In some cases, it is possible to replace just the sensor, but on other car models, you have to replace the whole accelerator pedal. The accelerator pedal position sensor is located inside the accelerator pedal. Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor Location The TPS sensor is quite an important part, because it can affect both the gas mileage and the engine response. 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 result is a smooth and responsive drive. 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 TPS sensor and the accelerator pedal sensor track the gas pedal’s movement, which sends signals to the car’s computer. Modern cars do not have a wire between the accelerator and throttle body instead, they use an electronic throttle control system.Ī driver continually depresses the accelerator pedal, giving it a varying amount of pressure, which determines how the car moves forward. What is an Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor? If your check engine light is on, you should definitely check the trouble codes with an automotive scan tool. 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. Modern cars have a monitoring system over all the sensors in the car engine. This will result in poor (or better) fuel consumption.īut 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. 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. Fuel ConsumptionĪ common sign of a bad accelerator pedal position sensor is a decrease or increase in fuel efficiency. If the accelerator pedal sensor isn’t working as it should, it will give out incorrect readings to the car’s automatic transmission computer.ĭepressing 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. 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. READ MORE: What RPM Should a Car Idle at? 3. 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. At these RPMs, the engine idles smoothly without shaking and consumes little fuel. The optimal RPM of a car engine is around 600 to 700 rotations per minute. In such a case, it is advised to pull over immediately and call a mechanic, since a bad pedal signal can be fatal.

If you feel that your car is hesitating to move, your accelerator pedal sensor could be failing. Every owner eventually becomes familiar with how their car responds to pressing the gas pedal. Car hesitates to move when the gas pedal is pressed Here is a more detailed list of the signs of a bad or failing accelerator pedal position sensor to look for: 1. 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. You may also notice symptoms such as issues with shifting gears, rough idle, or high fuel consumption.Ī 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. The most common symptoms of a bad accelerator pedal position sensor are an unresponsive accelerator pedal and a check engine light on your dashboard. Conclusion Symptoms Of A Bad Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor

Kia sentra 2008