Ford Ka - Over revving / driving itself!

[3sixty]

It never rains it pours...

Following my thread on the OH's heater not working, we now have another problem where the car overrevs when not pressing the accelerator and maintains it. In effect accelerating when you aren't... driving itself!

I have done some searches online and found this may be the Throttle Position Sensor that may need cleaning with WD40/Carb cleaner. The only problem is that the pages I have found on google all appear to be from 2007/08 and the picture links no longer work.

Does anyone have a guide or a picture to show me where this is?

Cheers

[Chapppers]

Hi, I've recently had an issue with the TPS on my Puma, I believe the same fault can happen on a Ka. It'll be one of two things (or both, in my case).

The idle control valve can be cleaned out with carb cleaner, but it didn't work in my case. The throttle position sensor and its loom can be replaced at a cost of about £80.

I don't think you can clean the throttle position sensor with carb cleaner?

[3sixty]

Thanks. I read that the idle control valve is more for the car dropping revs and stalling. The throttle position sensor is more likely to be the cause for over revving... but I am just relying on what I read from google searches.

Same for the cleaning of it with carb cleaner, again... only going off what is being said from google searches. Do you (or anyone) have the part number for the TPS?

[Chapppers]

3sixty said:

Thanks. I read that the idle control valve is more for the car dropping revs and stalling. The throttle position sensor is more likely to be the cause for over revving... but I am just relying on what I read from google searches.

Same for the cleaning of it with carb cleaner, again... only going off what is being said from google searches. Do you (or anyone) have the part number for the TPS?

I don't. You'd probably do a lot better asking on a proper ford forum of some sort. (Passionford.com, or search to see if there's a Ka club)

[mike80]

I had one a few years ago that did this. Common problem I think - a service sorted it!

[3sixty]

Thanks - a service of the TPS? Or your normal car service?

Can't see how changing the filters/oil/etc. will help this, but willing to give it a try as its due one soon

[mike80]

Just a normal service. I'm not very technical, so I can't help really with what the cause was, but something was changed that cured it.

[Liam11]

A General service shouldn't sort this problem unless the garage find it, or you tell them about the issue, you will most likely be charged extra though.

WD40 should clean the TPS or some electrical cleaner.

Thanks Liam

[Pugland53]

3sixty said:

It never rains it pours...

Following my thread on the OH's heater not working, we now have another problem where the car overrevs when not pressing the accelerator and maintains it. In effect accelerating when you aren't... driving itself!

I have done some searches online and found this may be the Throttle Position Sensor that may need cleaning with WD40/Carb cleaner. The only problem is that the pages I have found on google all appear to be from 2007/08 and the picture links no longer work.

Does anyone have a guide or a picture to show me where this is?

Cheers

This happened to my wifes Ka a few years ago, it used to rev it's nuts off. I cleaned the idle control valve and it was fine after that.

[3sixty]

Just been out to find this. Is the Idle Control Valve the one which the multiplug fits into? Or is it what is left 'attached' once you undo the 2 nuts?

[doug1e1972]

i was once told by a ford person that if its the T P S then you can reset it by turning the ignision on so you get the red lights on the dash and slowly press the throttle down to the floor and slowly release again 5-6 times then turn the ignision off and then restart the car. i did it with mine and it seemed to have worked and i have had no probs for the last 6 months since.

[3sixty]

Tried that and cleaned what I think is the idle control valve but hasn't helped.

Does anyone have part numbers for the ICV and TPS?

[matthewg]

doug1e1972 said:

i was once told by a ford person that if its the T P S then you can reset it by turning the ignision on so you get the red lights on the dash and slowly press the throttle down to the floor and slowly release again 5-6 times then turn the ignision off and then restart the car. i did it with mine and it seemed to have worked and i have had no probs for the last 6 months since.

Did they tell you about the tooth fairy too?

[yoshimisumi]

I had this problem on my focus, replaced TPS and all sorts to no avail.

Turned out to be a rubber hose which had split going to the sensor, so producing a dodgy air reading.

In short, check you hoses for splits.