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Gas Pedal Waaaayyy To Touchy

Discussion in 'Technical Chat' started by JDN, Jul 9, 2009.

  1. Jul 9, 2009 at 2:52 PM
    #1
    JDN

    JDN [OP] New Member

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    I've got a 2004 3.4L Tacoma PreRunner Doublecab with a very sensitive gas pedal. All I have to do is gently press on the gas pedal and it will throw me back in my seat. Not too comfortable for the passengers either. It's been like this since I bought the truck new from the dealer but now my son is ready to learn to drive and I don't need the severe wipelash that may result.

    Does anyone know how to adjust the gas pedal so that it will require more foot pressure to accelerate and provide a smoother acceleration?

    Thanks, JDN
     
  2. Jul 9, 2009 at 3:44 PM
    #2
    Zombie Runner

    Zombie Runner Are these black helicopters for me?

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    Try a lighter foot? idk never heard of being able to change that out. try driving a 80's model suburban...it takes like 20 lbs of pressure to push that dang pedal
     
  3. Jul 9, 2009 at 9:36 PM
    #3
    EnolaGaia

    EnolaGaia Well-Known Member

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    My guess is that the twitchy behavior isn't caused by the accelerator pedal, but the throttle-by-wire system.
     
  4. Jul 9, 2009 at 9:40 PM
    #4
    beastlytaco

    beastlytaco Well-Known Member

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    yup i drove an 85 6.2 Litre diesel. that thing hauled but you needed to put your foot through the floor to get it to move
     
  5. Jul 9, 2009 at 9:42 PM
    #5
    carmellocafe

    carmellocafe Begin With The End In Mind.

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    Move your seat back farther.
     
  6. Jul 10, 2009 at 1:13 AM
    #6
    Krazie Sj

    Krazie Sj Resident Jackass

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    Did you luck out and get a supercharger in the beastie when you bought it?
     
  7. Jul 11, 2009 at 7:27 AM
    #7
    EnolaGaia

    EnolaGaia Well-Known Member

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    Are you the original owner?

    If not ... There's actually a device on the market specifically designed to make throttle-by-wire systems more 'sensitive' to accelerator manipulation:

    http://www.sprintboostersales.com/whyitworks.cfm

    I'm wondering if this (or some other such modification by a prior owner) might explain it ..
     
  8. Jul 11, 2009 at 3:35 PM
    #8
    reg boulette

    reg boulette Well-Known Member

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    ^interesting gadget but pricey!
    The accelerator sensor may be out of spec..manufacturing defect or maybe even corrosion etc. Maybe someone at a dealership with the plug-in tool can measure voltage for you to see if it is within specs. Possibly same with actuator for throttle body blade? I am assuming you've checked the return spring ( if there is one) on the pedal itself to see if it can be tightened for more resistance?
     
  9. Jul 11, 2009 at 3:37 PM
    #9
    MiikeyD

    MiikeyD The Green Machine

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    adjust the throttle? i dont know lol maybe that can be an option.
     
  10. Jul 11, 2009 at 7:12 PM
    #10
    beastlytaco

    beastlytaco Well-Known Member

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    if its a throttle cable, cant you just ajust the cable settings?
     
  11. Jul 11, 2009 at 7:29 PM
    #11
    kevhogaz

    kevhogaz Low Speed, High Drag

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    An '04 would still be a throttle cable. Look at the throttle body, where the cable hooks up. There should be a little slack in it, when the throttle is closed. Perhaps yours is too tight? Maybe the cables got routed wrong durig some service work, or something?
     
  12. Jul 11, 2009 at 7:40 PM
    #12
    beastlytaco

    beastlytaco Well-Known Member

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    yeah thats what i was thinking on that. he still has the cable cause toyota didnt switch till 05. im willing to bet thats the issue.
     
  13. Jul 11, 2009 at 7:43 PM
    #13
    Black Rock Taco

    Black Rock Taco Well-Known Member

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    If its a cable system, it should also have a return spring, which is probably stretched, or has been inadvertently mounted incorrectly during service at some point. Look at all the linkages where the cable ends. Should be close to the end of the cable. Even if it's a throttle by wire system, it still has to have a return spring, in this case probably connected to the pedal. My bet is a weak/incorrect spring.
     
  14. Jul 12, 2009 at 6:46 AM
    #14
    EnolaGaia

    EnolaGaia Well-Known Member

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    Just for the record - the OP's 2004 V6 is throttle by wire, not cable-controlled. The electronic throttle control system for V6's arrived during the 2003 model year.
     
  15. Mar 7, 2022 at 1:42 PM
    #15
    nagelki4

    nagelki4 New Member

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    I was having a similar issue with my recently acquired '03 Tacoma. I couldn't believe how sensitive the gas pedal was. It felt hazardous even, and often put me in positions I didn't want to be in, so I took some time to figure it out today.

    I have a '02 Tacoma also, and it does not have the same issue at all. I thought the ETC might have been the issue, given the change between '02 and '03. It wasn't in this case. Also wasn't the SprintBooster after checking. They aren't currently making those for this year vehicle, anyway - not sure if they did in the past. For me, the throttle cable just needed a little more slack put in it.

    In my '02, there was a good bit of slack (about 1/4") in the cable. It was about 1/8" in the '03. The difference definitely mattered. I attribute this, in my trucks at least, to the fact that the coupling of the gas pedal and the return spring isn't fully engaged for that first 1/4". If your cable is sensitive (tight) within that first 1/4", you're giving 'er gas with hardly any pushback from the spring, if any. So anyone else with this issue might want to try backing the cable out a bit.
     

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