P0510
Closed Throttle Position Switch
- Severity
- Medium
- Driving
- Drivable — book it in
A fault in the closed throttle position switch - the switch that tells the module the accelerator is fully released. Without it the module cannot be certain when to go to idle control, so idle speed, overrun fuel cut and cruise control cancellation can all behave oddly.
Possible causes
- CommonFailed or misadjusted closed throttle switch
- CommonCarbon build-up preventing the throttle closing fully
- CommonCorroded connector or damaged wiring
- PossibleThrottle cable or linkage out of adjustment
- RareFailed control module input
What you might notice
- Idle too high
- Engine not returning to idle promptly when you lift off
- Poor fuel economy on the overrun
- Cruise control not cancelling as expected
- Check engine light on
What to check, in order
- Watch the switch state on the live data screen while pressing and releasing the accelerator.
- Check the throttle actually closes fully - carbon around the throttle plate stops it reaching the stop, and the switch is then telling the truth.
- Check the switch adjustment before condemning it.
- Inspect the connector and wiring at the throttle body.
- Check the throttle cable adjustment on a cable-operated throttle.
Read this code from your own car
Plug an ELM327 adapter into the OBD-II port under the dashboard. Pin16 reads every stored, pending and permanent code, explains each one like this page does — offline, with no account — and shows what the car recorded when the fault was set.
Where this code sits
P00xxP01xxP02xxP03xxP04xxP05xxP06xxP07xxP08xxP09xxP0AxxP0BxxP0CxxP0DxxP0ExxP0FxxP10xxP11xxP12xxP13xxP14xxP15xxP16xxP17xxP18xxP19xxP1AxxP1BxxP1CxxP1DxxP1ExxP1FxxP20xxP21xxP22xxP23xxP24xxP25xxP26xxP27xxP28xxP29xxP2AxxP2BxxP2CxxP2DxxP2ExxP2FxxP30xxP31xxP32xxP33xxP34xxP35xxP36xxP37xxP38xxP39xxP3AxxP3BxxP3CxxP3DxxP3ExxP3Fxx
Vehicle speed control, idle control and auxiliary inputs
P0500P0501P0502P0503P0504P0505P0506P0507P0508P0509P0510P0511P0512P0513P0514P0515P0516P0517P0518P0519P0520P0521P0522P0523P0524P0525P0526P0527P0528P0529P0530P0531P0532P0533P0534P0535P0536P0537P0538P0539P0540P0541P0542P0543P0544P0545P0546P0547P0548P0549P0550P0551P0552P0553P0554P0555P0556P0557P0558P0559P0560P0561P0562P0563P0564P0565P0566P0567P0568P0569P0570P0571P0572P0573P0574P0575P0576P0577P0578P0579P0580P0581P0582P0583P0584P0585P0586P0587P0588P0589P0590P0591P0592P0593P0594P0595P0596P0597P0598P0599