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Stuck Accelerator!
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Zenmervolt
Elite member
Power brakes have a vacuum accumulator that is generally good to provide assist for two pressings of the pedal with the engine off. You do NOT want to turn the key off though because this will lock the steering column and you won't be able to turn the wheel.
Honestly, the safest thing is exactly what you did.
ZV
Honestly, the safest thing is exactly what you did.
ZV
radioouman
Diamond Member
I had that happen to me too.
Fortunately, I just stomped on the brakes until I could bring the car close to a stop, and then I killed the ignition.
Fortunately, I just stomped on the brakes until I could bring the car close to a stop, and then I killed the ignition.
radioouman
Diamond Member
No... many American cars have ACC before OFF.
Put it in neutral (or drop the clutch if M/T).
Best not to turn the engine off while moving - the engine provides power assistance for brakes and steering. Driving without either could be a shock if you aren't used to it and expecting it. (You should get about 3 or 4 brake pedal pushes with the engine stops before the stored vacuum runs out).
Running the engine at redline for a bit is unlikely to do it any significant damage - better to keep full control of your vehicle in a stressful situation. (In some places a routine emissions inspection requires running the engine at the rev-limiter for a few seconds).
Of course, some engine faults (e.g. overheating a diesel engine) can mean that you can't turn the engine off. In that case you don't have a choice except to drop into neutral and stop.
Best not to turn the engine off while moving - the engine provides power assistance for brakes and steering. Driving without either could be a shock if you aren't used to it and expecting it. (You should get about 3 or 4 brake pedal pushes with the engine stops before the stored vacuum runs out).
Running the engine at redline for a bit is unlikely to do it any significant damage - better to keep full control of your vehicle in a stressful situation. (In some places a routine emissions inspection requires running the engine at the rev-limiter for a few seconds).
Of course, some engine faults (e.g. overheating a diesel engine) can mean that you can't turn the engine off. In that case you don't have a choice except to drop into neutral and stop.
SarcasticDwarf
Diamond Member
It depends on the situation. If necessary, I would turn it off and slam the parking brake. If it is some deserted road, there are more options.
OrganizedChaos
Diamond Member
why dosen't it make any sense? you get into your car and you just want the radio/windows or whatnot. you turn the key backwards 1 click from the lock position. you want to star the car you move the key forward to the off position, then to the on position then to the start position to crank the engine.
if imports don't have an "OFF" position how do you 4 wheel down tow them without draining the battery?
FallenHero
Diamond Member
Yeah no ******. Hell, if it came down to it I would throw the damn thing into park if I had to and throw on the e-break. Screw the car, its my life.
Transmission trouble unlikely for that short period without the front pump turning....and steering/braking still definitely usable without engine running. I'd shut off ignition w trans in gear, most modern ignition interlocks will not allow key to be removed in gear (hence locking steering column....BUT placing in neutral first, key MIGHT be able to be turned too far, LOCKING the cloumn. not good, and you'd freak trying to turn the key back on to unlock steering column)
Main reason to just shut off engine, one action is faster than doing neutral then turning eng off. There is also the risk if engine over-revs fully unloaded i neutral, it "migh" grenade, oiling down the road, locking up the drivetrain, starting a fire etc. Simply shutting off ign is faster, and I think safer. Again, steering without power assist is still safe, and brakes also work but simply require more effort. Even leaving the engine running, sufficient brake pressure "SHOULD" still slow down the car, but certainly not as quickly as no power. However, I wouldnt try that w a 500 hp supercharged 454!!
Most modern cars dont even use a old style direct throttle cable, instead being fully electronic "drive by wire". Most FI much less likely to stick throttle, but not to say it couldnt happen.
Main reason to just shut off engine, one action is faster than doing neutral then turning eng off. There is also the risk if engine over-revs fully unloaded i neutral, it "migh" grenade, oiling down the road, locking up the drivetrain, starting a fire etc. Simply shutting off ign is faster, and I think safer. Again, steering without power assist is still safe, and brakes also work but simply require more effort. Even leaving the engine running, sufficient brake pressure "SHOULD" still slow down the car, but certainly not as quickly as no power. However, I wouldnt try that w a 500 hp supercharged 454!!
Most modern cars dont even use a old style direct throttle cable, instead being fully electronic "drive by wire". Most FI much less likely to stick throttle, but not to say it couldnt happen.
stinkynathan
Senior member
...except that at any speed that this would happen the steering wheel is easy to turn even WITHOUT power steering....you know...since you're moving and everything
I had that happen once to me while driving and my father and brother were in the car and started screaming at me. Talk about a suck situation. I ended up ruining the tranmission(awful hard to think straight when 2 grown men are shrieking like little girls at you) but luckily the car was under warranty and they replaced it for free.
ultimatebob
Lifer
I wouldn't say it was a "near death" experience, but I did get pretty damn close to wrecking into a guardrail or a tree.
Besides, as scary as this was, this car is STILL much safer than my old Mercury Cougar. That car had no traction in the snow, and had an interesting safety defect that caused the doors to potentially open at high speed. They eventually issued a recall on that one, but not before having it happen to me once when I was driving home from college. It damaged the door latch when it happened, too, so I ended up having the wrap the seat belt around the door handle to keep it closed on the way to the local Ford dealer :disgust:
Anyway... The dealer is working on the car now. I didn't catch all the details when they called, but it sounds like the gas pedal position sensor malfunctioned, which caused a "software fault" that caused the engine to get stuck at full throttle. It's not an expensive part to replace, but it sounds like the total repair bill will be around $350 with labor. I'm also planning on submitting a defect report to the NHTSA, so they can look into this problem as well and hopefully issue a recall if it becomes common.
OrganizedChaos
Diamond Member
ohhh sounds like someone is driving one of those fancy new drive by wire cars.
yeah i'm all set with that crap..
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