Jim Grant's Tech Tips
98
Chevy Astro Van, Sticking Accelerator Pedal
Q: I have an odd one. My ‘98 Chevy Astro Van has a sticking accelerator
pedal. It sticks in the idle position and feels like one of the old Chevy
carburetors when the bushings got worn and the butterfly got stuck n the
venturi walls. The cable appears free all the way to the engine. Once
you "pop" it once it is good for a while, but if it sits any length of
time, it sticks again. It has been getting worse. It used to be that it
would only stick over night. Now it’s after a few minutes. Any guesses?
I tried to see about getting to the motor, but what a zoo! I didn't take
off the engine cover though. It’s the wife's van and she isn't too crazy
about me tearing into it unless I pretty well know what is wrong. I used
to work on cars at a mom & pop garage about 25 years ago but have never
got into fuel injection maintenance. Is this anywhere near normal?....Mel
D.
A: Your
complaint is not uncommon. We’ve had sticking throttle complaints on vans
and small pick-ups alike. Carbon seems to be build up in the throttle
bores to the level that causes the throttle plates to stick. This condition
should not be ignored. A sticking throttle plate can cause a vehicle to
jump ahead unexpectedly. To date all that is needed is a cleaning of the
throttle plates and throttle body to correct the condition. You think
the engine is zoo to get to?! Yea, that’s a nice way to put that mess.
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