From time to time (everyday) I will notice my car is idling at about 1300-1500 RPMS. If I pop the hood and play with the cable connected to the TP Sensor the idle will fall back to normal. This is obviously not something I can do while driving in bumper to bumper traffic on the highway. Sometimes it will fall back to normal on its own.

Is there some reason the sensor is so intermittent? Do I need to clean something, or is it just on the verge of dying?

 

I would check to see if there is a small amount of play in where the TPS bolts to the TB. I doubt that is the problem....you may need a new tps. You can use a voltmeter to check the closed and open throttle readings to see if the volts correspond correctly witht the position of the throttle plate.

 

i had mine replaced and before i did i would put it in nutral and my rpm's would be 1500 and then i would put it in 1st and it would jup down to 500. as said above check the screws and wire connectors on it and leading from it.

 

Mine acted goofy like that for several months before it finally threw a CEL code. On several occasions the engine died on me after slowing down from highway speeds. Even after it threw a code, I used a voltmeter to make sure it was the TSP itself and not something else (wiring). If I remember correctly, a new TSP is not cheap. If you do replace the TSP yourself, make sure to follow the steps in the shop manual exactly. At one point, I had to start completely over because I had everything so screwed up.