- Communicates between your gas pedal and the throttle
- Notifies the throttle when to accelerate or decelerate
- Replacement requires an experienced technician
The Accelerator Pedal Sensor in your Nissan sends electrical cues to your engine’s throttle, which controls how quickly or slowly it moves based on how your gas pedal is engaged. If the gas pedal is depressed, the Accelerator Pedal Sensor then signals the throttle to open further, which allows more air to enter the engine. When you release the accelerator pedal, the Accelerator Pedal Sensor notifies the throttle to close incrementally (how much it closes depends on the pedal position), which then decreases the rate of acceleration in your Nissan.
Before this technological advancement, the communication between the accelerator and the throttle was designed as a physical mechanism. In earlier vehicles, a wire connected the gas pedal to a component that would move the throttle to be more or less open, depending on how hard the pedal was pushed. These days, vehicles use the Accelerator Pedal Sensor for efficiency purposes.
The signs that your Accelerator Pedal Sensor should be replaced can include: inconsistent acceleration and deceleration when depressing or releasing the acceleration pedal, issues with fuel efficiency, or an illuminated engine light on your Nissan's dash.
If you notice one or more of the above signs, contact your neighborhood Nissan authorized service center as soon as possible and ask about a replacement Accelerator Pedal Sensor. A malfunctioning Accelerator Pedal Sensor can negatively affect your Nissan’s long-term engine health. A qualified Nissan service technician can help you with a new Accelerator Pedal Sensor and make sure your Nissan is in efficient, working condition.
Looking for the right Accelerator Pedal Sensor for your Nissan?
This Accelerator Pedal Sensor, part 18002EA000, works for your Nissan Xterra 2005-2015. See the What This Fits link for more details.
LEVER COMPL-ACCELERATOR W/DRUM
Fits Frontier, Pathfinder, Xterra