New Throttle Position sensor ordered

[Pathfinder3.5]

So my TPS has been acting up lately. Its been happening since I bought the truck about a year and a half ago. The issue was only intermittent...it had my local shop quite lost. After a long drive the revs would bounce between 1,500 and 2,500. Sometimes they would even hold around 2,000 Rpm. If I floored and and let off a few times it would eventually come back down to regualar idle. One night it did the Idle bounce in my driveway. I remembered an old trick to finding sensors that were bad. I tapped the TPS with the handle of a screwdriver a few times and voila! Idle dropped down immediately. I have also been experiencing harsh 1-2 shifts. I know that the TPS controls alot of the drivetrain components. It didnt act up all winter/since i tapped it with the screwdriver but last week it started doing it again. Then again, only after long periods of driving. My scenario is that the TPS is in a position for a long period of time(highway or steady speed) and sticks. The rev bouncing is caused by the TPS holding the throttle open but the computer sensing something else. I am most likely wrong, but that just the way i think it is. Also, NO check engine light. No pending codes either.

Now that you heard me tell my story...I finally ordered a Sensor online last night. Should be here sometime next week. I am wondering if this is a direct swap or will it need to be setup/calibrated for my truck? I would be really happy if i didn't have to go to my Nissan dealerhship...although, I probably should get that recall taken care of.


Thanks alot!

[ARKQX33V6]

Tapping that TPS sensor and it then worked leads me to think that the sensor is good but the connection at the plug is not.

While waiting for a new sensor, try:
Removing the plug, spray it and its mating plug with a good contact cleaner or brake cleaner. Blow compressed air to dry both plugs, attach and remove 3x, the re-spray, then with a bright light look at both connectors.

Are the pins clean, any carbon, the carbon indicates a bad connection. Re-clean if needed. Connect the plug does the locking mechanism work? Try to pull the connection apart if it does the lock is no good, wire it closed.

Try the vehicle, if OK now get into the throttle intake with the air conduits off. Clean the throttle plate and duct, spray throttle cleaner or carb cleaner that is O2 safe. With a clean throttle examine it, check the points of rotation, are the secure and round not worn, clean the external linkages and springs.

Test the actual TPS for being solidly mounted. The TPS has a mid wire used as a pick up within the resistor to read differences, that said a multi meter on ohms on the leads of the TPS will test whether the resistor is OK throughout and on the mid lead you would see a change in ohmage as the throttle is rotated.