engine service soon light / accelerator pedal weird feel.

[DeusEx]

the check engine service light came on 2 days ago. Ever since that has happened my accelerator has felt really strange. if i press it down half way it feels perfectly fine, but if i floor it and go all the way to the end it feels spongy. As if though i was pressing down a sponge, not a pedal. Its tougher, mushy and just feels wrong. Any idea what this could be ?

[Mike G]

Pull the code and see what it sayes. Perhaps it has something to do with speed sensors and is trying to cut back on your ability to accelerate...--Mike

[ZGadson]

My car had the same issue once. It threw a TPS (Throttle Position Sensor) code when I had AutoZone hook up their diagnostic tool. When they cleared the code from the car it drove fine - no hesitation, no mushy pedal, nothing. Although I thought clearing the TPS code would only be a temporary fix, I haven't had another problem with it since then, and that was several years ago. If it happens again, I'll fork over some cash for a TPS sensor.

I agree with Mike - take the car to an AutoZone type place and see if they can run a diagnostic check and clear the code(s).

Also, you may be interested to know (although I don't know the year they started making them this way - 2000 maybe) that there is no throttle cable directly attached to the gas pedal. Everything is electronic. The Throttle Position Sensor does exactly what you'd think it does - it senses how far the accelerator pedal is depressed and sends the information to the throttle. (That is what's leading me to believe your problem is this sensor.)
Modified by ZGadson at 10:59 AM 4/8/2008

[scrymilkman34]

I have a 2000 maxima se and i was cruisin on the highway when a scion tc flew past me. so me being me i took off with him. i flew past him at about 125 and all of a sudden i had no throttle. the gas pedal was flapping around. so i pulled off the road and felt around, looked under my hood and the throttle cable where the tensioner runs through the throttle body popped out of the throttle body. a quick fix with a flashlight and some plyers. but make sure your throttle cables secure and tight in the proper position in the throttle body, make sure you find the right balance when screwing it in or else your idle will be off. so just make sure everything is tight by the throttle body

[ZGadson]

I must ask then - is an electronicly controled throttle only on certain engines?

[scrymilkman34]

good question. +1.... anyone have any info regarding this?

[Mike G]

...Also, you may be interested to know (although I don't know the year they started making them this way - 2000 maybe) that there is no throttle cable directly attached to the gas pedal. Everything is electronic. The Throttle Position Sensor does exactly what you'd think it does - it senses how far the accelerator pedal is depressed and sends the information to the throttle. (That is what's leading me to believe your problem is this sensor.)

I think that was later down the line, like 04-ish...

[ZGadson]

I think that was later down the line, like 04-ish...

Mine is a 2002, but its also a Sport. So, maybe it was only available on the sport models before it was standard equipment for newer models?

(And yes, off topic I know (sorry Deus) but what is the difference between sport and non-sport models aside from VLSD and the "sport" logo on the floormats?)