Throttle position sensor

A throttle position sensor monitors how far the throttle valve is open and reports it to the engine control unit, which uses the reading to manage fuel delivery and ignition timing. It sits on the side of the throttle body, on the end of the butterfly's shaft, and on older designs it's a simple throttle potentiometer whose resistance changes as the throttle turns.On a modern electronic throttle there are really two of these. The TPS on the throttle body reports where the valve actually is, while an accelerator pedal position sensor reports what you're asking for, and the ECU compares the pair constantly. This page covers the throttle body sensor, though listings mix the two up often enough to make the distinction worth knowing.

On older cars the throttle sensor has a sliding electrical contact inside, and wear in its resistance track produces most of the classic symptoms:

• Hesitation and flat spots: The ECU briefly loses track of the throttle mid-travel.
• A hunting or surging idle: The reading wanders at the closed position, so the fuelling wanders too.
• The car lurching at steady throttle: A worn spot in the track makes the signal jump.
• Limp mode with reduced power: Drive-by-wire cars cap the revs when TPS and pedal readings disagree.
• Stalling when you lift off: The closed-throttle signal arrives late or not at all.
• Check engine light with P0120 to P0124 or P2135: The circuit or the signal comparison flagged by the ECU.

A faulty throttle position sensor makes the engine's behaviour stop matching your foot. Power comes and goes at a steady pedal, the idle drifts, and many cars protect themselves by dropping into limp mode, which caps the revs until the fault is put right.Parthunt24 sets out used throttle position sensor listings from Ovoko, ProxyParts, eBay, TotalParts, Opisto, Ecooparts, Ricambipro, and Autoparts24 on one results page, where 2 offers list their throttle position sensor price, connector, and condition.

One name covers a lot of different parts here.The sensor must match the exact throttle body, not just the engine, because one engine family can carry several throttle bodies over its life, and each pairs with its own TPS.Cable-operated and drive-by-wire throttles use different sensor designs, petrol and diesel bodies differ again, and the connector must match your loom in shape and pin count. Check the mounting too, since some older sensors have slotted holes and are set to a base position on fitting, while later ones fix in one place. The OEM number settles all of it fastest.Put the make and model into the left column and unrelated sensors leave the list. Open a result and the seller's marketplace page appears, description and payment included.

• Vehicle make, model, and year: Throttle systems often differ between generations and facelift models.
• OEM part number: The most reliable way to confirm exact compatibility.
• Engine type and engine code: Different engines can use different throttle bodies and TPS sensors.
• Fuel type: Petrol and diesel engines often use different throttle position sensor designs.
• Throttle body compatibility: The TPS must match the specific throttle body installed on the engine.
• Connector type: The electrical connector must match the vehicle wiring harness.
• Number of pins: Sensors with different electrical configurations aren't interchangeable.
• Mounting style: The sensor housing and fixing points must match the throttle body.
• Electronic or cable-operated throttle: Drive-by-wire and cable throttles use different TPS designs.
• Condition of the sensor and connector: Check for damaged pins, cracks, corrosion, or signs of contamination.

When the listing opens, remember where this part hides its wear.The wear is in the track, not the housing, so a note like tested with a smooth voltage sweep is worth more here than any photo, because a dead spot mid-travel is invisible from outside.Then work the advert over, point by point:

• Photos: The sensor body, the drive end that engages the shaft, and the plug's pins.
• Seller reputation: A long-standing breaker whose recent buyers report accurate listings.
• Compatibility: The OEM number held beside your throttle body's, digit for digit.
• Included components: With its seal or gasket and screws, or the sensor alone?
• Condition: Cracks, corroded pins, a worn drive slot, or oil inside the plug.
• Testing: A smooth resistance or voltage sweep across the whole travel, stated plainly.
• Warranty and returns: Worth checking, since a flat spot may only appear on the road.
• Shipping: Small and light, padded enough to protect the drive end.
• Documentation: The donor engine and throttle body codes, plus mileage.

If the body matches and the sweep is confirmed, follow the advert to the marketplace selling it and buy throttle position sensor and its gasket in one go.

Prices stay modest, and a cheap throttle position sensor is usually fine as long as the body match is exact.A used throttle position sensor for a common petrol engine costs about €8-€25, original units for drive-by-wire bodies €25-€50, and rare or performance applications €50-€100.Parthunt24's throttle position sensor listings begin at 5.00, and a few things separate them:

• Cable or drive-by-wire: Later electronic-throttle sensors fetch more than simple potentiometers.
• Brand stamp: A marked original with a readable number sells above a blank one.
• Engine rarity: Sensors from mass-market engines cost least.
• Mounting type: Adjustable, slotted-hole versions suit older engines and vary in price.
• Tested sweep: A confirmed smooth sweep is the main thing worth paying extra for.
• Seal and screws included: Small parts that decide whether fitting starts immediately.

Sort by throttle position sensor price, compare each throttle position sensor for sale with the others, and the best deal is quick to spot.

The sensor reads the throttle body, and its neighbours cause identical symptoms when they fail, so it's worth checking around it. The accelerator pedal unit fails in similar ways too, and the throttle pedal position sensor cost sits in a similar range. Check these listings on Parthunt24:

• Throttle body: Where the sensor bolts on, and carbon around the butterfly affects them both.
• Accelerator pedal position sensor: The pedal half of the pair on drive-by-wire cars.
• Idle air control valve: Controls idle on cable-throttle engines and mimics TPS faults when gummed.
• ECU: Reads the sensor and stores the codes and adaptations.
• Transmission control module: Uses the throttle reading to time gearchanges on automatics.
• MAP sensor: Reads manifold pressure a few centimetres downstream, with overlapping symptoms.
• Mass air flow sensor (MAF): Tracks the air coming in on many of the same engines.
• Air filter: Cheap to renew while the intake is open in front of you.

After fitting, do the throttle relearn your car expects, an ignition-on wait on some models and a scan-tool adaptation on others, or the idle will hunt with a perfectly good sensor.

A car stuck in limp mode doesn't leave much patience for shopping. The revs are capped, motorway speeds are out of reach, and the part search happens on a phone in the driveway, with the engine still warm.Parthunt24 suits exactly that moment, because one search brings back every throttle position sensor for sale across Europe's used-parts marketplaces, each with its throttle position sensor price, its plug, and its donor engine in the same view. The listings stay with their breakers, and the checkout happens there. Every seller sets their own price, so comparing them is where the saving is. Compare prices, confirm the body code, and buy throttle position sensor and seal in one order, with the car back to full power this week.