Unresponsive Gas Pedal

fjcruiserpd

fjcruiserpd

New member
I have a 1993 3.0 (165k miles) that I recently purchased. Everything seems to be running just fine but I have noticed that from time to time - especially when I'm on on the highway - I'll be at a nice cruising speed and will go to press the gas pedal for more speed but get no response. It almost feels as though my floor mat is in the way but it isn't. I find that if I let off the gas and press a couple times and hold it down acceleration eventually kicks in.

What could this be? Throttle cable? Something else?

I did do a search but the other issues didn't exactly fit my situation.
 
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KidVermicious said:
That sounds like a slipping clutch. When it happens do the RPMs go up or stay steady?
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Ah yes, I left that part out. When the the gas pedal does "engage" the rpms rev up quickly and then go right back down to where they were.

Also, it's a manual transmission FYI.

**ETA** I said "manual" but really meant to say "automatic".
 
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fjcruiserpd said:
Ah yes, I left that part out. When the the gas pedal does "engage" the rpms rev up quickly and then go right back down to where they were.

Also, it's a manual transmission FYI.
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RPMs going up without the truck going faster is a classic slipping clutch, that's where I'd put my money. Go real easy on it until you can replace it - don't accelerate hard and don't run the RPMs too high and it'll last longer.
 
KidVermicious said:
RPMs going up without the truck going faster is a classic slipping clutch, that's where I'd put my money. Go real easy on it until you can replace it - don't accelerate hard and don't run the RPMs too high and it'll last longer.
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Interesting and duly noted.

I wonder if this is in some way related to one other thing I've noticed. In the mornings when it's "California Bay Area cold" as I'm getting on the highway my truck seems to linger in 3rd gear a little longer than what I think is normal. Eventually it kicks into 4th gear/OD but not before sounding like it's hunting a little bit for that 4th gear. 4th gear usually kicks in around 70mph and maybe around 4500 rpms. Is this normal? It doesn't feel exceptionally bad when it's happening but I'm not a mechanic, nor do I play one on TV, so I'm not sure.
 
fjcruiserpd said:
Interesting and duly noted.

I wonder if this is in some way related to one other thing I've noticed. In the mornings when it's "California Bay Area cold" as I'm getting on the highway my truck seems to linger in 3rd gear a little longer than what I think is normal. Eventually it kicks into 4th gear/OD but not before sounding like it's hunting a little bit for that 4th gear. 4th gear usually kicks in around 70mph and maybe around 4500 rpms. Is this normal? It doesn't feel exceptionally bad when it's happening but I'm not a mechanic, nor do I play one on TV, so I'm not sure.
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Wait what? You said it was a manual. You're hurting my head now.
 
Auto tranny slipping? Sounds like the tranny is failing. You could try cleaning the filter in the oil pan and throw some LUCAS product in there. If that does not help, then start looking for a good used trans. Lots of parts runners on Craigslist due to blown head gaskets but be sure they have a very good auto trans in them.
 
I dont know these transmissions do some weird stuff when the tps and ignition timing are off. I would imagine the tps would be able to cause you not accelerating when you hit the gas also, its just a thought but it might be worth checking.
 
supkar said:
Auto tranny slipping? Sounds like the tranny is failing. You could try cleaning the filter in the oil pan and throw some LUCAS product in there. If that does not help, then start looking for a good used trans. Lots of parts runners on Craigslist due to blown head gaskets but be sure they have a very good auto trans in them.
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I'm not sure it was said that the transmission was slipping(?) just the clutch. Is there a difference? (again, not a mechanic). My idea of a slipping transmission would be it slipping out of gear, this isn't happening...I don't think.

What happens is when I go to pick up speed from an already decent cruising speed, the car doesn't respond. I press the gas a little harder and longer and then the rpms jump and then the acceleration begins. I never lose speed and the gear progression doesn't start over. It just starts to accelerate.

Is this really the sign of a slipping transmission?
 
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don't know if it's been mentioned, but if it really is an automatic, then do a tranny fluid replacement. mine was doing a similar thing, and that fixed it a little..
 
mistersnowman97 said:
don't know if it's been mentioned, but if it really is an automatic, then do a tranny fluid replacement. mine was doing a similar thing, and that fixed it a little..
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Actually, a week after I purchased it (in December 2013) I had my local dealer do a complete drain and fill of the transmission...

BTW - I'm really digging your profile picture. I saw the original in another thread and just kept staring at it.
 
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fjcruiserpd said:
I'm not sure it was said that the transmission was slipping(?) just the clutch. Is there a difference? (again, not a mechanic). My idea of a slipping transmission would be it slipping out of gear, this isn't happening...I don't think.

What happens is when I got to pick up speed from an already decent cruising speed, the car doesn't respond. I press the gas a little harder and longer and then the rpms jump and then the acceleration begins. I never lose speed and the gear progression doesn't start over. It just starts to accelerate.

Is this really the sign of a slipping transmission?
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Just to make sure we're understanding the symptoms - you're cruising, you press the throttle, nothing happens - no speed increase, no RPM blip. So you mash the throttle, then the RPMs blip and you get a response in speed?
 
That's a different thing. I'm tempted to blame a TPS, now.

The '93 veezee isn't drive-by-wire, is it? I think you're drive-by-cable. I don't think your actual throttle cable or throttle is to blame, they're entirely mechanical. I'm leaning away from a bad transmission, because RPMs aren't going up. If you had a dead spot in the TPS or an intermittent TPS signal though, that could cause the ECU to fail to dump fuel when you hit the gas pedal? The RPM blip is probably just your transmission unlocking the torque converter when the ECU finally does detect throttle.

Not a mechanic and I've never had a 3VZE motor, so take that with a grain of salt - I'm just thinking out loud here.
 
KidVermicious said:
That's a different thing. I'm tempted to blame a TPS, now.

The '93 veezee isn't drive-by-wire, is it? I think you're drive-by-cable. I don't think your actual throttle cable or throttle is to blame, they're entirely mechanical. I'm leaning away from a bad transmission, because RPMs aren't going up. If you had a dead spot in the TPS or an intermittent TPS signal though, that could cause the ECU to fail to dump fuel when you hit the gas pedal? The RPM blip is probably just your transmission unlocking the torque converter when the ECU finally does detect throttle.

Not a mechanic and I've never had a 3VZE motor, so take that with a grain of salt - I'm just thinking out loud here.
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Ok, I'll read up on the TPS and see what happens.
 
New TPS?

So I'm doing a little reading on the TPS and finding quite a few threads describing similar issues to mine.

Thing is, they all describe testing/resetting the currently installed TPS. So I gotta ask, can I go out and buy a brand new TPS? And if I were to just buy a brand new one would I still have to make adjustments to it before installing? Or will it come ready to roll straight out of the box?
 
fjcruiserpd said:
So I'm doing a little reading on the TPS and finding quite a few threads describing similar issues to mine.

Thing is, they all describe testing/resetting the currently installed TPS. So I gotta ask, can I go out and buy a brand new TPS?
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Yup. You'll pay through the nose though.

And if I were to just buy a brand new one would I still have to make adjustments to it before installing?
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Yup. Every TPS has to be calibrated when you put it on the truck. Since they cost an arm and a leg to buy new, and you have go through the test/calibration procedure anyway, you might as well start with the one you have and make sure it's defective before buying a new one.

I'm just guessing when I say I think your TPS is bad. Please don't spend money based on the opinion of some jackass on the internet thousands of miles away - isolate your trouble. If it turns out the TPS is good, you can move on to the next culprit without throwing away money. If it turns out it's bad, then you can buy another with confidence. And either way, you'll have learned how to test and calibrate your TPS, which is not a bad thing to know. :)
 
I went through a similar issue when I first got my 4runner, checked everything swapped out a couple TPS and no change, so after the second TPS swap I was test driving it and pulled over, took a really good look at my gas pedal and decided to reach in with my hand and pulled on it! To my complete surprise it was very easy to bend outwards, too easy! Got back in the 4runner felt the pedal with my foot, a little odd. Drove and it was great! Throttle response was there! It made sense afterwards 20 some odd years of previous owners flooring the pedal bend it back little by little, specially because it was SO easy to bend forward by hand, i'm also sure that the throttle cable wire rope inside is stretched but 4 years later it's not an issue.
 
The hanging out in 3rd gear in colder weather seems to be a common problem, btw. I noticed it this fall too. Some owners were speculating it was designed that way to help it warm up faster... Anyway at the very least doesn't seem to be an indication of anything going out on the transmission, so I would cross that off your list.
 
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