gas pedal sticky/hard to push

i have a 1990 1500, 2wd, with a 350 in it from a different truck, i believe it was from a 97 silverado but i'm not exactly sure. anyway, the gas pedal is sticky at first and hard to push. it's not that big of a deal, im just tired of spinning my tires at every stop sign. if anyone has any ideas on what i could do for preferably a very small amount of money, that would be nice. thanks.

if anyone has any ideas on what i could do for preferably a very small amount of money, that would be nice. thanks.

The 1st thing you could do, and it's free, is disconnect the linkage or whatever from the carb or whatever and then you can see or whatever where the binding is. Basic Troubleshooting 1A.

i have a 1990 1500, 2wd, with a 350 in it from a different truck, i believe it was from a 97 silverado but i'm not exactly sure. anyway, the gas pedal is sticky at first and hard to push. it's not that big of a deal, im just tired of spinning my tires at every stop sign. if anyone has any ideas on what i could do for preferably a very small amount of money, that would be nice. thanks.

Also check the throttle body butterfly.
Take some carb cleaner and a plastic tooth brush and clean carbon on and around butterfly.

Also check the throttle body butterfly.
Take some carb cleaner and a plastic tooth brush and clean carbon on and around butterfly.

what exactly is the butterfly? forgive me if this is a stupid question, but i don't know.

welcome to the forum.

I have had the same problem with mine. I have Done all of the most ovbvious things, replaced the cable, lubed every possible point inbetween and total cleaned and lubed the parts related on the throttle body. Unforturnately none of it helped. I think the last thing would be parts in the throttle body that have worn out creating the sticking. I am either rebuilding the the TB soon or buying a new one...but that's not until I have a least two days off. Let me know if you get yours corrected or get any new info.

what exactly is the butterfly? forgive me if this is a stupid question, but i don't know.

The butterfly is what closes and opens up to let the air into the engine.
Pull the air intake hose off where air goes into engine and where the gas linkage cable hooks onto engine and you will see it move when you pull gas linkage cable.
Clean it good and check gas cable for sticking.
If that does not get it post back.
MT

welcome to the forum.

I have had the same problem with mine. I have Done all of the most ovbvious things, replaced the cable, lubed every possible point inbetween and total cleaned and lubed the parts related on the throttle body. Unforturnately none of it helped. I think the last thing would be parts in the throttle body that have worn out creating the sticking. I am either rebuilding the the TB soon or buying a new one...but that's not until I have a least two days off. Let me know if you get yours corrected or get any new info.

It might help to check the stop adjustment on it.
MT

hmm. i went outside and looked at it...it looked semi clean, granted it's like 20 degrees out and i didn't exactly study it as good as i should have. but i also noticed when i pulled on the linkage, as if i were pushing on the pedal....it was hard even there. i also noticed there was a spring there, is it possible to replace that spring with a weaker one?

hmm. i went outside and looked at it...it looked semi clean, granted it's like 20 degrees out and i didn't exactly study it as good as i should have. but i also noticed when i pulled on the linkage, as if i were pushing on the pedal....it was hard even there. i also noticed there was a spring there, is it possible to replace that spring with a weaker one?

Not a good idea.
Leave the spring as is for safty reasons.
When it warms up some.
Unhook gas linkage cable and try it.
Let it snap close and see if it is sticking in close position.
If so hit it with carb cleaner and plastic tooth brush.
And try it.
Has anybody backed out the idle stop screw on it.
If so it may need reset so the butterfyes do not close up to a stick position.
MT

well, i pulled it in the garage and sprayed carb cleaner into the throttle body...cleaned it off as best i could and whatnot. it seemed to make the stickyness go away, but it still is hard to push. i mean, it's not ridiculously hard....but hard enough that if the solution is simple i will do it.

well, i pulled it in the garage and sprayed carb cleaner into the throttle body...cleaned it off as best i could and whatnot. it seemed to make the stickyness go away, but it still is hard to push. i mean, it's not ridiculously hard....but hard enough that if the solution is simple i will do it.

About the only thing I an think of is lube everything that moves on it from foot feed to cable to TBI spring and linkage.
Also if a transmission TV cable check it to.
Good luck MT

I noticed that the engine in your truck was replaced, and not by you, I would say someone stuck a stiffer spring on it, you can streach the spring on there now or buy the proper replacment one from a parts store, you just need to make sure that the "butterflies" (located at the bottom of your throttle body as you look down into it), the thin circular metal pieces that are operated by your cable and linkage are held closed by the spring tension.
I used to run very stiff return throttle springs to stop my "jitter foot" from causing me to red light and for staging at the track when I used to race.
As long as the spring is strong enough to keep the throttle closed when your foot is off the pedal and that the spring is secure and you'll be fine, really it doesn't take to much for this.
One thing for sure if it is that stiff it's not stock or good for your throttle body, it should take no more than light moderate pressure to push the pedal any more would cause the driver to fatigue and that is never good.
good luck.