I searched, but couldn't find a solid answer.

car: 1990 Honda Civic DX (stock - Dual point injection)

I appear to have a failing TPS (slightly high idle and Code 7 CEL comes one when I adjust the idle screw). I know I can be sure its the TPS with a multimeter (which I plan on doing), but before I even get that far, can I use a TPS from another car, since obtaining a replacement for this model will pretty much require a new TB?

 

no..... on dpfi, the tps works in a different direction than all other tpsensor. just get a engine specific tps and u will be good

 

Know of any good places to find one, or are you suggesting a local junk yard?

 

i bought a tps for a 2000 civic si from advance auto for 47 dollars. no need to buy the entire TB. ALSO..ebay has them. ive bought one for my 91 civic si as well

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-T...Q5fAccessories

 

ive used a dx TPS on an ex before. works the same just dx wiring is opposite. the sensors are listed as the same for all trim levels

 

you will probably have to dremel a slit on your current tps screws so you can remove it.

 

x2..the factory one will be riveted on

 

I'm not so sure I have a straight answer...

My issue is that if I go to Advance Auto, Autozone, Rockauto, Honda(OEM), they will all tell me one does not exist for a 1990 Honda Civic DX... but one can be purchased for a 1990 Honda civic EX.

Is it possible to swap an EX TPS into a DX of the same year (1988 - 1991)

Sorry if I;m simply asking the same question, but I want to be certain before I rip out the old TPS.

 

OK... after a little more research, there appears to be more posts from others that suggest a TPS from a 1990 EX can be used in a DX (DPFI), however, the Yellow and Green wires will need to be swapped.

Anyone?

 

no it cannot be done

 

After much searching, I did finally locate the part from OMNI power. $64 . At least it beats trying to salvage one from a junk yard.

BTW, the part number was "TPS-PRE-OM".

Thanks for the input, efjones9.

 

i bought one from advance auto...47 bucks....

orrr ebay? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-T...Q5fAccessories

 

the ex tps will work fine on your dx. the sensor is the same. only diff is in the dx the throttle moves differently and is opposite the ex (or any mpfi). thats why when you swap from dx to si the 2 wires are swapped around on the sensor plug. swapping the sensor itself will work fine and your able to leave the red and green wires on the dx harness alone

 

That's kinda steep considering another place sells the same exact one for 25 bucks!

 

Agree

 

I actually ended up purchasing a replacement one for a 1990 EX (because I could not locate one for the DX model) from Rock Auto for $25, and I can tell you that there is no way in hell that you can use the standard TPS (for MPFI) to replace a DPFI TPS (used on DX and LX models from 88 through 1991)

Its not that the sensors spin in different directions (which is true), its that the internal components will never line up to match a vehicle's closed throttle position.

Now if anyone can point out where you can find a new TPS from Advance Auto, Auto Zone, or O'Reilly's that specifically states it will work on a DX or LX made from 88 to 91, then I will give you a dollar :p

 

I just checked Rock Auto, and they do not list a TPS for the '90 Civic DX on their website. I then wrote them a letter to which they promptly replied and said that they do in fact NOT carry a TPS for this vehicle. Their site, as I viewed it, did not allow me to chose trim packages (DX, EX, etc.), but only allowed me to choose engine size. For both the 1.5 and the 1.6 no TPS showed up.

....And no local parts stores carry this TPS.

I did, however, purchase a TPS on eBay. As it turns out, all of the vendors have listing titles that will change and say that the part will work on a DX. They also have pull-down menus on the listing, allowing choice of year, make, model, and trim package. The '90 DX gets an 'OK' from all. However, some sellers have a note that says to check another list, so you must go down and to that list and see if they in fact carry a TPS for the make, model, and trim package you give. Turns out none of them do, and if you look at the picture shown, it shows the wrong TPS. The TPS for a DPFI throttle body should have the connector facing to the right when pointed down, with the open end facing away. The ones they show have it pointing to the left.

What I did find out, however, is that the wrong TPS that I purchased from eBay has the same over-all resistance as my original (JT2R90616), and appears to, other than at the worn part, have the same resistance curve, as the control is moved through its range. If you examine the open end of the control, you will notice that the rotor stop is directly opposite to the connector. Furthermore, the two spring hook posts are equally spaced on each side of the connector, and if you move the rotor through its range, it covers equal distance on either side of the connector. What is necessary is to carefully uncoil the return spring from the original TPS, and put this in place of the spring on the new TPS, so that the rotor will return in the opposite direction.

The only problem now is that the mounting screw ears aren't where they should be. I have a feeling, however, that the screws, with their rather large washers, will grab onto the sides of the new TPS where there aren't any mounting ears. If the ears bump into something as they are now oriented, I will grind them off.

I have yet to install this on my '90 Civic DX, but will try it in the morning. I will report what I find.

On a side note I am somewhat disappointed with the quality of the new TPS. I am replacing the original because the resistance would jump all around in the heavily used area, and I notice that the resistance jumps around quite a bit at the very ends of the rotor travel of the new TPS, but hopefully this will be out of the range that is normally used. The resistance changes smoothly over the majority of the rotor's travel. Again I will report what I find. I am having trouble with the car throwing 1 and 16 codes and a CEL. What happens is that when I am maintaining speed down a hill and the throttle is almost but not completely closed, the mixture goes to idle-mode (stops cycling rich-lean), and this trips an 'oxygen content' code. I can find no problem with the O2 sensor or the injectors. The injectors do not leak. Fuel pressure is great, and holds overnight. The injectors shut off promptly when the throttle is released while coasting. ...So I am guessing that the worn TPS is fooling the computer into thinking that it should be in idle mode when it shouldn't.

 

This also seems to be an exceptional method of replacement/repair: https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...ge=2&t=2944614

However, regarding one guy's explanation of TPS failure, having worked on antique radios for over 20 years ago, whose volume controls are the same internally as a TPS, I must say that his explanation is partially incorrect. Dirt and carbon can build up on the wiper. However, the resistance material is made of carbon, and this wears away, causing failure and poor contact of the wiper. You will notice on a bad TPS that the most heavily worn place is closed to part throttle. There is no easy repair for this. WD40 can sometimes lessen the effects. WD40 is used sometimes to quiet noisy volume controls. It also helps lubricate the control and reduce further wear. However, in very high impedance applications, where the control measures over 1 megohm, bits of the carbon can form a leakage path from the carbon track to the metal housing (volume control), which causes hum problems, among other things. The resistance of most throttle position sensors is much lower, though, and their housings are usually made of plastic, so the WD40 is not likely to do any harm.

 

I guess I should follow up with what happened since my last post.

So obviously the TPS for the EX model would not fit, but I did end up finding someone on ebay who sold one for the DX (DPFI), claiming they were the Omni Power brand (if I remember correctly). Once the part arrived, I was somewhat concerned about the feel of the part itself (seemed a little cheap), but it did fit my TB, with a little coaxing. After installing the part, the issue with my car went away, and all was well. For a few months.

A few months later my car started to miss-fire and almost stall randomly while driving down the highway. I tested the new TPS with a multimeter, and sure enough, it was bad. I had enough of this mess and decided to replace the entire throttle body with one from a junk yard (that still had the TPS) and ever since then, I have had no more issues.

My recommendation would be to get another TB from a junk yard (try to get one with less miles than your own), or just fork over the cash for a new one.... or seriously consider doing a MPFI swap.

 

@td1238,

Do you have the part num on the tps that you ordered?