Cerbera vs Ford TP

[SotonS2]

I know there have been numerous threads debating the Cerb TP (£20) vs the Ford TP (£60) but I thought I'd start a new one and detail my findings:

The original TP was a Ford unit and packed up (lumpy running and erratic tickover).

I swapped this for a Cerbera TP. Whilst the car ran a whole lot sweeter, it still wasn't right. It was slightly lumpy just as the pedal was pushed and ran way richer than before.

I swapped the outer wires around on the Cerb TP. It ran much better at low revs but cut out completely at maximum throttle position

I, err, 'borrowed' a Ford TP from a local breakers yard this afternoon.

Fitted it, swapped the wires back to their original positions and took her for a run.

Whoooa, what a difference She is way smoother throughout the rev range and much more responsive. Even the exhaust note sounds crisper.

Conclusion, the Cerbera TP is NOT the way to go. My recommendation is either to bite the bullet and stump up the £60 for the Ford unit or find a friendly breakers yard and 'borrow' one

Hope this helps and puts and end to the last few months of speculation.

[F908 TIM]

Much appreciated and what a lot of us suspected before we got lost in the 'what wire goes where for what pot' scenario and nearly gave up the will to live reading getting round the other threads!
I will have to fork out to Ford then cos I ain't happy with my Cerbie pot pickup either. Fingers crossed.

[Harry Flashman]

But mine runs beautifully (touch wood) on its Cerb 4.2 pot...

[F908 TIM]

Then don't touch it...and lay in a spare!

[tvrgit]

Mine is Cerb 4.2 and seems fine...

[chrischat]

My S3 circa 91 also seems fine with a cerbi 4.2 TP, but I have'nt tried changing the wires round. Tick-over and full throttle seem to be ok, but there seems to be a very slight lag when you floor it from tick-over with bonnet up! Vast improvement on the old TP (of unknown origin)

[doddze]

mine runs fine with what it has got........ err where do I look exactly to see what that is?? All these weeks of TP talk and I aint got a clue where it is... I work on the adage "if it aint broke dont fix it" but would still like to know where it is........

[TOPTON]

TP is found on the side of the air intake just below the air flow meter. Held on with 2 8mm bolts. Connector has a wire clip holding it on. Push wire in and pull off. I bought a ford unit and connector for £55. Had to change 2 outside wires around. It would not start otherwise.

[Roy_S2]

The cylinder shaped item above the throttle pot that (I am presuming) you are saying is the air flow meter is in fact the idle speed control valve.

Roy.

[TOPTON]

I stand corrected, that is the idle speed control valve. The air flow meters are at the other end of the air intake pipes next to air filter. Well done for pointing out the deliberate mistake. Well maybe not deliberate