6 Symptoms of a Bad Throttle Position Sensor
A failed throttle position sensor is something you definitely want to avoid while driving. The purpose of the throttle position sensor is to keep your car running properly by controlling the throttle.
Over time, the sensor will start to wear out and at some point it may need to be replaced. The key question is how to recognize the symptoms of a bad throttle position sensor and ultimately replace the right sensor.
To be honest, it’s not easy to identify a problem with the throttle position sensor. However, there are certain symptoms your throttle position sensor may have that you need to look out for to find the cause.
The primary purpose of the throttle position sensor (TPS) is to provide information about the throttle position to your vehicle’s computer. It senses air, heat, and light, and sends that information to the ECM, which adjusts the throttle and fuel delivery accordingly.
Every vehicle has something called a “throttle valve” that controls the amount of fuel that can enter the engine. The throttle position sensor monitors the throttle position from the shaft. This sensor is basically connected to a computer in the vehicle that relays the information sent by the driver. This information includes driver actions like acceleration, power steering, etc.
So, every time you step on the gas pedal to accelerate the vehicle, the computer sends this information to the sensor so that the throttle knows how much fuel should flow to the engine.
Earlier there was a cable that connected the throttle to the accelerator pedal. But today in the age of technology, the car’s computer controls when the throttle opens and closes based on the feedback it receives about the acceleration of the car. When the throttle position sensor fails, it sends incorrect information to the ECM, causing a variety of problems with the engine, its performance, and fuel economy.
Below are the most common symptoms of a faulty TPS. In most cases, all of these symptoms will appear at the same time, making it easier to identify the faulty component.
1) Car Jerks (no power steering)
The most common symptom of a faulty TPS is a jerky or stuttering vehicle. This jerky movement can occur during hard acceleration or under moderate loads. What makes it difficult to diagnose is that the jerking or twitching movement can be completely random and may not occur at all for periods of time. The reason is that the ECM does not receive correct information from the TPS about how much the car’s throttle should be at.
2) Idle Surging (engine idle speed)
Idle judder can be caused by other issues with the car, but when it occurs in conjunction with other throttle position sensor symptoms, the culprit is often the TPS. At idle, the ECM does not receive the correct information, causing the throttle to fluctuate randomly and jerking at idle.
3) Check Engine Light
The check engine light will come on and off randomly, even when the car is running smoothly without jerking or stalling. This is often the first symptom of a TPS failure.
Using a code reader, you should be able to determine if a faulty TPS is to blame or another component. Diagnostic trouble codes P0120, P0121, P0122, P0123, and P0124 will frequently appear.
4) Engine Stall (Car stalls while running)
The engine may stall for no reason and without warning. This occurs when the TPS provides incorrect information to the ECM. The engine may stall at high speeds, low speeds, or even at idle.
5) Acceleration problems (car hesitates when accelerating – gas pedal)
When the throttle position sensor fails, the car will not be able to accelerate properly. However, this doesn’t always happen. You may experience slow acceleration, sudden acceleration at high and low speeds, hesitation or delay in acceleration, and other related symptoms.
6) Gear change problems (driving at high altitudes)
Acceleration problems can lead to gear shifting problems because the ECM is not receiving the correct information about acceleration. This can lead to inaccurate shift points and early or late shifts.