normally? Is the check engine lamp on? If the car doesn't otherwise run normally, you may need to investigate the cause of that as a possible cause of the stalling. If the check engine lamp is on, you should retrieve the engine and transmission trouble codes.
AnswerThe throttle position sensor (TPS) must be properly adjusted for the engine to idle properly. The four-wire sensor has what's called an idle switch within the sensor. You'll want to adjust the sensor so that the switch is closed when the throttle is closed.
First, make sure there is enough slack in the throttle cable to ensure the throttle closes completely. Next locate the black/green and red/yellow wires in the throttle position sensor connector. They should be pins 1 and 2, respectively. Unplug the connector and attach an ohmmeter across those two terminals on the sensor itself. Loosen the mounting bolts and rotate the sensor until there is no continuity between the pins. Once there's no continuity, rotate the sensor (slowly) the other way until you get continuity again and retighten the mounting bolts. The idea is to have the switch go open when the throttle is opened a very small amount. Before disconnecting the ohmmeter, open the throttle a small amount and let it close to verify the switch is open when the throttle is not closed, and that the switch is closed when the throttle is closed.
After you have the idle switch adjusted properly, if the vehicle is still not idling properly, you'll need to check the base idle screw and the idle actuator. Follow-up with me if that's the case, and I'll guide you along further.
