Worn or contaminated accelerator pedal position sensor track C inside the pedal assembly; Chafed, pinched, or corroded wiring in the pedal sensor harness, especially near the connector; Loose or backed-out terminals in the pedal position sensor connector; Water intrusion or corrosion at the pedal sensor connector or PCM connector; Intermittent internal fault in the PCM's sensor reference or signal circuit; Poor ground connection shared by the pedal position sensors

DTC codes / Ford codes / P1217

P1217 · FordPedal Position Sensor C Circuit Intermittent

Q: What does code P1217 mean?

Pedal Position Sensor C Circuit Intermittent. P1217 on a Ford means the powertrain control module (PCM) has detected an intermittent fault in the electrical circuit for Pedal Position Sensor C, which is the third signal track inside the accelerator pedal assembly. The PCM compares this signal against the other pedal position sensors and expects a smooth, consistent voltage; an intermittent drop, spike, or loss of signal sets this code.

P1217 on a Ford means the powertrain control module (PCM) has detected an intermittent fault in the electrical circuit for Pedal Position Sensor C, which is the third signal track inside the accelerator pedal assembly. The PCM compares this signal against the other pedal position sensors and expects a smooth, consistent voltage; an intermittent drop, spike, or loss of signal sets this code.

SystemPowertrain

Code typeFord specific

SeverityMedium

Fix difficultyIntermediate

AreaFuel and air metering (injector circuits)

Symptoms you may notice

Wrench or check engine light illuminated on the dashboard
Often no symptoms besides the warning light, especially if the fault is brief
Intermittent loss of throttle response or a sudden drop in engine power
Hesitation or stumble when pressing or releasing the accelerator pedal
Reduced engine power or limp-home mode in some cases
A stored pending code that clears itself after several drive cycles

Common causes, most likely first

Worn or contaminated accelerator pedal position sensor track C inside the pedal assembly
Chafed, pinched, or corroded wiring in the pedal sensor harness, especially near the connector
Loose or backed-out terminals in the pedal position sensor connector
Water intrusion or corrosion at the pedal sensor connector or PCM connector
Intermittent internal fault in the PCM's sensor reference or signal circuit
Poor ground connection shared by the pedal position sensors

How to diagnose and fix it

Scan all modules for stored and pending codes, then record freeze-frame data for P1217
Visually inspect the accelerator pedal sensor connector and harness for corrosion, chafing, or loose pins
Back-probe the sensor C signal wire and wiggle the harness while watching a live scan tool graph for dropouts
Check the sensor reference voltage and ground at the pedal connector with a multimeter
Compare all pedal position sensor voltages on a scan tool through a full slow pedal sweep to spot a dead or glitchy track
If the harness and connectors pass, replace the accelerator pedal assembly and clear the code
Road test with the scan tool recording to confirm the intermittent fault is gone before returning the vehicle

Intermittent pedal codes need a wiggle test

A pedal position sensor C fault often leaves no driveability symptom because the PCM can run on the remaining sensor tracks, so the warning light may be the only clue.
The most common missed cause is a chafed harness section behind the pedal bracket where the wire rubs against a metal edge only during certain pedal movements.
Do not condemn the pedal assembly until you have wiggled the harness and connector while graphing live sensor voltages, because a loose pin can mimic a failed sensor perfectly.
A weak or corroded ground shared with other sensors can pull the sensor C signal down intermittently and set P1217 without any fault in the pedal itself.
After any repair, clear the code and complete several drive cycles with varying throttle inputs, since an intermittent fault may not reset immediately.

Can I keep driving with P1217?

You can usually drive the vehicle to a shop, but avoid heavy acceleration and be ready for a sudden loss of power or limp-home mode. If the throttle response becomes unpredictable or the engine repeatedly drops into reduced power, stop driving and have it diagnosed.

Tools that help

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Guidance is general and written for Ford vehicles. Exact tests and values vary by model, so confirm the fault before replacing parts.