How much does it cost to repair an accelerator cable?

Obviously, an accelerator cable is an essential component to driving any car, but a cable that is faulty or sticky can be extremely dangerous. In this article, we take a look at the potential causes for a faulty accelerator cable and how much it’s likely to cost. 

Accelerator cable repair cost

Repairing or replacing an accelerator cable should typically cost between £230 and £450, depending on the cost of the parts and how difficult the job is to complete. 

Often, premium brands such as BMW, Mercedes and others have higher parts costs than brands like Ford and Vauxhall.

However, most modern cars don’t have a physical accelerator cable and instead use a drive-by-wire system with an accelerator position sensor, more on this below.

Accelerator position sensor repair cost

Replacing an accelerator position sensor typically costs between £100 and £300, depending on the make and model of the vehicle. Labour times are generally low, as the part is usually easy to access. 

Things that can affect the cost to repair an accelerator position sensor include:

• Make of vehicle

• Type of garage, i.e. main dealer, independent garage etc.

• Location in the country

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What does the accelerator cable do?

Petrol and diesel cars both use a valve to control the amount of fuel and air entering the engine, to enable control of this from the driving seat, a cable is connected to the accelerator pedal. 

Visually, accelerator cables are similar to those of brake or gear cables on a bicycle; they comprise a thin metal wire, encased in a firm but flexible outer housing.

What is an accelerator position sensor?

Almost all modern cars don’t actually use a physical accelerator cable, but utilise an electronic system, consisting of a throttle position sensor attached to the pedal inside the car, and an actuator in the engine bay that opens and closes the throttle.

Electronic controls such as this are often referred to as “drive-by-wire” systems, and are used for many reasons, including ease of install, cost, and enabling features such as traction control and cruise control to be added.

Symptoms of a failing accelerator cable or pedal

Accelerator cables tend to either break, or become stiff/sticky. The former will be evident if the pedal no longer affects the engine RPM, and feels very light. 

A sticking accelerator cable can be extremely dangerous, a key indicator this is happening is if the pedal does not spring back to its original position. 

Symptoms of a broken or faulty accelerator position sensor can be harder to pinpoint, as they can cause anything from erratic acceleration to causing the car to not start at all.

Can you use your car with a faulty accelerator pedal sensor, or cable?

No, any issues with key controls such as this render the car undrivable until they are fixed. Regardless of how it fails, a faulty accelerator cable can cause a loss of control or a serious accident. 

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