Stiff gas pedal

[4RUNN!N]

The gas pedal on my 4R is quite stiff, especially when its cold. It would require some foot effort to push down on the pedal. During highway speeds, I would need to push down a little more to keep the speed steady, this has been bothering me so I've been using CC quite a bit on the freeway. Can someone enlighten me with a solution to how I can fix the stiff pedal problem. I have tried spraying some WD-40 near the throttle cable spring and putting my car on ramps in hope that the WD-40 would flow down to lubricate the inner part of the TB, but no improvement. Any help would be great.

 

[Phil79886]

My 92 is the same way it might be the way they were built. The last owner of mine said it was always like that. It would probly make a really cool project.... if they are made that way find the spring and replace it with one with less resistance. Then again it could just be rust! Mine does see plenty of water.

 

[Jay]

Its your throttle cable. After a while the throttle cable gets gummed up, the cable inside the tube is sticking. You can remove your throttle cable and lube it up, make sure you get the luibe deep inside of it to free it. Or buy a new throttle cable.

 

[4RUNN!N]

I don't think its the cable. I opened up the throttle body and pressed on the gas and the throttle line seems to be OK.

 

[Phil79886]

Wait so is it just hard to press? Or is it accually sticking?

 

[4RUNN!N]

Wait so is it just hard to press? Or is it accually sticking?

The cables not sticking, just the pedal effort is hard.

 

[4x4Runner09]

on my 2000 4Runner the pedal is always stiffer (not sticky) but stiffer when its cold and the car is all the way warmed up yet.

You did mention the cold, so does it go away once the car is warm?

 

[4RUNN!N]

on my 2000 4Runner the pedal is always stiffer (not sticky) but stiffer when its cold and the car is all the way warmed up yet.

You did mention the cold, so does it go away once the car is warm?

Its still quite stiff when its warm, when its cold, just slightly more stiffer.

 

[alotawatts]

My Honda Civic throttle stiffens up. The problem is where the cable runs through a rubber protective boot just before where it winds onto the throttle body. I spray a silicone lube in the boot and all is well..............for a while.

 

[SH0ck-D]

where exactly is the throttle cable, and how does one go about pulling it out and lubricating it. pictures would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

David

 

[alotawatts]

where exactly is the throttle cable, and how does one go about pulling it out and lubricating it. pictures would be greatly appreciated.
David

I truly do not mean to 'Dis' you but if you have to ask that question you should have someone do it for you. A throttle cable is like brakes and suspension.....you NEED to know what you are doing.

 

[lohman]

stiff pedal also

Just bought a '97 and noticed the same thing driving it home, "man this gas pedal is hard to press down" it does not appear to stick, just really have to press it hard to get it to go. I WD40 the area (spring) around the throttle body and thinking about removing the end of the cable near the throttle body and trying to lube the cable.

I checked one of the mentioned Toyota online parts Web site and the cable is around $50.00, so I might purchase one if I can't get this one lubed. I have not looked at the detail but would think this throttle cable goes from the throttle body to the firewall or through the firewall to the pedal.

Has anyone replaced a throttle cable on a 3rd gen? And how do you know it is the throttle cable and not the throttle body linkage?

 

[lohman]

I seemed to fix my hard to press gas pedal by doing the following, I read here on the forum some others had done this with success. I was worried that it was the throttle body but after using some silicone spray and grease the problem is fixed.

I used two 14mm wrenches and loosened the cable, removing it from the bracket

then I removed the cable end from the throttle pivot arm, may have to use small screwdriver and push end out from backside

I then held the cable upwards and applied silicone spray and some grease to this area, pushed and pulled the cable a few inches manually in and out of the outer casing, then reassembled in reverse order

After driving 15 minutes or so its back to a normal feeling pedal.

 

[4RUNN!N]

Thanks Lohman, I'm going to try that right this second, and I'll be back to post my results. Thanks again.

 

[lohman]

4RUNN!N - Let me know if you have any questions I will be around the PC this evening, Saturday. I could tell the difference after one trip to town, then it got better and better over the next day of driving. After that it feels normal everytime I drive it.

 

[4RUNN!N]

WOW, what a huge difference, just tested my car going to JITB. It is so much softer and throttle reponse has gotten so much better. Feels just like my dads LX470 gas pedal, perfect! There is this hill that I always go up and down to get on the freeway, when my gas pedal was stiff, I had do bury the pedal to keep speed, now I just leave it at a steady throttle and it goes up the hill like nothing. I actually used WD-40 instead of silicon spray or grease, because thats all I had laying around and still did the trick. Now when I switch between my 4R and my moms 97 Pathfinder (which has an overly sensitive gas pedal), I don't drive the Pathfinder with that jump off the line due to the fact that the 4R gas pedal was much stiffer, now they are almost similar, but the Pathys gas pedal is still sensitive. Thanks again lohman, probably the next best thing I did to my 4R so far besides the E-Locker safety disable and True Flow Air Filter.

 

[Rellim]

This might have saved me a bunch of money Thanks I will try this tomorrow!

 

[blcktpgsr]

When I had my Big bike I used to use "Cable Life" luber for all cable related lubrication which can be purchased from any motorcycle shops. This is perfect for lubing the 4Runner's throttle cable as this will ensure that the entire length of it from the engine compartment down to the gas pedal end is coated.

I had been using this on all my previous vehicles and it frees up any "sticky gas pedal" everytime.

See lube seeping out at the gas pedal end

 

[gwiede]

The problem isn't the cable or the throttle body, it's the spring in the pedal. I have a 1995 Runner that has a really sticky/stiff pedal and a 1998 Runner with a buttery smooth pedal. I took pictures of the assembly of both. The picture with the small spring is from the 98 pedal and the massive spring is from the 95. So the problem is because of the huge spring. Does anyone know if I can buy the part from the 98 and put it on my 95?

 

[mibpf]

Same Issue

I have tried lubing the cable also on my 1997 with no luck. I drove my neighbors 2000 and the gas pedal is night and day difference. Has anyone tried installing a smaller style spring on their throttle? Where is the best place to buy one if it works, also, did it fit right up?