How Long For ECM to Adjust to New Throttle Position Sensor?

One week ago, I had a new throttle position sensor put on my 95 LeSabre. I have driven it about 70-80 miles over the seven days.

Everything worked fine until today, as I was stopped at a traffic light (an extraordinarily LONG traffic light), it seemed as if the engine missed and the panel warning light flickered on, then off, as if the engine was about to die. The engine never died, but I experienced the same engine miss/panel light flashes at one other traffic light. After those two traffic stops, there were no other incidents at any other stops.

This engine miss/panel light flash never occurred as I was moving in traffic. It only happened as I was stopped at traffic lights (Car in gear, foot on the brake). When the engine missed, I did not have to push on the gas, as it seemed to correct itself. I got no "Check Engine" lights. The engine does not seem to be idling rough or missing when you rev it up.

As I have done some research, I found other folks commenting that the computer needed to "adjust" to new voltage on new throttle sensors.

How long does this "adjustment" take, and could this engine miss/panel light flash episode be due to the computer adjustment? As I said, It's been a week, but I have only put 70-80 miles on it since then.

Any thoughts or ideas would be GREATLY appreciated!

MikeS

If you did not disconnect the battery to install the TPS, the change would not affect driving parameters and no relearn is necessary. Did you check the TPS voltage output after installing the new TPS with either a DVOM, or a scanner. The TPS on this model are basically non-adjustable, however, every TPS is a little different and your new one may require some adjustment.

When I replaced the TPS on my 1997, I had the battery off. It seemed like it took a few seconds to set.
Chris.

Well, it sounds as if my engine miss/panel light flash is a totally different problem than before. That is what has been so frustrating. It sems as if I have multiple problems all at one time. It's no wonder my mehanic is so mystified when I describe the erratic behavior. I'm desribing all kinds of symptoms that may or may not be related, and expecting him to change one part and fix all.

Everything started going wrong with it in early October last year. It took about four months to track down a problem with the ignition coil module. I got that changed in January. It took six months to discover the throttle posistion sensor problem - which has seemed to have some of the problems. And now there must be a third problem - some sort of electrical problem it sounds like.

What's equally frustrating is that all these problems are intermittent. I could take the vehicle to the mechanic an he could keep it and drive it for a week and never see one sign of any problems.

Thanks everyone for your input. If you have any more ideas, they'd be greatly appreciated!

MikeS

One more thing, I got the TPS Light/code and replaced the TPS. About 6 months later I got it again. I cleared the code and it ran good for almost a year where I got the code again. I reset it resonantly and it drives fine.

If I ever get a light, I clear it and drive before I ever buy anything. Not that this will help you, just in case someone else reads this.
Chris.