Accelerator sticking

[SHO Squall]

Okay, here's the deal. Occasionally when I'm idling, not moving, or otherwise have taken my foot off the gas, when I go to re-apply, the accelerator sticks. There's no "feel" to it to finesse it forward. Once the pedal "breaks free", it's like I just punched the gas. This wouldn't be such a problem if it didn't happen at inopportune times, like when I'm sitting next to a cop at a light, trying to parallel park, etc.

Then when I'm trying to pass someone on an on-ramp, or otherwise need to open the throttle to get around traffic or out of a dangerous situation, the pedal sticks down at WOT. Nothing like getting out of a dangerous sitation to be stuck at WOT on a side-street. It will occasionally unstick itself if I tap on it a little, but like i mentioned with it sticking closed, it won't move when I take my foot off, meaving me very vulnerable to an accident. Were I to anticipate the sticking, I'd eventually adjust my driving style, but it's intermittent.

Any suggestions short of blowing a wad of ca$h at the dealership or a shop? Anything I can look for myself?

I welcome any help or comments.

-John

 

[stephen newberg]

This sort of sounds like the problem that is associated with a wiring flaw in the automatic speed cruise control system. You do not have to have it engaged for it to occur. There is a TSB and a warranty fix for this that involves a new harness, if I remember right. Might be worth checking with your dealer to run your car's history and see if it has been installed.

pax, smn

 

[ArkanSHO]

Common problem, easy fix. Go to a parts store and get "Throotle Body Safe" Carb/Throotle body cleaner. Remove rubber accordian flex tube and place rags or a towel under the throttle body opening. Spray generous amounts (use safety glasses, stuff stings in the eyes) around the entire perimeter where the brass butterfly plate meets the very gunked-up aluminum opening. The sticker on the TB under the rubber boot (do not clean this surface since it is coated with special material) is to convince you that you need to take it to the dealer to have them charge you $85 to do the same thing. It is coated with teflon which seams to have not worked as well as it should have.
Make sure you also wipe as much of the residule from the insde as you can see and the top where you cannot see gets cleaned too. I do this to mine about every 25,000 or so.

 

[PA99SHO]

Ive been having the same problem. If I floor it she just keeps going..pretty scary the first time it happens

 

[Dave97SHO]

ArkanSHO:
Common problem, easy fix. Go to a parts store and get "Throotle Body Safe" Carb/Throotle body cleaner. Remove rubber accordian flex tube and place rags or a towel under the throttle body opening. Spray generous amounts (use safety glasses, stuff stings in the eyes) around the entire perimeter where the brass butterfly plate meets the very gunked-up aluminum opening. The sticker on the TB under the rubber boot (do not clean this surface since it is coated with special material) is to convince you that you need to take it to the dealer to have them charge you $85 to do the same thing. It is coated with teflon which seams to have not worked as well as it should have.
Make sure you also wipe as much of the residule from the insde as you can see and the top where you cannot see gets cleaned too. I do this to mine about every 25,000 or so.

Yep, time to **** the tube...heh

 

[ArkanSHO]

That sounds like a diiferent problem. Could be a sticking throttle cable due to a kink or crud up in the cable sheath or possibly the famous Throttle Position Sensor corrosion. The latter you would remove the plug and use "contact cleaner" on the pins and socket. I am not sure I recall if it easy to remove the entire sensor for cleaning or not, but I did see a post fromn somebody on the V-8 list that just eliminated his problem by cleaning the plug & socket.
I seem to remember the problem this person had was that it would start idling real high, like up to 3000 RPM.

 

[jniemiec]

not to be a smart ass or anything, but did u make sure it wasnt getting stuck under the floor mat? cause u said it does it at wot, and usually at wot u have the pedal all the way down to the floor, which could explain why its getting stuck..i have even got mine stuck plenty of times..anyways, check that out first before u take it in to see why its doing it.

<small>[ September 26, 2002, 01:00 PM: Message edited by: jniemiec ]</small>

 

[SHOZ123]

I had two problems with a sticking throttle. One was at highway speeds with the cruise control on. If I floored it, the throttle would stick wide open until I either killed the motor or the cruise control. This is the warranty fix item.

The other was a sticking throttle plate as mentioned. The "lack of finess" may be caused by the cable sticking as it enters the sheath covering the end of the cable at the throttle body. Try some **** sprayed up in there. The cable pops right off for easy access.

 

[lmuscella]

This is the exact problem I have always had with my SHO. I have had it back to Ford 5 times to fix the problem and each time they replace sensors, throttle body, cruise control, reprogram computer and it seems to work for a short period of time and it comes back again. I know it is back when the car won't slow down or if I hit the gas and the engines races out of control. I'm constantly on the brakes. Replaced my rotors twice already and might do it again with only 50K. I'm getting used to the problem but it just ticks me off that it can't be fixed. It's a great car but I think I'm ready to sell. Ford has no answers just high bills..

 

[SHOZ123]

Might be something with the Idle Air Control valve if the idle won't come down.

 

[PA99SHO]

Thats funny, no my floor mat wasnt on top(people at ford asked me that like 3 times). Yeah my car was idling pretty ****** too, Sometimes when I would put it in park the rpm's would rise until I turned the car off. Ford replaced the air bypass motor if im not mistaken

 

[smsfordman]

First disconnect the cable at the throttle body, see if there is full free movement by hand to the throttle shaft. Check to see if the throttle plate is not binding in the closed position. check for play in the bores where the shaft goes through the throttle body . If all is well and clean and while the cable is disconnected check the pedal movement to see if anything is sticking with the cable core or casing.

 

[SHO Squall]

Many thanks to everyone! thumbs_u I'm fairly certain it's not the IAC or the TPS, since I never have a problem with the tach jumping around or anything. It sounds like something between the pedal, cable, and throttle body is binding/gunked up. I'm going up to MN this saturday and meeting a whole bunch of SHO folks up there (maybe some of you?), so I'll see if I can't get one of them to point out some of the items you mentioned in here. I'll try and keep everyone posted with what I can find, and the eventual resolution. Any other suggestions, feel free to keep posting them!

 

[Mac98SHO]

My cruise control did that about year ago. It was interesting trying to stop SHO doing 90 mph...... Thank god for the 4k rev limit out of gear. Any was I remove the cable an cleaned an lubed it no problems since. Remember keep kewl head when confronted with unique problems.... Later

<small>[ September 26, 2002, 11:49 PM: Message edited by: Mac98SHO ]</small>