Throttle Position Sensor
2011 Ford F-150 · 5.0L V8 Coyote
Sensor Type
piezoresistive
Waveform Type
dc-variable
Location
Integrated into electronic throttle body assembly on the intake manifold, passenger side of engine
Pins
6-pin connector
Timebase
500ms/div
Voltage Scale
1V/div
Trigger
Not applicable - DC signal
Wiring
TP1: Gray/White (5V reference), Violet/White (signal), Brown/White (ground); TP2: Red/White (5V reference), White/Violet (signal), Brown/Light Blue (ground)
Expected Voltage Range
At Idle
0.5V to 0.9V
At Higher RPM
4V to 4.7V
Expected Pattern
Dual redundant sensors with opposite voltage relationships: TP1 increases 0.5-4.5V as throttle opens, TP2 inversely decreases 4.5-0.5V; sum should equal approximately 5V
Known-Good Waveform
At idle with closed throttle, TP1 should read 0.5-0.9V while TP2 reads 4.1-4.5V. The sensors should track smoothly and inversely during throttle movement with no glitches, hesitations, or flat spots. At wide open throttle, TP1 reaches 4.0-4.7V and TP2 drops to 0.3-0.9V. The PCM constantly compares both sensors for correlation.
Common Failure Patterns
Voltage spikes, dropouts, or non-linear tracking during smooth throttle sweep
Cause: Worn resistive tracks inside throttle position sensors, carbon buildup on contacts
TP1 and TP2 voltages do not sum to approximately 5V or track inversely
Cause: One sensor circuit failed, voltage reference problem, or internal throttle body sensor failure
Diagnostic Tips
Ford electronic throttle bodies on the Coyote rarely need cleaning but do fail internally; always perform throttle relearn procedure after battery disconnect or throttle body replacement using Ford IDS or equivalent scan tool.
Related Diagnostic Trouble Codes
P0120P0121P0122P0123P0124
Always confirm waveform data with your vehicle's OEM service manual before diagnosing.
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