Mercury Tracer Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) Replacement at your home or office.

Our mobile mechanics offer services 7 days a week. Upfront and transparent pricing.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(23)

Included for free with this service

Online Booking

Mechanic comes to you

12-month / 12k-mile warranty

Free 50 point safety inspection

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to your home or office 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Customer Ratings

(23)

Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) Replacement Service

How much does a Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) Replacement cost?

On average, the cost for a Mercury Tracer Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) Replacement is $145 with $50 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
1996 Mercury TracerL4-1.8LService typeThrottle Position Sensor (TPS) ReplacementEstimate$318.37Shop/Dealer Price$379.22 - $539.25
1998 Mercury TracerL4-2.0LService typeThrottle Position Sensor (TPS) ReplacementEstimate$195.51Shop/Dealer Price$230.66 - $313.56
1987 Mercury TracerL4-1.6LService typeThrottle Position Sensor (TPS) ReplacementEstimate$379.45Shop/Dealer Price$460.58 - $681.44
1990 Mercury TracerL4-1.6LService typeThrottle Position Sensor (TPS) ReplacementEstimate$379.45Shop/Dealer Price$460.56 - $681.40
1992 Mercury TracerL4-1.8LService typeThrottle Position Sensor (TPS) ReplacementEstimate$298.37Shop/Dealer Price$359.25 - $519.31
1999 Mercury TracerL4-2.0LService typeThrottle Position Sensor (TPS) ReplacementEstimate$195.51Shop/Dealer Price$230.66 - $313.56
1988 Mercury TracerL4-1.6LService typeThrottle Position Sensor (TPS) ReplacementEstimate$303.37Shop/Dealer Price$364.10 - $524.04
1994 Mercury TracerL4-1.9LService typeThrottle Position Sensor (TPS) ReplacementEstimate$298.73Shop/Dealer Price$358.67 - $515.42
Show example Mercury Tracer Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) Replacement prices

What is the Throttle Position Sensor all about?

For a car to run smoothly, it needs the proper mixture of air and fuel. The amount of air in the engine is controlled by the air intake system. A throttle body is part of the air intake system that helps control the amount of air that gets into the engine. The throttle body has a throttle plate. If the plate is closed, it prevents the air from getting into the engine. When you push the gas pedal, it opens the plate, allowing the air to enter the engine. The amount of air depends on the position of the plate, which is controlled by the gas pedal. The harder you push the gas pedal, the wider the plate will open, and more air will flow to the engine. This means more power and more speed.

The throttle position sensor reports the position of the gas pedal to the computer in your car (Engine Control Unit). The computer then determines the position of the throttle plate. It also calculates the amount of air flow to the engine and the amount of fuel to be injected for the required ratio of air-fuel mixture.

The throttle position sensor also controls the shifting of the gears. If this sensor stops working, the car's computer will not be able to calculate the right amount of fuel to be injected in the system. It may not be able to change the gears. Your car will not get the right amount of power. It may not even start. The Check Engine light may come on.

Keep in mind:

  • When the throttle position sensor is repaired or replaced, it will need to have the minimum idle speed reset to factory specs, and the trouble codes will need to be cleared.
  • When a new throttle position sensor is placed in your vehicle, it should be checked for software updates.

How it's done:

  • Scan the computer system for codes.
  • Test the throttle position sensor and related wiring.
  • Remove and replace the throttle position sensor if found faulty.
  • Clean the carbon from throttle body.
  • Re-install throttle body and reset minimum idle speed to factory specs.
  • Clear trouble codes and check for proper operation.
  • Test drive vehicle.

Our recommendation:

If you notice that the gears are not changing properly, get the throttle position sensor (TPS) inspected. A good mechanic will clean the throttle body during a tune-up. If the Check Engine light is on, get the car inspected as soon as you can.

What common symptoms indicate you may need to replace the Throttle Position Sensor?

  • Engine may be stalling or misfiring.
  • Poor engine performance.
  • Lack of power.
  • Transmission (gear) may not be shifting correctly.

How important is this service?

Your vehicle depends on an optimal mixture of air and fuel in order to run optimally. The amount of air that enters the engine is controlled by the air intake system. The faster your engine is moving, the more air it needs, so your air intake system is in tune with your gas pedal. Your throttle position sensor is constantly sending information about your gas pedal to the vehicle’s engine control unit. The computer then chooses the optimal position for the throttle plate, which is the part of the air intake system that lets air into the engine.

When the throttle position sensor malfunctions, the engine control unit has no information about the gas pedal, and the throttle plate is not utilized. As a result, your vehicle will not get the right amount of air into the engine, and your engine will lose power and run very poorly. In some cases, this will keep your vehicle from being able to change gears.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee


Meet some of our expert Mercury mechanics

Real customer reviews from Mercury owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(23)

Rating Summary
22
1
0
0
0
22
1
0
0
0

Stephen

32 years of experience
178 reviews
Stephen
32 years of experience
Mercury Tracer L4-2.0L - Engine is sputtering Inspection - Wheat Ridge, Colorado
He did an excellent job! I thought my car was having major costly issues, but he found a vacuum leak on a very bad spot. He fixed the leak and my car is right back at it! Thank you very much.

Stephen

32 years of experience
178 reviews
Stephen
32 years of experience
Mercury Tracer L4-2.0L - Spark Plugs - Wheat Ridge, Colorado
He was very courteous and professional. He replaced my spark plugs quickly and ran a diagnostic. Everything came up good. Thank you Stephen.

Anthony

11 years of experience
103 reviews
Anthony
11 years of experience
Mercury Tracer L4-2.0L - Battery - Fort Worth, Texas
Anthony was early and completed the kob in minutes. The auto parts store ore issued him an incorrect battery which Anthony rectified in a jiffy.

Jeff

33 years of experience
441 reviews
Jeff
33 years of experience
Mercury Tracer L4-2.0L - Door Mirror Replacement (Driver Side) - Sacramento, California
Very efficient and nice to talk to

Excellent Rating

(23)

Rating Summary
22
1
0
0
0
22
1
0
0
0
Number of Mercury Tracer services completed
253+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Mercury MECHANICS
600+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing EGR Pressure Feedback Sensor
Common signs include engine performance issues like rough idle and decrease in power, failing an emissions test, and the Check Engine Light coming on.
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Speed Sensor
Common signs include harsh or improper shifting, cruise control not working, and the Check Engine Light coming on.
How Long Does a Crankshaft Position Sensor Last?
The The crankshaft position sensor monitors the rotational speed and position of the crankshaft in the engine. It reports this information to the engine management system to control the ignition system timing. The crankshaft position sensor is used with the...

What Do Transmission Error Codes Tell You?

Using transmission error codes (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/the-most-common-error-codes-for-transmission-problems) is a necessary procedure for a transmission technician since automatic transmissions have been computer controlled for over 20 years. The transmissions currently in use are very different to diagnose and repair than transmissions from decades...

Car stalls and sputters when driving

If your engine is going to have to be replaced due to using too much oil, then you may choose to try and use thicker oil (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/why-does-motor-oil-viscosity-matter). I would not recommend it, but it is your choice. You could go...

rough idle on start up everytime

You could have several things contributing to the hard start (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/car-is-hard-to-start-inspection). Dirty or faulty throttle valve, idle air control valve, bad temperature sensor, and more. I suggest having a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, perform a few tests to...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (844) 997-3624 · hi@yourmechanic.com