Sticking Accelerator

[Austin-Rover]

Over the past week or so I have been having some problems with my accelerator pedal sticking when under hard acceleration (like down a motorway slip road or overtaking). I thought I had cured this problem as I discovered that the clip that holds the spring to the pedal was slipping further back up the pedal, which reduced the length the spring stretched and did not give it enough ‘pull’ to lift the pedal back up.

Now the problem has returned. As far as I can see, the clip and spring are still in the position on the pedal that they should be, and the pedal isn’t being wedged against any car mats or the carpet. From what I can tell, the pedal feels stiff at its lowest point, i.e.: maximum acceleration, and is sticking in this position. However a slight nudge with my foot makes it spring back up again.

Does anyone have any ideas?

:worried:

[MGTurbo]

I had this problem in the turbo once, the shaft on which the accelerator pivots from dries out and causes it to stick, a liberal coating of 3 in 1 oil soon cured it.

Gareth

[Ed]

Might sound strange but it would be worth checking your earth points under the battery tray as mine worked loose once and caused the car to look for the nearest available earth which happened to be my acelerator cable as it was bolted to the engine!! This caused similar symptoms to what you described. I'm sure its nothing that perculiar but worth a check.

[maestro vans]

Sounds like maybe the cable maybe frayed internally. I suggest undoing the clip at the peddle end and removing the cable. Remove the air filter assembly to get to the carb( 3 Scre bolts), Undo the pinch bolt at the carb end, you'll need 2X 7mm spanners or a 7mm and a pair of pliers. Loosen the nut right off and remove the cable. Remove the clip that holds the cable outer sheath to the carb. You can now retract the throttle cable.Remove the actual cable & Check the cable for any fraying or loose strands. At the same time you can check the throttle lever on the carb and apply some WD40, check for any notchiness, sticking on the lever. If the cable's alright spray some wd40 or 3in1 down the liner, this wil help the cable run smooth. Was forever doing this sort of thing on my motorbike. All the rain getting in the cables and rusting them!
Good luck let us know how you get on.

[Rich]

It is sure to be what Gareth says, both my Maestros have done this, when I got the van they had added extra springs to ruturn the pedal and is was so stiff!

Disconnect the cable from the throttle pedal, and see if the pedal is free to move. If it feels stiff or sticky, remove the pedal by undoing the 8mm nut on the pivot. Then, put the pedal in a vice, remove the circlip from the other end, and drive the rod out of the pedal. Clean it all up with some emory cloth or wire wool, grease it all up and put it back together. Should be fine after that. It can be a pain if its really seized to get the rod out of the pedal but a large hammer and pin punch usually does the trick!!

Rich