You might be facing acceleration problems in the car. But often, it seems the car runs better when you unplug the TPS.
Unplug TPS runs better, is it really okay? Though unplugging TPS makes the car run faster, it is not good for the car. When TPS is unplugged, excess air gets into the engine, which burns excess fuel. Consequently, the car runs faster. But high fuel combustion will affect the car in the long run.
You must be satisfied with the car running faster after removing the TPS and being unaware of the upcoming problems. Below are the reasons why the car works fine when TPS is unplugged, and related issues are highlighted. Let’s check them out!

Table of Contents
How Does TPS in A Car Work?
The throttle position sensor detects how much air is flowing into the engine and controls the amount of fuel to be injected. It occurs by identifying the position of the butterfly body of the throttle assembly.
The throttle position sensor is located in the throttle body. When the accelerator is pressed, the TPS detects the position of the throttle body. And sends the data to the ECU.
The ECU analyzes the data and allows the intake of the air in the engine manifold. Well, the pressure exerted in the accelerator decides the amount of air required for the engine to work.
As the accelerator is pressed, the throttle valve opens wide, and the required air flows into the engine. On the basis of the air inserted, the fuel is injected into the engine.
As a result, the combustion of the fuel occurs, and the engine powers up. Depending on the amount of fuel utilized, the car speeds up or slows down. Ultimately, the throttle position sensor helps to maintain the right amount of fuel and air inserted in the engine and runs the car.
Why Does Unplugging TPS Run Better?
Though faulty TPS can lead to poor performance of the car, interestingly, unplugging TPS can also lead to the car accelerating faster.
Well, the unplugged TPS can cause the car to run better, which gives better performance. Generally, the main reason is excess air inserted into the engine. Due to the absence of TPS, there is no regulation or control over the air entering the engine.
As a result, the excessive air enters the engine, burns more fuel, and forces the engine to work more hard. As the engine works harder, the car also accelerates.
Apart from that, as the TPS sensor is removed, no signal is sent to the ECU. The ECU then decides how much fuel is to be injected into the engine.
Sometimes, this gives an extra rich mixture of fuel and air that accelerates the engine. Though it continues for some time, later, you will find the car lagging. Moreover, it also reduces mileage while speeding up the car.
Is It A Good Idea To Unplug The TPS?
No, it’s not wise to unplug the TPS even though you get better performance from the engine. Over time, it will cost you hefty to fix the outcoming problems.
As TPS is absent, the fuel burns more, as I said, and results in acceleration in the speed. The speed becomes uncontrollable sometimes and becomes dangerous. Also, you will use more fuel than normal, which reduces fuel economy.
Moreover, as the excessive fuel burns, excess emission occurs. Consequently, it causes excess carbon deposition.
You will need to clean the chambers, and over time, it can lead to other problems in the car, which are discussed in the below section.
What Happens If TPS Is Unplugged?
Though you can run the car without a Throttle position sensor, it is not recommended by professionals. Unplugging TPS will let you feel at ease for some time, but it will cause harm in the long run. Now, let’s go through some of the problems that can occur due to unplugging TPS.
1. Check Engine Light Appears
Here, the check engine light appears as the TPS is no longer present. Because of the absence of TPS, the ECU is not getting any signal. In order to indicate that, the check engine light will come on. It will disappear if you plug the TPS again.
In the meantime, if other sensors are faulty, the owner would not know that. Because the check engine light will also come on when the other sensor and electrical system are not in good condition. The owner might ignore the check engine light and get into more trouble.
2. Idling And Stalling
The absence of a throttle position sensor can lead to an inadequate amount of air to enter into the engine. As a result, insufficient burning of fuel causes the engine to function poorly. The poor performance of the car is also observed.
Due to the lack of enough fuel, the car can lag and seem hard to start. However, the right mixture of air and fuel is not maintained in the car engine, and it may cause stalling.
Well, rough idle after spark plug change can also occur. So, do not be confused, as idling can also indicate the changes in the spark plug instead of TPS.
3. Reduces Fuel Economy
As the TPS is not present, it can not monitor the amount of air entering the engine. Sometimes, excess air can also enter the engine. Excess air will require more fuel insertion. Consequently, more fuel is required to get the correct performance of the engine. Moreover, this reduces the fuel economy.
4. Misfiring
The common reasons for misfiring are a car stolen ignition broken and a faulty ignition coil. Misfiring of the engine rarely occurs due to TPS. Nevertheless, misfiring occurs as the fuel mixture becomes incorrect.
The incorrect ratio of the mixture of fuel and air can lead to the misfiring of the engine. The ratio of air to fuel should be 14.7: 1, which is not maintained.
Sometimes, the timing for the spark is missed, which causes the misfiring as well.
Conclusion
The TPS runs better without the plug and won’t continue for a long time after it’s unplugged. At first, the engine takes up excess air and seems to accelerate faster. Soon, as time passes, the fuel economy decreases, and the mileage also reduces.
The conclusion is that there is no use in unplugging the TPS. Though it lessens some suffering, you should not take a chance. It’s always recommended to keep the throttle position sensor plugged in.
Leave a Reply