Q: I was driving down the road and lost power. Stepped on the gas and the car wouldn't accelerate, but didn't rev up either. Got back home on idle.

asked by on February 23, 2017

Driving dowm the road about 25 felt that car slowed down stepped on gas it wouldnt speed up but it didnt rev up either Got home it stalled wouldnt restart. Unplugged battery cable it restarted and seems ok but not right

My car has 194192 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Sounds as if the throttle pedal position sensor is not responding when stepping on the gas pedal. Try turning on the ignition key to the ’ON’ position with the engine off and step on the gas pedal to the floor. Then while the pedal is on the floor, turn off the key. Then turn on the key to the ’ON’ position with the engine off and release the gas pedal to the rest position. Then turn off the key. This procedure will reset the throttle pedal position sensor on the gas pedal and should allow the vehicle to rev up the engine normally. If you need further assistance with your engine not revving up when pressing on the gas pedal, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Humming sound when AC on
If the noise gets louder when you accelerate and goes away with the A/C off then the problem is with the internal bearings within the A/C compressor itself. You should have the A/C compressor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/ac-compressor-replacement) checked and replaced if noise...
Crank no start - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
Hey there. I would expect that you have a Check Engine light on, and there are problem codes set (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-read-and-understand-check-engine-light-codes-by-jason-unrau) which would be helpful. Leave the coil wiring connected, remove a spark plug, keep the metal casing grounded, and turn...
Air conditioning not working - 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe
Hi there. I've run into this similar concern on several Chevrolet products. The freezing over that you were experiencing is usually cause by a low system charge, then followed by no cold air as the system charge continues to lower....
What caused my wheel speed sensor failure?
A wheel speed sensor is the most common failure in the ABS system. The reason your engine management and traction control light are also on is because those systems "borrow" wheel speed information from the ABS system. The reason the...
What do I need to do to become a mechanic?
Today's vehicles are complex. To be a good mechanic, you need a basic understanding of all the core educational requirements including English and math. A good understanding of computers, both how to use them and how they work, is also...
My truck isn't idling right and is burging a lot of gas
Code 12 will always flash when checking for codes. With the engine off, there is no ignition pulse so Code 12 is normal to see. Code 34 has to do with the MAP sensor. Manifold Absolute Pressure. It's basically a...
Engine revving while in park
Typically, a large vacuum leak may cause a high engine idle and if large enough can cause an erratic idle or stall. The throttle body on the engine of these vehicle adjust themselves to account for carbon build up and...
Speedometer does not work
This could be related to a couple of possibilities. The [instrument voltage regulator]((https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/instrument-voltage-regulator-replacement) regulates the voltage supplied to the various gauges in your vehicle’s dash. When this is not working properly, this may cause the gauges in your dash to...
Oil light comes on for a few seconds only when idle
If you are getting low oil pressure it would first start to show up in drive and low engine speeds. I would first suggest to have the oil and filter changed using correct oil. If problem continues then have pressure...

Related articles

How Long Can I Leave the AC on While My Engine Is Not Running?
You’ve parked your car, and are sitting inside waiting. Maybe you’re early for work and don’t want to head into...
How to Replace an Ambient Temperature Sensor
The ambient temperature sensor monitors the car's temperature inside and out. This sensor allows the AC to maintain comfortable cabin temperatures.
How to Replace a Fuel Rail Sensor
The fuel system has a fuel rail sensor which fails when the engine operates erratically, has difficulty starting, or the Check Engine Light comes on.