Heavy gas pedal pressure

Tiny
MLAMPA
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 HONDA ACCORD
  • 80,400 MILES
When I drive on the street or highway, the gas pedal feels hard to press down. The car still repsonds OK, but the pedal isn't light to the touch as it was when I bought it. What could be causing this to get worse over time? It's at the point now where it feels hard even when the car isn't even on.

I also notice a stiffer steering wheel, tight brake pedal, and also the car feels really heavy when driving, kinda like having a rubber bans attached to you as you're jumping up and down.

It's at a mechanics shop getting a power steering fluid change, brake fluid change, and radiator flush. I had a fresh oil change and transmission flush just last week. I was advised that the shocks are bad, and that the car needs wheel alignment and a new set of tires. Could any of these fixes make the hard gas pedal just go away? What do you think?
Thursday, September 22nd, 2011 AT 9:33 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
PROMECHANIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 536 POSTS
It sounds like you might have a problem in the accelerator pedal itself. You might have a pedal that is sticking up at the top (under the dash) where it pivots.
Since you say it happens even when the car is off it makes me think that it doesn't have anything to do with the electrical part of this system.
Some Hondas used to have problems with sticking throttle cables, but yours is a drive by wire system so there is no cable.
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Thursday, September 22nd, 2011 AT 10:13 PM
Tiny
MLAMPA
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Well, it used to feel a lot looser, very similar to a brand new vehicles gas pedal, but it had progressively gotten stiffer at the same time the stiff steering, tight brake pedal, and heavy suspension had. It's like everything all happened at the same time. What might be happening here?
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Thursday, September 22nd, 2011 AT 10:19 PM
Tiny
PROMECHANIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 536 POSTS
Since this happens when the car is not even turned on it makes me think that it has nothing to do with the other problems you are having.
Stiff steering can be caused by various things (bad brake fluid, slipping belts, bad power steering pump, worn rack and pinion, etc.) But none of these should affect the gas pedal. I would have your mechanic carefully inspect the gas pedal and especially the hinge.
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Thursday, September 22nd, 2011 AT 10:23 PM
Tiny
SEAN92
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
My 2007 Honda Civic EX (84000 miles) is having these same exact problems. They're all happening at once. I'm desperate to find what's causing these things to happen.
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Saturday, February 18th, 2017 AT 8:20 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
Hello,

The first thing I would check is the floor mat to make sure it has not lodged under the pedal hindering its travel.

Please let us know what you find so it will help others.

Best, Ken
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Monday, February 20th, 2017 AT 1:32 PM
Tiny
SEAN92
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
No floor mat, power steering fluid is good.
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Monday, February 20th, 2017 AT 1:45 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
Please remove the gas pedal sensor and see if you can move it by or if it is binding. The sensor could be bad.
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Monday, February 20th, 2017 AT 6:28 PM

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