Hard to press gas pedal

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Sep 5, 2019 | 08:47 PM
  #1  
2006 XK8:
The gas pedal is really hard to press down and doesn't seem to go down all the way. I looked and there is nothing stopping it inside. Is there a fix?
Thanks.
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Sep 6, 2019 | 01:58 AM
  #2  
I suspect either lubricate or replace.
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Sep 6, 2019 | 08:23 AM
  #3  
This setup is drive-by-wire, so the gas pedal is just a cable to a variable resistor sensor. If you open the hood, the sensor is in the driver side bin, next to the brake booster. Chances are, your cable is out of adjustment (too slack) and you need to depress the pedal too much, and it feels stiff. There is a plastic "fork" that holds that cable to the sensor. That fork can be temporarily removed and the slack taken off before putting it back in place (this is a 2 min job). This has been reported many times as a cheap fix to bring a lot of power back because it is tied to the throttle position (by software). Try it, the car may feel very different.

For completeness, you may have to have the ECU re-learn the throttle sensor: turn the ignition on to power the ECU (engine off) and slowly push the pedal down all the way to the stop and then slowly release. Do this several times. This should "teach" the ECU the full range of values for the pedal sensor.

Best of luck, keep us posted.
Reply 3
Sep 6, 2019 | 09:06 AM
  #4  
^^ What he said. Anyone who has never done the throttle cable adjustment procedure needs to do so now. As mentioned above, it takes less than two minutes and usually delivers a world of difference in throttle response....
Reply 1
Sep 6, 2019 | 11:40 AM
  #5  
Quote: This setup is drive-by-wire, so the gas pedal is just a cable to a variable resistor sensor. If you open the hood, the sensor is in the driver side bin, next to the brake booster. Chances are, your cable is out of adjustment (too slack) and you need to depress the pedal too much, and it feels stiff. There is a plastic "fork" that holds that cable to the sensor. That fork can be temporarily removed and the slack taken off before putting it back in place (this is a 2 min job). This has been reported many times as a cheap fix to bring a lot of power back because it is tied to the throttle position (by software). Try it, the car may feel very different.

For completeness, you may have to have the ECU re-learn the throttle sensor: turn the ignition on to power the ECU (engine off) and slowly push the pedal down all the way to the stop and then slowly release. Do this several times. This should "teach" the ECU the full range of values for the pedal sensor.

Best of luck, keep us posted.
Thank you! I'll give that a try.
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Sep 14, 2019 | 05:58 PM
  #6  
Well, I lubricated it and the cable looks tight. It's still harder to press down than my XJ8. The wife called our mickanatic and he said "It ain't your XJ8 so get used to it".....
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