Throttle Position (TP) Sensor
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2002 Mercury Villager. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
The throttle position (TP) sensor is a potentiometer mounted on the throttle body. The TP sensor detects the position of the throttle plate and sends this information to the TCM as a varying voltage signal.
The transmission control module (TCM) uses the monitored voltage level of the TP sensor for control of EPC pressure, torque converter clutch operation, and shift scheduling.
If a malfunction occurs in the TP sensor circuit, the processor will recognize that the TP sensor signal is out of specification. The processor will then operate the transaxle in a high capacity mode to prevent transaxle damage.