7 Symptoms Of A Bad Accelerator Pedal Sensor

Bad Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor Symptoms

The accelerator pedal position sensor (APPS) monitors the position of the accelerator pedal and converts it into an electronic signal to operate the throttle plate. It tells the computer (ECU) how far the accelerator pedal is depressed.

Over time, it losses its job due to usage, and heat present in the cabin, which causes several accelerator pedal position sensor problems. Fortunately, here you can learn what are the symptoms of a bad accelerator pedal sensor.

On this page, you are going to quickly learn the seven bad accelerator pedal position sensor symptoms in a few minutes.

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What Are The Symptoms Of A Bad Accelerator Pedal Sensor

How do you know if your accelerator pedal sensor is bad?

When the car accelerator pedal position sensor gets faulty, it shows up a number of problems. It may trigger an error code, warning light, and a few other symptoms. Below are the 7 symptoms of a bad accelerator pedal sensor.

The 7 Symptoms Of A Bad Accelerator Pedal Sensor

1. The Car Jerks Upon Depressing The Accelerator Pedal

Accelerator Pedal
Accelerator Pedal

The car’s hesitation or jerking upon depressing the accelerator pedal is sometimes a symptom of a bad accelerator pedal sensor. A damaged accelerator pedal position sensor will feed incorrect data to the car computer.

As a result, the ECU will feed incorrect data to the car’s automatic transmission unit, which activates jerking the car upon depressing the accelerator pedal.

2. Slow Accelerator Response

Car Accelerates Slowly
Car Accelerates Slowly

When the car accelerator responds slowly, it can be a symptom of a bad accelerator pedal sensor. When the accelerator pedal position sensor fails, it sends wrong signals to the computer, as a result, you may feel a slow response upon depressing the accelerator pedal.

You may notice that the car does not run efficiently as it should even though you have depressed the accelerator pedal down fully.

3. Reduced Engine Power

Engine
Engine

Reduced engine power is also a symptom of a bad accelerator pedal sensor. When the accelerator pedal sensor fails or any error occurs, it turns the car into safe mode, which reduces fast speed and heavy acceleration, resulting in reduced engine power. You may feel a weak acceleration by depressing the accelerator pedal.

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4. Uneven Idle

Tachometer Showing An Idling Engine
Tachometer Showing An Idling Engine

Another bad accelerator pedal position sensor symptom is uneven idle or sometimes the car stalls at idle. The car’s idle RPM is 600 to 1000 RPM depending on the car. If you notice that the car’s idle does not stand even, it may be the problem of a bad accelerator pedal position sensor.

5. The Accelerator Will Not Exceed From A Limit

The Accelerator Will Not Exceed From A Limit
The Accelerator Will Not Exceed From A Limit

The car will not accelerate from a limit is also a sign of a bad accelerator pedal sensor. The car does not go faster after a certain point regardless of fully depressing the accelerator pedal. If your car accelerates at a normal speed but does not exceed a speed limit, it can be an indication of a bad accelerator pedal position sensor.

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6. Reduce Gas Mileage

Low Fuel
Low Fuel

Reduced gas mileage can also be a symptom of a bad accelerator pedal sensor. A failed accelerator pedal position sensor will give wrong data to the car computer (ECU). Hence, the car ECU miscalculates the input data with other inputs, resulting in reduced gas mileage.

7. Engine Light Comes ON

Engine Check Light
Engine Check Light

Turning ON the engine check light is also a bad accelerator pedal position sensor symptom. The accelerator pedal sensor is controlled by the computer (ECU), If the car ECU detects an error or receives wrong input data, it will trigger the check engine light ON. The computer may generate a code P2138, a reduced engine power code.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I know if my accelerator pedal sensor is bad?

If your accelerator pedal sensor is bad, you may notice that your car’s engine is not performing as well as it should. The engine may stall or misfire, and the car may not accelerate as quickly as it should. If you suspect that your accelerator pedal sensor is bad, you should take your car to a mechanic or dealer to have it checked out.

What does a pedal position sensor do?

A pedal position sensor is a device that measures the position of the pedal in relation to the rest of the vehicle. The sensor is usually located near the pedal assembly and sends a signal to the engine control unit (ECU) indicating the position of the pedal. This information is used by the ECU to adjust the engine speed and torque output accordingly.


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