Gas Pedal Too soft On 03s?

[teksavy]

Hi:

Has anyone else noticed that the Drive-By-Wire throttle on the 2003 AV's are too softly sprung?

I notice that if I go over a sharp bump, my foot "bounces" on the gas pedal which causes the truck to "buck" since I'm effectively being "erratic" on the gas?

I took a look at the pedal and notice that the spring seems easy enough to replace, but I'm curious is this is driving anyone else crazy?

-Ed

 

[WesTexAVY]

Hi:

Has anyone else noticed that the Drive-By-Wire throttle on the 2003 AV's are too softly sprung?

I notice that if I go over a sharp bump, my foot "bounces" on the gas pedal which causes the truck to "buck" since I'm effectively being "erratic" on the gas?

I took a look at the pedal and notice that the spring seems easy enough to replace, but I'm curious is this is driving anyone else crazy?

-Ed

I thought it was just me
Every time I drive my wife's Avy.... the same thing happens in the same place at the end of our block. It definately has a "lighter" feel to it compared to my 02. I notice that it happens to her also sometimes when I am the passenger. Let me know if you try something

 

[Jodiesel]

Same here. This last week I did a lot of driving on some crappy highways where I didn't use the cruise and noticed on the rough sections of road that it was very hard to keep a constant position on the throttle.

 

[ultravorx]

I also have that issue, but i have an 02' 2500, which has the drive by wire. i thought i just wasn't keeping my foot steady on the pedal Oh well, I'll just try to keep my foot more steady, if thats possible
Frank

 

[SJProwler]

I have to agree with all of you.

It needs a slightly heavier spring. My F-250 PowerStroke had drive by wire and was great, I'm a bit disappointed with the Av's light accelerator.

SJP-=

 

[ygmn]

The actualk spring force should be around what older cars with mechanical throttles are.......they have not changed that what has changed is the pedals are now lighter.........they will not bounce by themselves...but with your foot on it......

I would also leave springs along as the plastic is designed for them any any higher spring force may break the plastic parts.......

Are these pedals adjustable?

 

[teksavy]

Yes, mine are adjustable, but I took a look at the pedal assembly and its all metal. I just need a stronger spring in there. Can anyone reccomend a good source for replacement springs?

-Ed

 

[MAB]

I also agree the pedal spring is a bit too soft. I have the same problem of hitting a bumpy road and my foot bouncing the throttle up and down. My pedals are the adjustable ones as well, but since I'm 6'5" they always stay at the farthest down position.

 

[Avalancher]

I had a CJ8 that I converted to EFI, creating a similar problem. It had a 4" lift and 35's on it, it was built for offroad and I took it frequently. You can imagine a stiff setup on offroad trails... the jerking actually caused more bucking, causing more severe jerking, etc.

I learned to brace by foot against the center hump. Although this may not be the long term solution you are looking for, it will help considerably.

Good Luck,
MTB-)

 

[MrJim]

The gas pedal in my '03 feels ok and I do not have adjustable pedals. Could this be a problem only associated with the adjustable pedals?

 

[txyank1]

Oddfly enough I haven't noticed it with the Av. Maybe I became accustomed to it. But I did notice it on my Sierra.

 

[old.ski.bum]

Feels OK to me and I have the adjustable pedals. I've always had a lead foot, so who knows!

 

[brmiller]

I'd be more inclined to blame the adjustable pedal mechanism than any drive-by-wire system. Aren't all modern cars drive-by-wire these days?

Brendan

 

[DavsterD]

There are rather large speed bumps all around the site where I work. It can be a little embarrassing with the touchy gas pedal in my AV. I can only imagine what my exhaust note sounds like while Im erraticly bouncing on and off the throttle. I have the adjustable pedals, but I dont see how that would be effecting the actual throttle travel during acceleration. Oh well, who knows?

Dave

 

[teksavy]

I'm pretty sure a heavier spring will do the job. I'm going by my local hardware store to see what they've got and I'll post my findings here.

-Ed

 

[Beach]

I have this exact same problem every time I drive our 2002 Z66. Starting out, it's sometimes embarrassing because I'll press just a little too hard or from the wrong angle and it lunges and then bucks when I back off. It's really bad and noticable in places where the road undulates, because the pedal just flops back and forth with my foot and the Av roars away.

Our 2000 Chrysler 300M also had this issue, and I hated it then. I drove a 1998 Suburban last weekend and both the steering, brakes, and accelerator were much stiffer and I liked it a lot. I think the best of all is my grandmother's '99 Olds Intrigue, because both pedals and the steering are spot on, and have the right heft to them.

My mother drives the Av everyday (except when I took it for school just about everyday this week--she got the old Chevelle...), and says she never has a problem with it and it's just me. Oh well, the steering's also a little loose and sloppy for me too!

 

[ygmn]

There will be 2 springs...one to return the pedal to the idle postion and one to provide feednback to your foot......remember to change them together else you may accidently have the pedal off the idle postion and well cause your truck to rev a bit higher .....

Try a piece of foam behind pedal...it is smashabale and and well non destructive././//....just make sure it does not get your pedal stuck WOT....

 

[sonfour]

I had not thought about it until I saw this post. My pedal seems fine, ( I have the adjustable pedals also), but, I also drive with two feet, right for gas, left for brake, so maybe I just get used to a soft pedal, as my right foot doesn't move (?)

 

[BIGTRUCKBOY]

I noticed it on my test drive. I asked the sales lady and she didn't have a clue. The gas pedal is fine. In fact it almost seems as though they got them backwards. Is there a spring mod out there for this? With the weight of the AV you would think they would have made the pedal a little more rigid.

 

[2M3Bill]

Anyone come up with a solution on this?

 

[mahalkita]

My AV 2003 with adjustable pedals feels like fine. I have driven the drive by wire Powerstroke and found it too hard (I was constantly wondering where the 300+ horses are hidden because of the very slow reaction - at least now I know that the drive by wire caused that). I am 6'7'' and have the pedals all the way back.
mahalkita

 

[RichUF]

I wish I hadn't discovered this "problem" because now I'll be inclined to try to find it on my '03

Can someone please post the short version of what "drive-by-wire" throttle is as compared to whatever the "other kind" is? I can go look it up, but it's more fun when someone shares

Thanks,
Rich

 

[jgwatsonjg]

Drive By Wire =Electronic Throttle Control IE No Cables

Standard Throttle Body= Throttle Cables For Gas and Cruise.

jw

 

[RichUF]

Oh, so that's why the pedal doesn't stay down when using cruise control! Thanks for the info. Something else to break, I guess, but maybe less chance of throttle sticking

 

[peej80]

Has anybody noticed that the spring in the gas pedal seems to be quite weak. What made me take notice was whenever I'm accelerating and drive over a bumpy section of the road, my foot has a tendency to bounce of the gas pedal therefore lunging the Av forward. My past experience has been that all other vehicles I've driven tend to dampen the effect of your foot reacting this way

Peej80