Pedal Sticks When Cold

[jMon54]

For the past couple of years, I have noticed than when the weather
turns cold, my 2003 Subaru Baja's accelerator pedal sticks upon
initially depressing it. I have to sort of force it or pop it loose
and then it's fine until the next time the car sits for a long while
in the cold.

Has anyone dealt with this issue? Any helpful advice (besides take it
to the dealer) would be appreciated.

Jay M
VA, USA
'03 Subaru Baja Sport 5sp

 

[JohnO]

For the past couple of years, I have noticed than when the weather
turns cold, my 2003 Subaru Baja's accelerator pedal sticks upon
initially depressing it. I have to sort of force it or pop it loose
and then it's fine until the next time the car sits for a long while
in the cold.

Has anyone dealt with this issue? Any helpful advice (besides take it
to the dealer) would be appreciated.

My '99 just started doing this recently. This is, by far, the coldest
temps since I've had the car. I'm guessing there's condensation
forming then freezing on the pedal assembly somewhere. If we ever see
temps above freezing again I'll know for sure.

-John O

 

[wrenden]

My '99 just started doing this recently. This is, by far, the coldest
temps since I've had the car. I'm guessing there's condensation
forming then freezing on the pedal assembly somewhere. If we ever see
temps above freezing again I'll know for sure.

-John O

Just lurking here--don't even have a sube, but it sounds as the
throttle plate is getting stuck in the gunk that collects on the body
bore. On other cars I've cleaned that with carb-choke cleaner and
then sprayed the area with silicone grease and that cured the
condition for a long time.

wrenden

 

[Yousuf Khan]

Just lurking here--don't even have a sube, but it sounds as the
throttle plate is getting stuck in the gunk that collects on the body
bore. On other cars I've cleaned that with carb-choke cleaner and
then sprayed the area with silicone grease and that cured the
condition for a long time.

Hi old-timer, that woulda worked in the old days, but of course these
days all of these cars are fuel-injected, not carburetted. These days
the problem could just as easily be because of a stuck throttle position
sensor.

Yousuf Khan

 

[wrenden]

Hi old-timer, that woulda worked in the old days, but of course these
days all of these cars are fuel-injected, not carburetted. These days
the problem could just as easily be because of a stuck throttle position
sensor.

Yousuf Khan

Not true young man. My above fix *was* done on fuel-injected
vehicles. The gunk comes from the crankcase vent system--a very
common problem on any car. See
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/ab_auto_fuel_system/article/0,2021,DIY_13679_3117399,00.html

wrenden

 

[bgd]

Fuel injected still has a valve, just like the "old" carb.
It is funny to hear carb stuff referred to as old. There isn't a fuel
injection on this planet that has the genious real time function as a carb.
Fuel injection is mimicking the carbs and always will- there is an eternal
delay forever in many aspects of fuel/air carbeuration when it went to
injection. Anyway...

It can happen to any car in cold climate. They don't build them for it.
The silicone into cables, and other lubes help.
water dispersal additives in fuel helps too. The subes are usually quite
warm on top of engine where this linkage is, must be a lube problem (water
etc)

 

[Kevin Hall]

Not something to be ignored. I had a throttle cable freeze up on my
fathers' Ford Exploder, and it damned near killed me. Seized while
underway on an icy winding 2-lane back road. The truck kept gaining speed
even with both my feet hard on the brakes. In the end the only way I got it
to whoa was by chucking it in neutral and quickly hitting the switch before
the valves bounced. Suddenly being without power steering and brakes at
60mph on ice is exciting, but not as bad as still having the engine going
nuts.
I'd replace that cable swiftly.
KH