2006 taurus accellerates by itself

Help! My taurus is accellerating by itself. It has happened 6 times now. It is usually when we are pulling out at a stop light or just going slow. It will continue to accellerate but we can slow it down by pushing the brake to the floor, pulling over and turning the car off. I then have to pump the gas pedal a few times and start it again. I have had it check out by a mechanic twice and we tried replacing one part just to see if it would work but it is still doing it. Anyone else have this problem?

Do you know if your 2006 Taurus is throttle-by-wire or the more common cabled throttle?

If cabled, inspect the cable and linkage. Also, check the throttle plate to make sure it's not binding on something. Make sure the return spring on the throttle plate is properly attached as well.

-Rod

I had seen on an older model throttle system, the cruise control cable/linkage had jammed right at the end of the cable, not allowing the throttle to return to idle.

I did have the cable and plate checked out and the plate cleaned off. I also replaced the idle air control. Has anyone heard of cell phones causing this? My husband looked this up this morning and he said the federal gov't is looking into this. Everytime my daughter has been in the car with her cell phone turned on. It happens when we are going slow such as pulling out at a traffic light.

Get rid of the cell phone. If the car works, you'll be a safer driver without it and maybe you can get your daughter to talk to you.

Needing to pump the gas to get it started besides the stuck throttle leads me to look elsewhere. When you shut it off when this happens and then restart it, does it return it normal idle or is too low or high? Could there be something on your floorboard that is interfering with the pedal and cable? Was it a competent dealer mechanic that looked at it? What happens when you start it without pumping it? Pumping it makes me think you still have a binding problem somewhere.

Had this problem on a 2001 Venture. Turned out it was the throttle positioning sensor. I can't say if the Taurus has a similar part but I wouldn't be surprised. Hope this helps.

The Taurus does have a throttle position sensor, but I don't see how that could cause unintentional acceleration. Unless it was binding and preventing the throttle plate from closing all the way, it shouldn't cause acceleration. There is no way for the TPS to physically open the throttle plate.

-Rod

Problem fixed. I took it to a dealer that said my cable had a broken clip on it where it was hanging up. He replaced the cruise control cable and it hasn't done it since. Thanks for the info.

Thanks for the follow-up! Good chance this info will help others.

-Rod

Not that it really contributes anything, but the 07 and earlier taurus were cable throttle, not fly by wire.