When I was taking my filter out to clean it the other day my not so smart friend accedentally touched his screwdriver to the positive terminal on the battery. There was a big spark. The next day my Check Engine Light came on the codes pointed to the Throttle Position Sensor. Could this be a blown fuse or something causing this to happen. The guy at the dealership said that just because the code pointed to the Throttle Position Sensor that it doesnt mean it is the sensor itself. Something else could be causing the sensor to malfunction. Is it possible that it is a blown fuse or something or is there even any fuses that work with the TP Sensor? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!! Thanks
OH and sorry about the non specific subject title, i didnt know how to word it.

 

How about this: Big spark followed by Check Engine Light.

Please post the specific Diagnostic Trouble Codes.

One end of the screwdriver was touching the positive terminal on the battery. Where was the other end of the screwdriver? We have to know where the current was flowing to guess what parts may have been damaged.

That is correct. It could be the TPS or the wiring associated with the TPS.

There is no fuse which serves the TPS alone. If there is a blown fuse it affects other parts of the car. Each fuse protects a specific circuit or group of circuits in the electrical system.

Two possibilities exist:

1) The screwdriver caused a short circuit between the battery positive terminal and some circuit in the electrical system. If this happened, the current which passed through the screwdriver bypassed the fuse. Therefore the fuse wouldn't blow but the wiring and devices on that circuit may have sustained damage.

2) The screwdriver caused a short circuit between the battery positive terminal and a body ground or engine ground. If this happened, the current which passed through the screwdriver went straight to ground and caused no circuit damage (although it was not kind to the battery).

There is a small but non-zero chance that this Big Spark caused a transient voltage spike which passed through the Engine Control Module. The ECM is not tolerant of such events.

 

Ok next time ill have a better title. As far as where the screwdriver was: He was holding the handle of the screwdriver with his palm resting on the battery itself. He was leaning over looking at something in the engine using the battery as something to hold on to. The end of the screwdriver touched the positive terminal with his hand and screwdriver in the position I just described. The codes were 0403 and 1206. OK now if the wiring devices you described in your post that may have sustained damage, what would have to be done to fix them? And if it was the ECM what would have to be done to fix that? Thank you very much for the help!!!!! Take Care

 

Ok next time ill have a better title. As far as where the screwdriver was: He was holding the handle of the screwdriver with his palm resting on the battery itself. He was leaning over looking at something in the engine using the battery as something to hold on to. The end of the screwdriver touched the positive terminal with his hand and screwdriver in the position I just described. The codes were 0403 and 1206. OK now if the wiring devices you described in your post that may have sustained damage, what would have to be done to fix them? And if it was the ECM what would have to be done to fix that? Thank you very much for the help!!!!! Take Care

 

Ok next time ill have a better title. As far as where the screwdriver was: He was holding the handle of the screwdriver with his palm resting on the battery itself. He was leaning over looking at something in the engine using the battery as something to hold on to. The end of the screwdriver touched the positive terminal with his hand and screwdriver in the position I just described. The codes were 0403 and 1206. OK now if the wiring devices you described in your post that may have sustained damage, what would have to be done to fix them? And if it was the ECM what would have to be done to fix that? Thank you very much for the help!!!!! Take Care

 

Anyone? I need to know before I take my car in tomorrow and pay 61 bucks just for them to look at it. Please Help
Thanks

 

I know you intended to answer the question, but you did not. The screwdriver completed an electric circuit between the battery positive terminal and some other metal part of the engine. What was the other part?

 

Diagnostic Trouble Code 0403 points to a problem with the Throttle Position Sensor. The TPS responds to the accelerator pedal movement. This sensor is a kind of potentiometer which transforms the throttle position into output voltage, and emits the voltage signal to the Engine Control Module. In addition, the sensor detects the opening and closing speed of the throttle valve and feeds the voltage signal to the ECM.

This malfunction may be detected in three different circumstances.

A) An excessively low or high voltage from the sensor is sent to the ECM. In this situation the ECM enters fail-safe mode (acceleration will be poor) and turns on the Malfunction Indicator Lamp.
Possible causes include ...
- Harness or connectors (the throttle position sensor is open or shorted.)
- faulty Throttle Position Sensor

B) A high voltage from the sensor is sent to the ECM under light load driving conditions.
Possible causes include ...
- Harness or connectors (the throttle position sensor is open or shorted.)
- faulty Throttle Position Sensor
- fuel injector(s)
- Camshaft Position Sensor
- Mass Air Flow Sensor

C) A low voltage from the sensor is sent to the ECM under heavy load driving conditions.
Possible causes include ...
- Harness or connectors (the throttle position sensor is open or shorted.)
- intake air leaks
- faulty Throttle Position Sensor

 

Diagnostic Trouble Code 1206 points to a problem with the TPS.
The Throttle Position Sensor detects the throttle valve position and sends a signal to the Transmission Control Module.
The Throttle Position Switch consists of a Wide Open Throttle position switch and a closed throttle position switch. The WOT switch sends a signal to the TCM when the throttle is open at least 1/2 of the WOT position. The closed throttle position switch sends a signal to the TCM when the throttle is fully closed. The Sensor and Switch are integrated into one unit designated TPS.

This malfunction may be detected when the TCM receives an excessively low or high voltage from the sensor.
Possible causes include ...
- Harness or connectors (the throttle position sensor is open or shorted.)
- faulty Throttle Position Sensor
- faulty Throttle Position Switch

 

Maybe the other part was the negative terminal. Thats what he said he thought it was. What would this mean? Could it have been just bad on the battery and had nothing to do with the check engine light? Sorry I am trying to explain this as well as I can. I am taking it into the dealer tomorrow and they are Charging me 61 bucks just to look at it and test it to see what is wrong. Im taking it to an Import Specialist Shop. They seemed more down to earth and my girlfriends parents always go there and have had great work done. The reason I say this is because the Nissan Dealership wanted to charge me 85 just to look at it and then $159 for the TP Sensor and then $100 for Installation. The Import Specialist shop is charging me 61 to look at it and test it. $55 for the TP Sensor and nothing for the installation. Anyway, Please help. Thanks

 

why don't you try resetting the ecu and see if the code comes back?

-V