accelorator pedal sticking

[tullaroan]

Recently my accelerator pedal began sticking while trying to press on it. It does not stick open, just closed. For instance, I back out of a parking stall and have to press hard and then it pops down and accelerates backward...sometimes bounces my head off the seat I have tried applying lithium grease to throttle body cables, but this did not help at all...any suggestions to the cause and possible fixes?

[evergreen]

you might try crawling under the dash and see if anything is catching on the linkage (wires, carpeting etc).
grease the pedal linkage while you're there.

[ChuckH]

Mine does the same thing (it's like having a sticky knee!); makes it very hard to modulate the throttle in stop and go traffic or when offroading. I sprayed some Tri-Flo lubricant (available at bike stores) on the pedal mechanism under the dash and it seems to have gone away...at least temporarily.

[xt12345]

My X had the same probelm. If you look under the hood at the throttle body assembly you will see the throttle cable attached to a half circle piece of metal. You should see, what I think is some sort of idle control screw with nut attached to it. One end of this screw stops the throttle mechanism from returning to far when you let off on the gas petal. The end of my screw started to get scratched and started grabing the throttle mechanism. I just put some grease on the end of the screw and that fixed my problem. I'm sure I've totally confused you, will try and take a picture of what I'm talking about and post later.

[tullaroan]

xt12345

Thank you for your information. I will check out that screw as soon as possible. The funny thing is that my truck started doing the exact same thing!! Must have a problem with the way I depress the accelerator on both vehicles I will check this on both of my vehicles now that you have given me an idea. Thanks again.

[SiberFish]

Well, funny to see a few folks have teh same problem as I do. Funny, I did everything ya'll have done. I even put some 3-in-1 oil on the linkage under the hood, while I was filling up the car as a gas station. STUPID THING TO DO!!!! A few dops dripped down on the block and started a cute little fire underneath the hood. Imagine my surprise, gas going into a car on fire. YIKES!!! But, good thing i had an open Mtn. Dew in the car, it worked quite well dousing the flames.
Anyway, it is NOT the linkage, in any form or fashion.
It is the throttle body. Carbon from gas and air and fire builds up on the inside of the throttel body, and thats why the accelerator sticks at the top, but nowhere else.
You have two choices, get a new throttle body, or clean the one you got. A dealer or shop should clean the one you got for about $50.00 or so.

From a proud 2000 SE Xterra Owner,

SiberFish

[X-Phile]

I tried that excuse once too, but he still gave me the ticket.