jim beam wrote:
>
> Bob wrote:
> > Does anyone here know about a cheap fix for a 1990 Honda Civic throttle body
> > sensor. Replacement is a killer.
>
> actually, replacement is really not too bad. i've just done it on my
> '90. you can remove the shear head bolts with a chisel. i don't mean
> pound them off, just use the corner of a sharp chisel to make a driving
> notch in one edge of the bolt, then carefully tap with the chisel at an
> angle so the head starts to turn. you can then screw the bolts out by
> hand. replace with M5-0.8's allen bolts when putting back together. if
> you're cunning, you can do this with the throttle body in place.
>
> fixing the throttle position sensor requires some fiddly work with a
> dremel, but again, it's simple if you look at what you have. there's a
> line of potting compound around the back plate where the sensor is
> assembled. carefully dremel that out until you can access the green
> circuit board beneath. carefully bend that up so you can see the carbon
> tracks on it. make sure everything is cleaned off. then, /carefully/
> "respring" the brushes on the rotator. there's two. also splay them
> slightly so they don't all run in the same grooves as before, but also
> so they don't touch. carefully reassemble, reseal what you dremeled out
> with appropriate filler, then after leaving to harden for 24 hours [i
> used silicone] put the sensor back in the same position you carefully
> marked before disassembly. do /not/ overfill - you'll glue up the
> carbon tracks. do it in two operations if necessary.
>
> reset the computer and enjoy!
>
> you can use this same chisel technique to acquire a replacement tps from
> a junk yard if you're not inclined to do the dremel thing. hint:
> generally, the tps's on automatics don't get quite as much wear as the
> sticks. and look out for tps's from different hondas too, but be
> careful they have the same rotation direction. both rotation types look
> identical.



You can also use a center punch rather than a chisel for loosening
screws. There is less danger of shearing the head.

Just my 2¢ worth...

JT