accelerator stuck---!!!

njs42 · 01-09-2012, 08:24 PM

W-22 chasis, Allison 1000 transmission, no grade beake, I'm climbing the "Grapevine" from the Imperial Valley side (Chuck Berry made it famous in the 50"s) and it's a long pull. I am in (3) with OD off and running 4200 rpm which I do not like, so I want to drop to 3700RPM where everyone is happy. I begin slowly releasing my foot from the accelerator at the same time concentrating on driving. I have done this many many times before.

Soon it dawns on me I have lifted my foot off the accelerator and the rpms are running the same; so I put my foot to the floor---no change---off no change---I'm stuck at 4200rpm 50mph.

I moved the shift lever to D and the rpms went down but no change in the accelerator--I can move my foot up and down--nothing.

I hit my brakes and then that changed things---the MH slowed and the accelerator began working again.

I have owned the rig since new and have driven 43,000 of it's 44,000 miles. Everything else was fine, coolant temp, trans temp, nothing out of the ordinary.

Anyone had this happen, heard of it, have any suggestions???

Had I crested the grade in that condition this would be a much more exciting report.

jfran304 · 01-09-2012, 08:27 PM

Is it possible that your cruise control was on and got stuck until you hit the brakes?

njs42 · 01-09-2012, 08:38 PM

Interesting--I admit I did not consider this. My cruise control has been an off again on again accessory, sometimes it works then not for a while; but this trip it has been flawless. Now that you mention this it behaved kind of like that but I believe hitting the accelerator would have released it---but I am fairly certain the cruise switch was on but I had not selected a speed hitting the button; of that I am sure as well. I do not have a dash light telling me whne it is on---so maybe you are correct. Thanks for the response. I am relieved to have a plausible explanation---where are the Mythbusters when I need them???

TAZ · 01-09-2012, 09:19 PM

I have had the cruse control kick in on an old car. Then set was in the turn signal and if I flipped it with mynfinger on the end then

Probably what happened if hitting the brake fixed it.

pkmesser · 01-09-2012, 09:24 PM

If you were at or close to full throttle, hitting the acelerator would not release the cruise control.

Dunner · 01-09-2012, 09:50 PM

When I hit the "Coast" button and release it on my `97 Dodge Diesel, it floors the pedal till I hit the brake or turn the CC off.

x2.

Stevegd007 · 01-09-2012, 10:02 PM

To me it sounds like the cruise control was on.

kennersonf · 01-09-2012, 10:06 PM

Yep, my vote is for cruise control on.. Touching the brake turned it off.

wa8yxm · 01-10-2012, 10:46 AM

Pressing the accelerator does NOT release the cruise control.. The brake pedal does that. The Cruise lets you accelerate to pass a slow moving roadblock and then return to setting by simply lifting your foot. Pressing (just a tap) the brakes will release it, or turning it (or the ignition) off, Pressing the brakes (Longer than a tap) will also engage the grade brake if the computer feels conditions warrant (I do not even know all of the needed conditions so can't list them save for "Turned on" and Not going too fast)

I think if the cruise is set it takes one tap to release it, then a firm press to engage grade brake. (If so eqiuipped and activated).

trampsrv · 01-10-2012, 11:00 AM

sounds like 1 of 3 things cruise control.cruise control or cruise control.

**RickO** · 01-10-2012, 11:33 AM

Hard to escape the cruise control as the probable culprit but I'm betting when you first realized there was a problem you got one of those adrenalin rushes that usually result in a need to pause and "refresh"....

Glad it all ended well.

Rick

motohomer · 01-10-2012, 04:02 PM

If your revs werent so high, stomping the gas would have caused a downshift...

njs42 · 01-11-2012, 02:12 AM

I replied to this yesterday but it does not show----poor wifi at Emerald Desert RV Resort---so here it is again.

Thank you everyone for your responses. Of course it was the cruise control and why I did not think of it is beyond me. I guess I'll get at least honorable mention in the IRV2 dumb question run offs at the end of 2012. I had a good laugh at myself.

From now on I'll just call it my stuck accelerator drill----when I hit the brake I was planning my next move; to get the supposed "out of control vehicle" stopped.