1997 Mercury Tracer 2.0L engine. The TPS indicates 21.6% with the throttle at the ''closed'' mechanical stop and progresses smoothly to 97.7% at full open. Should the TPS indicate near 0% at closed throttle or are some deliberately positioned at an offset?

if the throttle body is shut 100% no gas is getting through to the engine for it to idial.or you mite be right?

it will or should read less than 21.6%. what the processor is reading is the throttle body is almost 1/4 of the way open. the throttle position sensor should read a voltage of .5 and then raise as the throttle is open. it should not be over .7 of a volt. if the throttle is closed and it is reading more than this then the tp sensor should be replaced.