Stiff Gas Pedal

[96V8Xploder]

I started to notice my gas pedal is getting hard as a rock right off the bat. Its sorta like somethings binding up. The first 1/4 inch of push is hard. Sometimes its so hard it causes me to instantly push 1/2 throttle once it breaks free. Its like im racing again.

Im sure someones had this problem before. Any suggestions. The vehicles description is listed below.

 

[indus4905]

I had a similar problem too not to long ago, but it was corrected when I had the Upper and Lower Intake Manifold Gaskets replaced (unrelated event). When I asked the mechanic about it after the fact, he mentioned he cleaned something around the throttle linkage on the intake. I'm not sure if that is your exact cause, but spray cleaner is cheap and worth a try

EDIT: Just noticed you have the 5.0L, but the theory still sounds...sound...

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

Might want to be careful that your cable is not binding inside of the cable housing.

 

[rollinstone]

And be careful about using cleaners in the intake. I think your owners manual says something about this. The solvent might remove the protective coating lining the intake.

I just remove the air cleaner tube and poke around in the intake, under and over the butterfly valve, with a clean dry cloth removing as much of the carbon buildup as I can. About once every 6 months or so.

Your problem sounds like it might require more than a simple cleaning, tho.

 

[gavin]

I have that problem when it's super cold out.
The 2 weeks'ish it was consistently below -20, it would be hard to move the pedal. But I also had an issue with the pedal sticking (that makes braking a little more difficult! and idling at >1000RPM).

pop the plastic cover in the engine bay that covers the throttle cable... get some 3-in-1 oil on the wire and assembly, and move it around to get some oil worked into the cable sheath. May help, I did this a few years back when the pedal got stuck to the floor as I was coming up to a stop light :scratch:

 

[96V8Xploder]

Thanks, I will check all these out first. I have a feeling the throttle boby was sticking. The car has 93K original miles and I believe the stock spark plugs are still in it. This cars had very minimal maintmance. Thanks everyone. I will let you no what fix's it.

 

[EMBPilot]

I agree with Rollinstone, i tried all of the above (cable lubrication and pivot points) and still had the sticking gas pedal (from idle). When i discussed it with a service tech at ford he said to clean the intake where the butterfly valve seats (thin line), and clean the edges of the valve itself with brake cleaner on a rag.

i asked him, what about the big sticker that says "DO NOT CLEAN", his response was something to the order of your car is xx years old, its time to clean it.

i cleaned it, and my gas pedal went back to being smooth again. I find i have to do it every 12 months or so, it only takes 10minutes. sticking gas pedal on the v8 is no fun, you'll get whiplash at every traffic light.

 

[Willard]

An FYI on that sticker that says not to clean the TB...

It's only because there's supposed to be a protective coating to prevent carbon from collecting on it. But if it's dirty, obviously it didn't work, so clean it. It will only make it better.

 

[Termanater]

Cleaning The Throttle Body

Does Anyone Know How To Clean Throttle Body. My Gas Pedal "Sticks".

I Though I Did This But Apparently I Didn't Get In By The Intake.

Should I Just Clean It With The TB On Or Remove It.

Any Suggestions.

 

[Willard]

Take it off, clean it out with some brake cleaner. Nothing complicated, just get all the dirt off the inside surface and off the butterfly.

 

[EMBPilot]

I remove the rubber intake hose, hold the valve open with a finger and with a lint free rag that has a good amount of brake cleaner on it, clean the rim of the valve and where it seats around the inside of the TB.

 

[jhnnybgood]

Is there anyone that wouldn't mind posting a few pictures of the problem areas that can be cleaned to help fix this problem?

 

[jhnnybgood]

Bump.

At least maybe a picture of the throttle cable cover?

 

[jhnnybgood]

Thank you very much!

 

[Alia]

Not your engine but cleaning procedure is similar. GL

http://www.mysporttrac.com/MySportTrac/projects/ThrottleBodyCleaning/Throttle_Cleaning.htm

Aloha,
I have a 2001 explorer sport, 82k miles. I have been having problems with the car starting and staying running, but everytime I take it to the mechanic they can't find a problem. Last time back from the shop, I noticed that the gas pedal was feeling sticky or "stiff." I followed these great directions to clean the throttle body (pictures help!!) and it was easy. But, gas pedal was still stiff. Found a youtube video (any of these will work) http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=youtube+throttle+cable+tighten&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Basically all I had to do was secure nylon spacers to the end of the throttle line (that's the slim metal cable attached to the gas pedal, towards the top of the pedal) and secured it with zip ties.

I'm a girl and this is the first mechanic thing I've ever done!! Now the car drives nice and easy again. Also, I think the loose throttle line may have been the reason the engine wouldn't stay running, since the connection to the fuel was loose? I don't know. Anyway thank you all for the help and discussion!

 

[radman]

The original post

I started to notice my gas pedal is getting hard as a rock right off the bat. Its sorta like somethings binding up. The first 1/4 inch of push is hard. Sometimes its so hard it causes me to instantly push 1/2 throttle once it breaks free. Its like im racing again.

Im sure someones had this problem before. Any suggestions. The vehicles description is listed below.

My 99 started doing the sticky pedal thing at about 60K and what I found was the accelerator cable was frayed inside the sheathing, new cable, all fixed.

Mike

 

[bill06447]

Sticky pedal on Fords (pretty much every one I've encountered) is from carbon buildup inside the throttle body. Pull off the air inlet hose open the butterfly by hand and run your finger inside there, you'll feel the ridge that the plate gets stuck on. Use some carb cleaner on a Q-tip to remove the carbon and sticky throttle no more.

Bill

 

[Mikey Wrench]

I started to notice my gas pedal is getting hard as a rock right off the bat. Its sorta like somethings binding up. The first 1/4 inch of push is hard. Sometimes its so hard it causes me to instantly push 1/2 throttle once it breaks free. Its like im racing again.

Im sure someones had this problem before. Any suggestions. The vehicles description is listed below.

I had a similar problem after removing and replacing my cruise control unit, and found that the throttle cable end "shoulder" was catching on the cable sheath where it should telescope (under cover at throttle body, on my 5.0 I had to remove the idle air control valve to get that cover off). Not knowing the "why", I just split a soda straw and slipped over the cable so that it fits and bridges between the two. Possibley not a permanent fix due to underhood temperatures. After that, and polishing my gas pedal pivot bolt and lubing with graphite it is all as smooth as I can drive it.