Sticky gas pedal

Mine does that from time to time. A very good spraying of silicon into the pedal box while the pedal is being pumped generally takes care of it for a while

 

You might want to take a look at the throttle body. They like to get sticky too. I need to hit the linkage with carb cleaner and then some silicone spray once a year or it tends to stick at 4000 RPM. That can be scary in slow traffic. Cruise control without the control. Then if I step in the clutch it will redline pretty fast. Happened twice to me so now I check it often.

 

My 328 starting doing this and spraying some lube in the cable housing helped for a while, but it will continue to get worse. I finally had to replace the throttle cable / housing, which fortunately on a 308/328 is not a big deal.

 

I used wd40 on the linkages 3 or 4 times before it quit doing it.

Hasn't done it in a while now.

 

Good info on the throttle body sticking... I've seen that on a few friend's cars.

But, if it is your pedal...
If you remove the panel on the underside of the car, the whole mechanism comes out fairly easily - 3 bolts, one cable (you may have to remove the small plastic cover and the forward part of the center console, depending on the tools you have). Besides the major pivot points on the pedal itself and another on the motion translation arm there are two spherical joints on the intermediate arm. For some reason, this area really attracts dirt. If that panel on the underside of the car has been damaged (ie: drug over a speed bump) and doesn't seal well this area can get extremely dirty. This mechanism cleans up with minimal work. While you are there you can tug on the cable once you have it loose and see if there is any binding there too.

Rick

ps - I have teardown pics if you want the whole process http://www.flickr.com/photos/moseley_ferrari/3872097514/in/set-72157621788322687/
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Good advice so far, guys!

If you are not up for removing the pedal, just remove the plastic cover, vacuum out, clean with 409 (works well on greasy stuff and doesn't discolor carpet), clean/dry with rubbing alcohol (91%...avoid acetone since it may discolor carpet), then lube the pivot and cable with engine oil (recall that WD40 is not is long-term lube...it's more of a protectant).

It's a good idea to lube the other end at the throttle body, too.

Cleaning and lubing the throttle body area (cable attachment, butterfly valve) will help as well.

 

Also, remove the air intake hose and check for carbon coking on both sides of the throttle plate, this can also cause what you are describing.

 

I tried everything..Cleaned and lubed linkages top and bottom. Lubed the cable several times with a motorcycle style cable luber- no great improvement. I finally replaced the throttle cable ($70 I think), and it has been smooth as butter...wish I'd had done that a long time ago- no visable wear on the old cable btw.

 

You may be spraying and cleaning a frayed cable. I have seen 4 let go - the last was in May on Gatorrari's 328 here in Birmingham and he lives in Atlanta!

Keep that in mind as a possibility.

 

The same thing happened to me earlier this summer. I had a frayed cable on my 86 GTS. The mechanic said that it could have snapped at any time while driving. I would have it looked at.

 

These last three posts have revealed some insight as to the cable wearing out. So, guys, is there any early symptom of an iminent cable being too worn?
Perhaps Patrick's symtoms are the indication.

 

It is a possibility. My cable has been replaced, and the mechanism still attracts muck and grime, with the need for occasional cleaning and lubrication.

I did discover when I broke my cable that you can turn the idle up enough to get home, slowly.

 

That's what we did with Jim's 328. I stuck a wadded up napkin in the TB's throttle assembly and he putted back to the hotel that night

 

Watch your floor mats.

They can give you cruise control at high RPM in a big hurry.


Been scared sh_tless more than once that way.

 

Looks about right.

 

I just removed a plastic bottle cap from the 328 pedal linkage. I don't know how long it had been there but it was a bit mangled. It was preventing full throttle but other people I know have had a coin in there stick the throttle open. Nasty!. It is so easy to take the cover off that I am going to check it more often.

 

What about the small roller which runs in the curved slot in the throttle body linkage? I would imagine that could seize and stop rotating then a flat would wear on it. Not sure if this does happen but looks like it might.

 

Yeah it can, they wear square. Had to replace mine last year, managed to find one at Rutlands otherwise they are NLA I think.

 

I also having the same problem sorta... my throttle doesn't sticking open, causing high revs but its the opposite. Going around town, my gas petal sticks halfway, then it takes a little effort to be pressed down. This jerks the car while shifting... I replaced the throttle cable when this problem start happening...

 

You are right I solved the problem with this modification no more carpet problems
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Ive replaced both my clutch and throttle cable. I would recommend doing this no matter what , if yours are original.

G

 

Just started having this issue today after getting new mats. How are you attaching that "stop" to prevent the mat simply pushing it into the throttle pedal?

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