This article will show you some of the most common symptoms of a bad accelerator pedal position sensor.
It is a pretty rare car problem but when it happens, it can cause serious trouble as you’ll see later.
Luckily, if you pay some attention you can perhaps spot the issue on time. Hopefully, this list will help with that.
Besides this website, you can also watch various videos on our YouTube channel about car maintenance, driving, and other car-related topics.
WHAT CAUSES AN APPS SENSOR PROBLEM?
In most modern cars, the gas pedal is connected to the throttle body with an electric connection. It’s called a drive-by-wire system.
This replaced the more simple cable system.
Within this drive-by-wire system is the position sensor which is in fact a simple potentiometer. So, how much you press the gas pedal means what kind of electrical signal will be sent to the throttle body.
Problems with the sensor start when the electronic parts (mainly the inner contacts) start failing and give a partial, weak, or no signal at all to the throttle body.
The most common reason for this is material fatigue.
This then causes the symptoms that you’ll see.
SYMPTOMS OF A BAD ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR
1. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT
The check engine light may be the first symptom you’ll notice. it may start to appear randomly but as the sensor issue gets worse, the light may be on all the time.
Besides the check engine light, there might also appear other warning lights, for instance on the Skoda, the EPC light will usually appear.
When the check engine light appears, it would be good to connect an OBD tool if you have one to additionally confirm the problem with an error code.
For more information about the reasons for a check engine light click here.
2. HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING
Besides the check engine light, you may also notice a hesitation when accelerating. At first, it may be barely noticeable, like just a glitch.
However, as the sensor gets more problematic, the hesitation turns into a serious delay.
3. POOR ACCELERATION
Usually, after the hesitation symptom starts, you may also notice a sluggish acceleration.
You can recognize this easily as the engine will run as usual, it just takes a lot longer to achive speed.
4. LIMP MODE APPEARS
By this time another dramatic symptom of a bad accelerator pedal position sensor may appear.
That is the limp mode. Limp mode is a safety feature that almost all cars have to prevent larger engine damage when there’s a problem.
The usual signs of limp mode are that various warning lights suddenly come up, the revs are limited and the engine performance is seriously reduced.
In this case, the car is more or less barely in driving condition.
To learn more about how to get out of limp mode click here.
5. ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAS NO RESPONSE
The last symptom on this list is a total loss of accelerator pedal response.
So, you press the pedal and nothing happens, no revs, nothing.
This happens when the sensor has totally failed.
One more reason for this symptom is a bad electrical connection to the sensor, due to rust, filth, physical damage, or else.
CONCLUSION
A bad accelerator pedal position sensor is luckily not a frequent problem on most cars.
Nevertheless, the moment you notice a hint of hesitation on the accelerator pedal and the check engine light take action and inspect the problem.
If possible change the position sensor on time to avoid potentially risky situations like serious delay when accelerating or limp mode.
But if it does come to this, best to avoid driving the car as much as you can until you solve the problem.
Written by: Sibin Spasojevic
Former car technician, life-long car and DIY enthusiast, author for Despairrepair.com
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