ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - TD5
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION 18-1-19
Throttle Position (TP) sensor – From VIN 297137
Discovery Series II vehicles from VIN 297137 use three track thick film potentiometers. No idle speed sender switch
is used on this type of sensor because the ECM can compare the two or three sets of signals to implement idle speed
control and over-run fuel shut-off. The two potentiometers are known as track 1 and 2 potentiometers. The track 3
potentiometer on later models is used to improve the resolution of the pedal. The ECM provides a 5V supply and
receives a signal from each of the potentiometer tracks.
a = Track 1
b = Track 2
c = Track 3
d = Voltage
e = Pedal angle (degrees)
f = Wide open throttle stop tolerance band
g = Not applicable for Discovery Series II.
With reference to the above graph, at idle (throttle released), track 2 returns a signal of 4.2V to the ECM and track 1
returns a signal of 0.8V. The ECM calculates the sum of these two figures which totals 5.0V.
At wide open throttle, track 2 returns a signal of 1.1V and track 1 returns a signal of 3.9V to the ECM. The ECM
calculates the sum of these two figures which totals 5.0V. The ECM uses this strategy to error check the TP sensor
signal and ensure that the requested throttle position is applied. The third potentiometer track measures the tolerance
of tracks 1 and 2 and provides an improved functionality check of the pedal angle.
NOTE: Three track TP sensors cannot be fitted as replacements on vehicles previously fitted with two track TP
sensors. Replacement ECM's are configured for two track TP sensors and can be fitted to all Td5 models. When
replacement ECM's are fitted to vehicles using three track TP sensors, TestBook or T4 must be used to configure the
ECM for three track TP sensor use.
If the TP sensor fails, the ECM will illuminate the MIL and the engine will operate at normal idle speed only.