Hello All,

Thinking back on it, interesting rather than Scary Problem on my 97 Cavalier 2.2L Auto

Well, Started out, leaving a buddies house, I went through a Small Puddle as it has been down pooring for the last few hours, I applied my brakes as I had a stop sign, and they worked but not 100% probably 50% effective(not hearing my Engine over reving), So I am thinkin ,"ah probably just being wet"

So I hit the Highway doing about 70 MPH and the driver in front of me started to slow down so I took my Foot Off the Gas Peddle and Guess what, The Old Cavalier Kept right on at 70, So I hit the Brake pulled off the road and sure enough the engine was still reving as I was doing 70 MPH
(probably about 3500 RMPs) I tried to come to a full stop but she would not let me with my Foot Fully Depressed on the Brake, at 3 MPH, Pulled the E Brake and slammed it into park, I then shut the Car off, Started it back up, Hit the Gas Peddle 2 or 3 times and sure enough the Cavalier started to idle fine.

Seemed like it was on cruise control but without being able to hit the Brake for a release.(My Cav does not have Cruise Anyway)

Hit the highway, without anymore problems.

I assume most likely it was a stuck Gas Peddle(????) Is this a common on a Cavalier or Sunfire???

Anything that might need lube??? Everything looked fine from a quick check.

The Car just hit 110,000 tonight, if that matters as far as a maitance item.

SORRY To be so long winded but kinda felt I needed to explain it.

Thanks as Always, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Frank G

You should spray something like WD40 or liquid wrench on your throttle linkage. where your airbox meets your engine the via the throttle body. You'll see a black sheafed cable going to it and it will have a circular spring on it. just dowse it in the above mentioned fluids (either/or) and that may help. When you said you pressed it after you restarted it were they quick harsh jabs at it? This may have freed it if it's getting stuck. Other then that pedal hinge or maybe a kink in the throttle cable. Seing as you don't have cruise I can't see how this could be an electrical problem owing to the weather and other than what I've said a possible Vaccuum leak although these are usually a constant thing.

(I explained everything as clear as I don't know your level of vehicular knowlege!)

Merry Christmas to you also.

You should spray something like WD40 or liquid wrench on your throttle linkage. where your airbox meets your engine the via the throttle body. You'll see a black sheafed cable going to it and it will have a cicular spring on it. just dowse it in the above mentioned fluids (either/or) and that may help. When you said you pressed it after you restarted it were they quick harsh jabs at it?
(I explained everything as clear as I don't know your level of vehicular knowlege!)

Merry Christmas to you also.

Thank you, you explained it well, I fully understand, your post and will hit that throttle linkage tomorrow.

I kinda figured this is what was going on, So, I did step on the gas peddle a few times to "free it up" as it did.

As far as a Vacume leak, I would assume if I had cruise control on it it might be a consideration, but without it, probably not an issue.

Thanks again,
Frank G

You should spray something like WD40 or liquid wrench on your throttle linkage. where your airbox meets your engine the via the throttle body. You'll see a black sheafed cable going to it and it will have a circular spring on it. just dowse it in the above mentioned fluids (either/or) and that may help. When you said you pressed it after you restarted it were they quick harsh jabs at it? This may have freed it if it's getting stuck. Other then that pedal hinge or maybe a kink in the throttle cable. Seing as you don't have cruise I can't see how this could be an electrical problem owing to the weather and other than what I've said a possible Vaccuum leak although these are usually a constant thing.

(I explained everything as clear as I don't know your level of vehicular knowlege!)

Merry Christmas to you also.


Wow... think about what you just said there man. A combustable liquid/fuel being sprayed near the throttle body. Hope you know the consequence of that stuff gettin into yout TB by mistake then being sucked into the engine.. I would use a light oil over WD-40....

Wow... think about what you just said there man. A combustable liquid/fuel being sprayed near the throttle body. Hope you know the consequence of that stuff gettin into yout TB by mistake then being sucked into the engine.. I would use a light oil over WD-40....

I would hope that anybody working on a car would have the common sense not to do so with the motor running!!!!!!!!!!!

I would hope that anybody working on a car would have the common sense not to do so with the motor running!!!!!!!!!!!

Well rest assured, I will be doing it with my car off.

However in the past I have cleaned many Carbs and TB's with probably the most combustable crap on earth (drawing a blank on the name) and even have cleaned them with the stuff being run right into the Butterfly with the engine running (as per label instructions) with no problems.

Either way I am sure if I remember correctly the spring you are talking about is to the rear of the TB/ front of the Firewall making chance of intake into the engine highly impossible (but like I said, lubing it with car off)

thanks again,
Frank G
1997 Cavalier 2.2L
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4.7Lv8
2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4.7Lv8
1986 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 2.8Lv6

[QUOTE=Frank G]Well rest assured, I will be doing it with my car off.

Yeah I know Easy-Start being one. I think some of the guys on here are out to get me!!!!

My wife's daytona had the same problem once, it turned out to be a little plastic piece attached to the throttle cable where the sleave/sheaf? stops and goes through a metal bracket. The plastic piece "pops" into the bracket, but for some reason this one came loose or wasn't popped-in but it slid into the lobe shaped part that the cable attaches to and when she let off the throttle it got wedged in there. Just pop it back into the bracket, if it has one...

Well, I am not sure anything popped out, but the spring and all attached hardeware from the actual peddle "hinges" to the throttle cable spring which actually had some rust on it were well lubed. (Now going to be a maintaince item every 3,000 miles)
BTW Lubed it w/ a non Flamable Lube, so I should be in good shape.

The Gas Peddle actually feels a bit smoother than before. So hopefully problem solved.

Glad, I was driving the car rather than my girlfriend, she probably would have freaked out and drove that Cavalier into another car at 70mph.

If I remember correctly, a vehicle is required to be built, so that at FULL THROTTLE, the car can be stopped with using the breaks, kinda a safety feature built in. I got mine down to 3 mph w/ the break fully depressed so I guess after 110,000 MPH the breaks arent what they used and I wasnt at full throttle either to be even with new Pads/Rotor etc.

Reminds me of Aviation all commercial Jetliners Built since the 50's are required to be able to lose half their engines and still be able to maintain Altitude and Climb. (A little Avaition Factoid for those interested). So when you get in a Jet and see 4 engines (747, A-340) she can lose 2 of em and still fly safely or a plane with 2 engine (737, A320,757, 767) can safely lose one.

Thanks again,
Frank G
97 Cavalier 2.2L Auto
2005 Jeep WK
2001 Jeep WJ
1986 Jeep XJ

[QUOTE=Frank G]Well rest assured, I will be doing it with my car off.

Yeah I know Easy-Start being one. I think some of the guys on here are out to get me!!!!


Ya never know. There are some of the worst diabolical haters east of Hiroshema here... Watch out...::wink::

Ya never know. There are some of the worst diabolical haters east of Hiroshema here... Watch out...::wink::

Yeah 90% of which have tried to make me look stupid but can't bring me down.

Positive attitude helps.. I tend to bust peoples balls alot when they say somthing stupid. Search for mods concerning the governer removal and see what i mean..