Modern vehicles are equipped with many sensors and computers to automatically and precisely manage basic car controls.
They help to achieve better gas mileage and a smoother, comfortable, safe drive.
Almost every modern car now has a sensor called the TPS and an accelerator pedal position sensor. As the name implies, these sensors are precision devices that determine the position of the accelerator pedal.
In this article, you will find the most common symptoms of a bad accelerator pedal position sensor, its location, and replacement cost. Let’s begin with a quick overview of the signs to look for.
In This Article:
Symptoms Of A Bad Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor
The most common symptoms of a bad accelerator pedal position sensor are an unresponsive accelerator pedal and a check engine light on your dashboard. You may also notice symptoms such as issues with shifting gears, rough idle, or high fuel consumption.
A failing accelerator pedal sensor’s impact is pretty obvious, because it directly affects gas mileage as well as how the car drives and responds to the pedal.
If any of these symptoms occur or your car isn’t responding accurately when you press the gas pedal, you should pull over immediately and call a mechanic.
Here is a more detailed list of the signs of a bad or failing accelerator pedal position sensor to look for:
1. Car hesitates to move when the gas pedal is pressed
This symptom is easy to detect. Every owner eventually becomes familiar with how their car responds to pressing the gas pedal. If you feel that your car is hesitating to move, your accelerator pedal sensor could be failing.
In such a case, it is advised to pull over immediately and call a mechanic, since a bad pedal signal can be fatal.
2. Rough Idle
The optimal RPM of a car engine is around 600 to 700 rotations per minute. At these RPMs, the engine idles smoothly without shaking and consumes little fuel. If your car is unable to idle smoothly and you are not having problems with the fuel mixture, a bad accelerator pedal sensor could be the culprit.
READ MORE: What RPM Should a Car Idle at?
3. Acceleration Issues
If your car is only able to accelerate up to a point and won’t go faster beyond that speed, your accelerator pedal sensor is not able to send positioning signals accurately, which causes your car not to speed up beyond a certain point when you press the gas pedal.
4. Shifting Issues
If the accelerator pedal sensor isn’t working as it should, it will give out incorrect readings to the car’s automatic transmission computer.
Depressing the pedal will sometimes give out delayed signals or a burst of varying signals, which your car’s computer tries to accumulate and use to adjust the mixture.
5. Fuel Consumption
A common sign of a bad accelerator pedal position sensor is a decrease or increase in fuel efficiency. When the pedal position sensor fails, it sends an incorrect signal to the engine control module, causing the engine to receive either too much or too little fuel. This will result in poor (or better) fuel consumption.
But while better fuel consumption may sound like a good thing, it can actually damage the engine, so it’s important to fix it as soon as possible.
6. Check Engine Light
Modern cars have a monitoring system over all the sensors in the car engine. If the engine control unit suspects that one of these sensors is broken and sending out a wrong signal, it will turn on the check engine light.
If your check engine light is on, you should definitely check the trouble codes with an automotive scan tool.
What is an Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor?
Modern cars do not have a wire between the accelerator and throttle body; instead, they use an electronic throttle control system.
A driver continually depresses the accelerator pedal, giving it a varying amount of pressure, which determines how the car moves forward.
The TPS sensor and the accelerator pedal sensor track the gas pedal’s movement, which sends signals to the car’s computer. The computer then uses that information to adjust the air/fuel mixture and the throttle body valve according to the gas pedal position, current speed, the air temperature, MAF reading, and RPM. The result is a smooth and responsive drive.
Some cars use both an accelerator pedal position sensor on the pedal and a TPS sensor on the throttle body, while some cars only have a TPS sensor on the throttle body.
The TPS sensor is quite an important part, because it can affect both the gas mileage and the engine response.
Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor Location
The accelerator pedal position sensor is located inside the accelerator pedal. In some cases, it is possible to replace just the sensor, but on other car models, you have to replace the whole accelerator pedal.
Removing the accelerator pedal can sometimes be challenging, but it is pretty straightforward on most car models.
Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor Replacement Cost
The average accelerator pedal sensor replacement cost is between $100 and $300, depending on the car model and labor costs. The accelerator pedal sensor usually costs between $50 and $200. The labor cost can range from $50 to $100 at a workshop.
The cost differs a lot depending on if you can replace just the position sensor or if you have to replace the whole accelerator pedal (as is the case with some cars), which makes it much more expensive.
Remember that you sometimes have to calibrate the new accelerator pedal position sensor, which can only be done with a diagnostic tool.
How do I reset my accelerator pedal sensor?
How to reset the accelerator pedal position sensor depends on your car model. However, on most car models you will need to disconnect and reconnect the car battery. Then, you turn on the ignition and first fully depress the gas pedal, then release it. Finally, you should turn off the ignition again, and after this, the sensor should be calibrated.
How do I test the accelerator pedal position sensor?
The easiest way to test an accelerator pedal position sensor is to use a diagnostic computer. Read the voltage going through the position sensor and ensure it gives the correct values when fully depressing the accelerator pedal position sensor. The values are often shown as percentages.
Is a throttle position sensor the same as an accelerator pedal position sensor?
No. They are not the same. The throttle position sensor is located inside or on the throttle body of the engine. The accelerator pedal position sensor is located on the accelerator pedal inside the car.
Is it safe to drive with a bad accelerator pedal position sensor?
No. It is not safe to drive with a bad accelerator pedal position sensor. The pedal sensor sends information to the engine control module about how much you want to accelerate the engine, which then sends this information to the throttle. The last thing you want is for the ECM to send the wrong information.
You really don’t want the accelerator pedal to send the wrong signal to the throttle body, so it’s important to take a bad accelerator position sensor seriously and fix the problem as soon as possible.
If you don’t have the knowledge to diagnose and fix the problem yourself, it’s time to take your car in for service and have the accelerator pedal sensor checked by a mechanic. Ignoring the problem can not only be dangerous, but also lead to more expensive repairs down the road.
Learn more:
- 8 Symptoms of a Bad Throttle Body
- How to Reset a Throttle Position Sensor (7 Methods)
- 5 Signs of a Bad Throttle Position Sensor
I have a 2007 Cadillac Escalade esv. I was on the Freeway and my car died. It didn’t turn completely off, I pulled to the side of the freeway and the dash read ( Unable to power engine and the traction control sign was on. I turned the car off while waiting for the tow truck driver. About 5min, Tried to start it and it started right up. I U Tubed it and it said press the traction button for 10sec. So I did, The light went out and I was able to put it in drive and pull off the freeway to the gate station.. Can you tell me if its the Accelerator pedal sensor?
I have a honda stream which in the morning, the accelerator pedal isn’t working as in doesn’t respond even pressing fully and a check engine appears and has a small mis. Later wen the car heats up, it works normally. What may be the problem.
Hi? Iam David and my Pajero io GDI 1999 tends to show a chech engine light when in drive and brakes are pressed. What could be the problem?
Yes I have a 2005 Dodge Durango with a hemi 5.7 when it rain my sensor lights were my engine lights and brakes light goes on and off so now when I put my foot on the gas pedal it won’t move it moves real slow it it idle slow
I live in Africa Kenya to be specific I have 1999 vitz car 997cc and recently have had problems with the vehicle reving high while driving and accelerating on its own with high speeds without pressing the brake pedal, I recently bought a new engine but thinking it would improve but I’m still having the same problem kindly advice me?
Honda CRV 2006
Vsa light and engine light come on. car looses power and only drives at 40 miles an hour. ie accellerator unresponsive. brought to garage several times and problem keeps recurring.
VSA light on and Triangle light on
1) Car really hesitates to move, max. 5km/h
2) it spends 5-10sec and then (magic) car is back into normal operation.
3) Turn off engine and turn turn on, back to normal.
4) Accelerator pedal is feeling like, speed up and down, speed cauage is ok.
……………………………….
Replace air filter, Still same.
Transmission oil replaced. Battery replaced. Break replaced,
Please help me, Thanks
Hello Jeeva, did you find out what the problem was with your CRV? I own a 2008, and mine is doing the exact same thing as yours!
Hi Magnus,
thanks for the description.
My problem is based on unexpected “car hesitates to move when the gas pedal is pressed”. Car – Pajero 3.2DiD 125kW V80 (180k km mileage)
It happened few times during these situations:
– car stopped at lights (to be sure – no Neutral used)
– accelerator pedals pushed, engine RPMs increase to expected range
– but car really hesitates to move, max. 5km/h
– several attempts to push the acc. pedal, no change
– it spends 5-10sec and then (magic) car is back into normal operation
No engine light, no ECU fault code found.
Diagnostic of all measured values are in normal levels, but just during the normal operation. Because this situation (car hessitates to move) occurres randomly, no way to measure the values during.
Sometimes (randomly) I feel a delayed reaction of the engine to the acc. pedal.
Both pedal
Also checked EGR. No problem found.
But there is still “empty” fault code pool in the ECU. How is your point?Thanks.
Hi, please help me, my Renault Fluence it rev high it self and reduce speed it self . So please help what is the problem?.
I have an 04 buick Rainier. I hooked it up to the computer and the code told me throttle pedal postion sensor. My husband has the pedal off but can’t get it unhooked from a latch. I purshaed the past. Is it ok to only replace the sensor? Will it default it? Like I said Theres one latch holding it on dont want to break anything
I have a2005 nissan altima it. Is idling up and down
Maf sensor
Could it be my gas pedal sensor failing when I slow down and then go to accelerate and my car seems like it’s not getting any gas. Usually only happens when it rains
Check if there is any water on the floor mat while it’s raining, if this is the case there might be corrosion inside the connector to the accelerator pedal.
Hello
I m Hamid I have Toyota passo 2010
1kr Fe engine 1000cc
I m facing a issue related car Pickup or when I press sudden full accelerator my car hesitate or like jerking or knocking
And also hesitating or jerking on uphill area and also I feel on slow running when I cross speed breaker my car takes 2 to 3 jerks and then smooth.and also takes jerks during smooth running when I cross theother vehicle and press sudden padel for speed up then jerks .
Otherwise car is smooth when I press gradually press accelerator or on ECO mode and also car gone on 160 km/he without any issue
Car average is normal 15 to 18
I spend a lot of money for above mentioned problem
I visited too many machines but they didn’t trace fault
Also checked with different scanners
No code shows
I also done complete service and catalytic converter cleans
I changed plug,coils,all sensors like o2,crank,gear shifter,MAF, throttle body,
Fuel pump one by one
But jerks not gone
All of my mechanics says change the engine or gearbox
I also change gear oil recently
I m very upset what will I do
Please help me
To me, it sounds like a lack of fuel pressure issue. Is there by any chance you can fit a mechanical fuel pressure gauge to see it while driving to make sure that the fuel pressure is not dropping?
Do you have an automatic or manual transmission? If it’s an automatic, that one could cause the jerks, but if it’s a manual gearbox it will most likely not cause the jerks.
Hi.did your car already fix