How to Handle a Stuck Gas Pedal

Although not a common occurrance, your throttle linkage can get stuck, making your car go faster even though you've taken your foot off the gas pedal. Don't panic.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Car Manuals
• Car Repair Shops
• Roadside Emergency Cards

1. Shift to neutral and turn off the ignition. You'll lose all power, including power steering.

2. Turn on your emergency lights to warn other drivers.

3. Apply your brakes, but keep coasting.

4. Search the roadway for a safe place to pull over.

5. Pull off the road cautiously.

6. Locate an emergency roadside phone to get assistance.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful of the vehicles around you as you maneuver to the side of the road.

[emvelez]

on 9/30/2009 I have a 2004 Mercury Sable wagon and and lately the accelerator pedal seems to stick, when I brake for a light the engine continues to rev. It does stop. Today I put one foot on the brake and revved the accelerator pedal quickly and it stopped. Any ideas?

[Laekwon]

on 10/5/2008 Today I had a problem with the accelerator. It was stuck flush with the floor and the engine was revving extremely high. I tried braking but that did not work, I tried pulling it up with my hand and foot but end up braking the pedal when I used my hand. I had to pull the car over using the E-brake and cut the car off in a store parking lot. After numerous failed attempts to contact someone to help me, I decided to make it to the house. I and my girlfriend manage to make it home by using the hand brake and engine still revving high. When I got home I vented from being so upset. Afterwards, I went outside to do some investigating. The problem I had was fixed by turning the cruise control on and using the "speed down" option to let up (free) the accelerator and then all was well. I have no idea what made it stick or why the cruise control had fixed it, but it seems to be more fluid than eve

[Laekwon]

on 10/5/2008 Today I had a problem with the accelerator. It was stuck flush with the floor and the engine was revving extremely high. I tried braking but that did not work, I tried pulling it up with my hand and foot but end up braking the pedal when I used my hand. I had to pull the car over using the E-brake and cut the car off in a store parking lot. After numerous failed attempts to contact someone to help me, I decided to make it to the house. I and my girlfriend manage to make it home by using the hand brake and engine still revving high. When I got home I vented from being so upset. Afterwards, I went outside to do some investigating. The problem I had was fixed by turning the cruise control on and using the "speed down" option to let up (free) the accelerator and then all was well. I have no idea what made it stick or why the cruise control had fixed it, but it seems to be more fluid than eve

[bricksrheavy]

on 7/31/2007 ever considered tapping on the pedal, or pressing it all the way down and then quickly releasing it? it worked for me and i did`n have to deal with 2 tons of metal going 80km/h down the road with no brakes or power steering

on 8/22/2006 This happened to me while passing a car going 70 MPH down a highway. The gas pedal stuck because of a kink in the cable (that I got replaced later). I turned off the engine and the vehicle slowly glided to a stop and on to the shoulder. I then put it in park and called for help. Yes, even without power steering or brakes, you can steer it!