Engine PerformanceNATEF Standards Job Sheets 109

ENGINE PERFORMANCE JOB SHEET 18

Checking Common Sensors
Name _______________________________ Station ___________________ Date __________________

NATEF Correlation
This Job Sheet addresses the following NATEF task:
B.5. Inspect and test computerized engine control system sensors, powertrain/engine control
module (PCM/ECM), actuators, and circuits using a graphing multimeter (GMM)/digital
storage oscilloscope (DSO); perform necessary action.

Objective
Upon completion of this job sheet, you will be able to properly inspect and test computerized engine
control system sensors, power train control modules (PCM), actuators, and circuits.

Tools and Materials

Digital multimeter

Protective Clothing
Goggles or safety glasses with side shields

Describe the vehicle being worked on:

Year ___________ Make __________________________ Model __________________________
VIN __________________________ Engine type and size __________________________
Describe general operating condition:

PROCEDURE

ECT Sensors
1. Describe the location of the ECT sensor.

2. What color are the wires that are connected to the sensor?
110 Engine PerformanceNATEF Standards Job Sheets

3. Record the resistance specifications for a normal ECT sensor for this
vehicle.

4. Disconnect the electrical connector to the sensor. Refer to the service infor-
mation and identify what terminals to use to check the sensors resistance.
What are they?

5. Measure the resistance of the sensor. It was _________ ohms at approxi-

mately ____________ F.
6. Conclusions from the above test:

TP Sensors
1. Describe the type of lab scope you are using:
Model ________________________________________________________
2. Connect the lab scope across the TP sensor. Describe how you connected
the scope to the sensor:

3. With the ignition on, move the throttle from closed to fully open and then
allow it to close slowly. Observe the trace on the scope while moving the
throttle. Describe what the trace looked like.
 Engine PerformanceNATEF Standards Job Sheets 111

4. Based on the waveform of the TP sensor, what can you tell about the sensor?

5. With a voltmeter, measure the reference voltage to the TP sensor. The read-
ing should be ___________ volts. It was _________ volts.

6. What is the output voltage from the sensor when the throttle is closed?
______ volts.
7. What is the output voltage of the sensor when the throttle is opened?
______ volts.
8. Move the throttle from closed to fully open and then allow it to close slow-
ly. Describe the action of the voltmeter.

9. Conclusions from the above tests:

O2 Sensors
1. Describe the type of Digital multimeter and lab scope you will be using:
Models ________________________________________________________
2. Connect the voltmeter between the O2 sensor wire and ground. Backprobe
the connector near the O2 sensor to connect the voltmeter to the sensor
signal wire. With the engine idling, record and describe the voltmeter read-
ings:

3. What does this test tell you about the sensor?

4. Remove the sensor from the exhaust manifold. Connect the voltmeter
between the sensor wire and the case of the sensor. Using a propane torch,
heat the sensor element. Observe and record the voltmeter reading:
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5. Your conclusions from this test:

6. Backprobe the sensor signal wire at the computer and connect a digital volt-
meter from the signal wire to ground with the engine idling.
Record the voltmeter readings: ____________________________________
7. Connect the voltmeter from the sensor case to the sensor ground wire on
the computer.
Record the voltmeter readings: ____________________________________
8. Your conclusions from these two tests:

9. Connect the scan tool to the DLC. Observe and record what happens to
the voltage reading from the sensor.

10. How many cross counts were there? ______________________________

11. Your explanation of the above test is:

12. Connect a lab scope to the sensor and observe the trace. Observe and
record what happens to the voltage reading from the sensor.

13. How many cross counts were there? ______________________________

14. Your explanation of the above test is:
 Engine PerformanceNATEF Standards Job Sheets 113

MAP Sensors
1. Describe the type of Digital multimeter and lab scope you will be using:
Model ________________________________________________________
If the MAP sensor produces an analog voltage signal, follow this procedure.

2. With the ignition switch on, backprobe the 5-volt reference wire. Connect
a voltmeter from the reference wire to ground. The reading is ______ volts.
3. If the reference wire is not supplying the specified voltage, what should be
checked next?

4. With the ignition switch on, connect the voltmeter from the sensor ground
wire to the battery ground. What is the measured voltage drop? ______
volts.
5. What does this indicate?

6. Backprobe the MAP sensor signal wire and connect a voltmeter from this
wire to ground with the ignition switch on. What is the measured voltage?
______ volts.
7. What does this indicate?

8. How do you determine the barometric pressure based on these voltage

readings?

9. Turn the ignition switch on and connect a voltmeter to the MAP sensor sig- Task Completed
nal wire.

10. Connect a vacuum hand pump to the MAP sensor vacuum connection and
apply 5 inches of vacuum to the sensor. Record the voltage reading: ______
volts.
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NOTE: On some MAP sensors, the sensor voltage signal should change 0.7 to 1.0 volt for every
5 inches of vacuum change applied to the sensor. Always use the vehicle manufacturers
specifications. If the barometric pressure voltage signal was 4.5 volts with 5 inches of
vacuum applied to the MAP sensor, the voltage should be 3.5 volts to 3.8 volts. When
10 inches of vacuum is applied to the sensor, the voltage signal should be 2.5 volts to
3.1 volts. Check the MAP sensor voltage at 5-inch intervals from 0 to 25 inches. If the
MAP sensor voltage is not within specifications at any vacuum, replace the sensor.
11. Record the results of all vacuum checks:

12. What did these tests indicate?

13. Connect the scope to the MAP output and a good ground. Accelerate the
engine and allow it to return to idle. Observe and describe the trace:

14. What did the trace show about the sensor?

NOTE: If the MAP sensor produces a digital voltage signal of varying frequency, check the 5-
volt reference wire and the ground wire with the same procedure used on other MAP
sensors. This sensor diagnosis is based on the use of a MAP sensor tester that changes
the MAP sensor varying frequency voltage to an analog voltage.
Follow these steps to test the MAP sensor voltage signal:
1. Turn off the ignition switch, and disconnect the wiring connector from the Task Completed
MAP sensor.
2. Connect the connector on the MAP sensor tester to the MAP sensor. Task Completed
3. Connect the MAP sensor tester battery leads to a 12-volt battery. Task Completed
4. Connect a pair of digital voltmeter leads to the MAP tester signal wire and Task Completed
ground.
5. Turn on the ignition switch and observe the barometric pressure voltage
signal on the meter. Observe and record the voltmeter readings:
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6. Supply the specified vacuum to the MAP sensor with a hand vacuum pump. Task Completed
7. Observe the voltmeter reading at each specified vacuum. Record the read-
ings:

8. What do these readings indicate?

Problems Encountered

Instructors Comments