1996 jeep grand cherokee throttle position sensor location

Hello ALL,
I am still trying to fix my back-fire issue BUT I am thinking I may replace the
TPS next.

I see a picture of the part and it looks like it is just held in with 2 screws
or bolts. Is there any tricks to this job?

One guy in work said the bolts break pretty easy. I was planning on soaking
them with PB Blaster prior to trying to install.

I looked under the hood and see several switches near the throttle body.
Not sure which is which.

So my questions are
1. - Is this a hard job - I have tools
2. - What are the other sensors there?
3. - If I break a bolt, do I need to get a new throttle body?

Thanks - - Jim

1. No it's just two torx bolts and it comes right off.
2. The TPS is in the back of the throttle body, the IAC is on the passenger side and the MAP sensor is on the driver's side.
3. I've never heard of the bolts breaking ever.

I would clean the whole throttle body while you have it off including the IAC and housing. You can find a write-up in the FAQ section or use the search feature above lots of good tech to be had there. If replacing the TPS and cleaning the TB doesn't help I would look at the 02 sensors, IAC or CPS next. Are you sure that your basic tune-up stuff (plugs, wires, cap & rotor) are all in good working order?

Hello robsjeepxj,
Thanks for the help and info.

To answer a few of your questions.

I replaced the up and down O2 sensors within the last few weeks.

I pulled the dizzy cap and look for signs of trouble like carbon tracking
or cracks etc.

I do know OLD motors and this motor at times runs GREAT. Smooth, peppy, no smoke etc. It seems to run real well at times. several of my Hot Rod friends seem to believe the internals are good.

I better double check the dizzy components better. I must admit I was kind hoping that the issue was not in the dizzy. A major tune-up was done about 9,000 miles ago. I did check the play in the dizzy shaft and it seems FINE.

I also did a lot of little things like checked the fuel pressure, changed the fuel filter and air cleaner. Recently when I pulled a plug it looked good. No oil or signs of trouble.

I just feel this motor runs too good at times.

I did notice that there may be some weird little electrical issues going on.
At times, only one horn sounds, a few time the headlights don't turn on. If i put on the highs - -the lights come on. It seems like a ground BUT I have cleaned and checked 3 so far. The cables are new as is the battery.

Thanks for the info on the TPS

LAslty - I don't know IAC is or stands for. I know/think the CPS is the crank sensor or perhaps the cam sensor.

Thanks for bearing with me - GOD knows I need help here.

I just wish it had a carb and points

Thanks - -Jim

The throttle position sensor is easy to replace, just remove the plug, two bolts, and remove the sensor. To install the new one make sure the butterfly rod is engaged into the sensor when you install it, screw in the two bolts and plug it in. If I were you I would remove and clean all the grounds on the body/engine/battery. Replace any that are broken. Missing or corroded grounds can cause lots of electrical headaches on these things. Cleaning the Idle Air Control (IAC) and the throttle body is a good suggestion also.

IAC stands for idle air control and what it does is well self explanatory. I would change out the TPS, clean the TB real good and see if that helps. If you have any doubt about any of the tune-up parts just replace them. As for the other issues, I would check the connections on the various switches that are giving you trouble. They do get corroded sometimes and need cleaning, I've been successful with taking apart the turn signal/high beam/hazard switches and cleaning the contracts and getting them to work again but unless your good with small parts and electrical stuff you might want to just buy a new one. The plugs that go into the back of the headlight switch have been known to melt sometimes too so check that while you at it too.

Throttle body disassembled- from a 97, but should be awfully close if not identical.

TPS to the left, MAP at the top, IAC at the bottom. Ports that people talk about cleaning visible at the bottom.

Hello hubs97xj,
You know what they say - - "A picture is worth a thousand Thank You's.

This helps me a lot. I think I could eevn do this now. Thanks. The throttle
body sure looks like an old carb :rofl:

I will clean all the parts while I am in there.

Thank you so much and to all the rsponders.

I really feel the Jeep will run right again Thanks t so many
people what are trying to help me.

Be well - -be warm - - Jim (P.Dad)

You need to take IAC apart from it's housing (the aluminum part with 4 screws that IAC actually bolts to) too to really clean it properly. Clean the inside till you see nothing but bright shiny aluminum especially where the plunger seats, TB cleaner and an old toothbrush works really well for this. Some of the bolts on there maybe tamperproof torx so you'll need to get sockets for that as well if you don't have them already.

Hello robsjeepxj,
I just can't catch a break here.

The weather STINKS - -snow, rain, ice mush etc. We have about 25 inches on the ground and the last 2 storms have been 4-5 inches of snow followed by
an inch a rain.
Now I am shoveling the roofs and breaking Ice dams.

Then I had to change a tire on our son's car. The tire was flat and the car was stuck in ice - NOT PRETTY - -but I guess that's what dads are for.

So I had a little time for the Jeep today. I replaced the TPS - piece of cake.

NO DIFFERENCE. I did not have time to do a great job on the throttle body and didn't pull the other pieces. I must say - -the throttle body was pretty darn clean. A few hints of carbon BUT not too bad. I cleaned it up as best I could. It was raining and I was getting soaked.

I put in the new part - and started her. The car idled about 750 and sounded GREAT fro about 40 seconds - -then she started to rumble and buck. I pulled the wire off the TPS and the rpms went way up BUT very smooth.

I had a couple of Hot Rod guys over and they all seem to feel strongly - -this is NOT a mechanical issue. NOthing like compression, valve etc When the Jeep runs GOOD it is like a new motor.

I gotta admit I am a little frustrated.

I know there is not too many things left to change and I don't really know which to try next.

I don't know - -what the MAP sensor does
IAC sensor - -don't know what that does

Crank sensor and cam sensor I know have to do with timing - -BUT I read that if one of them was bad and I forget - - then the car will not start.

This starts all the time and seems like it will NEVER stall out completely.

What do I try next?

By the way - -I really do understand the old cars. Here is a picture of our Mach and the motor - 351C. I do all the work on it and have owned it for about 36 years.

Thanks - - Jim

OK so the TPS didn't do it. Let's start back at square one what EXACTLY are the symptoms, when does it happen, hot, cold, all the time, on the gas, off the gas, when you start it, when you turn it off, when driving, idling?

Nice car by the way.:thumbsup:

Hello robsjeepxj,
Pretty simple really BUT I sure can't figure it out.

Sometimes the Jeep runs GREAT but for the last few months I am
having BIG trouble.

I start the Jeep - -starts fine. Idles for about 30 seconds and then I start to drive. The car accelerates and then it BOGS down. At that point I give it gas and it will back-fire through what seems like the throttle body. If I don't give it gas - - she just falls kinda flat. and won't pick up. I have to get her to back-fire 3 or 4 pops and then she is fine. The Jeep will then run nice and when I get to a stop - she starts again.
At idle - -she starts to shake badly and the rpms drop to about 400. My normal is about 750 in drive.

When she does the rough idle - I step on the gas and she back-fires like it is clearing something and then she is fine.

It is starting to do this more often BUT - -sometimes it runs well.

The Jeep is old and has a lot of miles BUT my thinking is that it is NOT mechanical compression valves etc

I take the Jeep on the highway and she will drive hours at 65 at atbout 2000rpms - steady as can be.

A little more history - when I was gonna buy this Jeep from a fellow teacher it was running like crap and I had them do a lot to get it running GREAT
One thing they had to do was fix a ground under the dash? that was keeping the code reader from seeing the Jeep

We installed a new dizzy and all the parts - -wires, plugs, cap etc.
New Battery
New O2 sensors up and downstream
New air filter
I cleaned the 2 major grounds on the motor near the battery
Cleaned the ground strap from the motor to the firewall
New fuel filter
Ran a test on the fuel pump

The Jeep DOES not smoke or show any signs of major trouble. I know motors BUT I know nothing about newer (after 72) vehicles.

So the motor is solid I think - -but this MUST be something simple BUt I sure can't figure it out.

Thanks for caring and trying to help

Jim

Interesting, I too think it's not an internal issue but more electrical maybe. Did you get any codes (check engine light) at all since you bought it? With the poor low idle I would guess IAC or a vacuum leak. Maybe a search on here of "back fire issues" might help point us in the right direction.

hey im new to the fourm

so i just bought my jeep and i need some help trying to figure out whats wrong with it if some one could help that would be awesome

so i just bought my jeep and i need some help trying to figure out whats wrong with it if some one could help that would be awesome

OK here's what you do. Tell us about YOUR Jeep...in a new thread.
Someone will help.

Hit "new thread". Tell your story. Welcome

i would start at the iac. remove it and clean well. also make sure its funtioning before re-instaliation