Six Signs That Your Accelerator Sensor Is Not Working (Replacement cost)

Modern cars are outfitted with many sensors, computers and other devices to manage and automate basic vehicle controls.

You will get a better gas mileage as well as a safer, more enjoyable and comfortable driving experience.

Nearly every car has an electronic sensor, the TPS or accelerator pedal position sensor. These sensors determine the location of the accelerator pedal, just like the name.

Here are the top symptoms, location and costs of an faulty accelerator pedal position sensor. Let’s begin with a quick overview of the signs to look for:

Bad Accelerator Pedal position Sensor Signs

Unresponsive accelerator pedals are the most obvious sign of an improper position sensor. Other symptoms include shifting problems, rough idle or excessive fuel consumption.

A failing accelerator pedal sensor’s impact is pretty much obvious as it directly affects how the car drives and responds to the pedal and gas mileage.

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.

This is a detailed listing of symptoms that indicate a defective accelerator pedal position sensor.

1. When the pedal is pressed, your car will not move.

It is simple to spot this sign as owners eventually get used to the way their vehicle responds when they press the accelerator pedal. Your accelerator pedal sensor may be defective if your car seems to be hesitant or unable to move.

If this happens, pull over and immediately call a mechanic. Poor pedal timing can be deadly.

2. Rough Idle

An engine's optimal rotation per minute (RPM) is between 600 and 700 rotations/minute. The engine runs smoothly at these RPMs and does not shake or use much fuel. A bad accelerator pedal sensor may be the cause of your car's inability to idle smooth.

3. Your car doesn’t accelerate over a specific limit

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 point of pressing the gas pedal.

4. Your car won’t shift up or jerks upon depressing the pedal

If the accelerator pedal sensor isn’t working as it should, it will give out incorrect reading to the car’s automatic transmission computer. This is because the sensor has failed.

Depressing it would 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. Gas mileage is low

Your car’s throttle position sensor is often at its failing stage, but the effects aren’t obvious to you. You may not be noticing a delayed response from the pedal, but if you see low gas mileage, it could mean that the car’s throttle position sensor is working but not as accurate as it should be.

6. Make sure your engine light is on

Modern cars include a monitoring system for all of the sensor in their engine. If the engine control unit suspects that one of these sensors is broken and sending out a wrong signal – it will light up the check engine light.

Check the Trouble Codes with an Automotive Scan Tool if your check engine lamp is lit.

What does an Accelerator Pedal Place Sensor look like?

Modern cars no longer have an electrical wire connecting the throttle and accelerator; instead they use an electronic system.

Drivers constantly press the accelerator pedal, giving it different pressures. This determines how fast the car will move.

The TPS sensor and the accelerator pedal sensor tracks the gas pedal’s movement, which sends signals to the car’s computer. The computer uses this information to adjust air-fuel mixture, throttle body valve, and air temperature according to gas pedal position and speed. It results in a responsive and smooth drive.

Some cars include both an accelerator pedal location sensor and one TPS sensor at the throttle, while others only have one. 

A TPS sensor’s importance can be emphasized as it can affect the gas mileage and engine response.

Position Sensor for Accelerator Pump Position

You will find the position sensor for your accelerator pedal inside. In some cases, it is possible to replace just the sensor – but on other car models, you have to replace the whole accelerator pedal.

Sometimes it can be difficult to remove the accelerator pedal, but most cars make this easy.

Price of Accelerator Position Sensor Replacement

An average cost to replace an accelerator pedal sensor can be between $100-$300, depending on car make and labor costs. The average cost of an accelerator pedal sensor is between $50-200. A workshop can charge between $50-100 for labor.

The cost differs a lot depending on if you can replace just the position sensor or, like in some car models – you have to replace the whole accelerator pedal, which makes it much more expensive.

You may need to calibrate your new accelerator pedal position sensor. This can be accomplished only with a diagnostic instrument.

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