I have a 2000 4runner and the gas pedal sometimes sticks when its pushed upon take off, not during acceleration. I looked at the cable and everything looks correct. Does anyone have any ideas on what to look at or for? Anyone else have any similiar problems? Thanks

 

I'd like to know also.......I'm having the problem.

 

did you recently install new carpets/floor mats??

 

so it only gets stuck when your foot is off the gas? My 90 used to do this. It was the pully at the end of the throttle cable (on the throttle body). Not sure I'm explaining it right. If I remember right cleaning the throttle body out helped, like it might have been build up inside making the butterfly valve stick.

 

No, I haven't replaced the carpet lately. Yes, it sticks upon take off when the pedal it first pushed. Your talking about the throttle body? Is that where the cable attaches inside the engine? Sorry, don't really understand.

 

The throttle body is the thing on the end of the intake plenum that contains the butterfly valve. And yes, this is where the throttle and cruise cables come in. Not really understanding when your throttle is sticking? Is it sticking as you're trying to mash it, or when you let off?

 

It sometimes sticks when I first hit the gas. For example, after I take my foot of the accelerator or when I use the brake and when I go to push the gas again it sticks.

 

Yeah, that's what I mean. I'm not familiar with the 3.4 which I assume you have, but between the airfilter & the engine is your throttle body. the throttle cable should end on a sort of pulley there. That's where mine was sticking. You should be able to isolate it with the engine off, try to move that pulley & see if it sticks. I had to remove a hose clamp & the rubber hose to get in there & clean the gunk off that was making the valve inside stick shut.

To clarify for another poster, when you take your foot off the brake & try to press on the gas it sticks at first, but then is fine after it breaks free, right? :edit: yeah, you already clarified this.

 

Is this on an auto? If so, then also check to see if the transmission kick-down cable is free. This is the cable that comes off of the throttle body (at the engine where the cables come in) and goes down beside the engine and under the car on the driver's side.

If that cable is tight, then you'll get the symptoms you have. The cable is susceptible to getting too hot if it's been routed by the exhaust manifiold/headers. If that happens, then the casing can collapse around the cable and pinch it. Once you mash the throttle the first time, then the cable will stick fully out and it won't hamper the throttle movement. As the engine warms up, the casing will heat up, the cable will free up, and it'll go back looking like normal. When the engine cools down, the casing tightens up and the pattern repeats.

I have this exact issue on my truck. The fix is to replace the cable, which requires dropping the tranny pan, which requires draining the tranny.

Not fun.