Are you wondering: why and what to do when my car accelerates without hitting gas? Your car starts to accelerate by itself for unpleasant reasons that may be fatal.
Thus, you want this issue resolved as soon as possible. This article will walk you through the causes and solutions to this problem. Let’s get started!
What Does Unexpected Acceleration In A Car Mean?
An automobile that accelerates unintentionally, without the driver’s input, is regarded as having a bug. When this occurs, you may occasionally lose braking ability.
This implies that you have no influence whatever the circumstance, which could result in a car accident.
The system in charge of controlling a vehicle’s powertrain cannot work properly if the electronic components in the car are broken.
Unintentional acceleration is risky because of broken throttle control systems in more recent vehicle types. Naturally, this occurs without the driver applying the gas while the automobile is in motion.
Unexpectedly sudden acceleration can occur whenever it is least expected. The likelihood of that happening, though, increases when you apply the brakes, change ratios, or switch to cruise control.
This abrupt change has an impact on the car’s electrical current, which may lead the vehicle to accelerate.
Why My Car Accelerates Without Hitting Gas, And How To Fix It
A car accelerates on its own while driving for several reasons. Let’s look at the main reasons behind this and how to fix them.
Malfunction Throttle Body
A broken throttle body is frequently to blame for a vehicle accelerating without the input of drivers.
Suppose your automobile’s throttle plate sticks; it won’t be able to return to its original position, which will cause the car to accelerate.
Solution
Checking to see whether the throttle body is stuck is a typical way to fix a failed one. If the throttle body is unclean, clean it of any debris.
To prevent your car accelerating by itself in extreme circumstances, you might require a replacement throttle body.
Pedal Squeezing Against The Floor Mat
Although it may seem improbable, many drivers have had their pedals stick to the car’s floor.
A loose floor mat could slide up onto the gas pedal or get stuck between the center panel of the car and the pedal. As a result, the pedal doesn’t move, and the car begins to accelerate on its own.
Solution
Lift your floor mat to see if it is holding the pedal down. Also, suppose your gas pedal makes a squeaking noise, similar to a squeaking brake pedal; you can try lubricating it with lithium grease to fix the problem.
Faulty IAC
The IAC (Idle Air Control) may be the reason behind your car’s self-accelerating. Idle air control valves, also known as IAC actuators, are used in fuel-injected cars and manage the engine’s rotational speed when idling.
A throttle actuator for controlling idle speed is also utilized in carbureted vehicles.
IAC collaborates with the car’s electronic control unit (ECU) to electrically control airflow to the engine for quiet idling. Your car will start to accelerate on its own if something is wrong.
Solution
The IAC must be taken out and cleaned in order to prevent the car from speeding up while the brake is not applied. Utilize carb cleaning to remove the carbon and crud from the interior.
Filthy Mass Air Flow Sensor
It’s possible that the mass air flow sensor (MAF) is the cause of your car’s spontaneous acceleration. When this sensor becomes dirty, the condition worsens, and fuel usage increases.
Solution
Cleaning the mass airflow sensor will restore it to working order. In some circumstances, a replacement is required to solve the issue.
Broken Vacuum Hose
If your car has fuel injection, a broken vacuum hose can be the one to blame for spontaneous acceleration.
A vacuum hose is a flexible tube used in cars to distribute vacuum power. It aids in maintaining the right pressure inside the motor, allowing the air, fuel, and spark to work together seamlessly.
Your car will speed on its own when it is malfunctioning.
Solution
The first thing to do is to seal the holes on the hose. Use a high-grade sealant to fix the holes after cleaning the hose’s exterior.
A patch and super glue can also be used to mend a hole. When applying the sealing glue, ensure the area you are mending is not exposed to heat since it could cause the glue to melt and leave the holes exactly as they were.
Suppose the damage is irreparable; bring your vehicle to a local service department for a replacement.
What To Do When The Car Accelerates On Its Own
When your car accelerating on its own all of a sudden, take the following actions.
Remain Calm
Being in a car that accelerates on its own can be terrifying and nerve-wracking. Still, it is crucial to remain calm if you find yourself in this situation.
You need to keep your mind clear in order to get yourself and your vehicle out of danger.
Shift To Neutral
If your car accelerates on its own, you should first put it in neutral as you carefully pull the vehicle off the road.
The engine will no longer be mechanically attached to the transmission once it is in neutral.
In other words, the engine can no longer transmit power to the wheel through the transmission, preventing acceleration.
Make careful to move straight forward. Make sure to control your movement accurately as you change lanes. Turn off the engine in case the vehicle won’t go into neutral.
Also, keep in mind to keep the key in the ignition to avoid a jammed steering wheel when the engine is turned off.
Apply Brakes
Once the power source has been stopped, you should begin to apply the brakes as normal to come to a halt. Though the engine is now revving, it is not moving forward.
Although the engine will make some loud noises, you shouldn’t turn off your car since you won’t have power brakes or power steering, which can be quite dangerous on the road.
Also, you may experience the car won’t start right after turning off. Simply use your brakes to stop completely before turning off your car.
Turn On Hazard Lights
Let’s say you are driving along a street and notice your car revving and speeding; you can pull over without worrying about oncoming traffic.
It’s a different situation, though, when your car starts acting strangely when you’re on the freeway. Cars can be approaching from all directions.
In this case, turning on your danger lights is necessary. When you have your hazard lights on, it alerts other drivers nearby that something is wrong, and they will move over for you.
Call For Help
Once more, no problems when you’re on a quiet street. However, if you are on the highway, be careful to place the caution triangle to alert other drivers that your car is stopped there.
Also, should your car have a bright/fluorescent jacket, put it on.
After setting up the warning triangle, get off the road. Once the automobile is safely parked, make contact with a towing service.
They will bring your car to the nearest repair shop to identify and resolve the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Unintended Acceleration Common?
Sudden acceleration is quite common. It can happen at any point while driving, from a full halt to an increase in speed over the posted limit.
Uncertainty about the source of abrupt acceleration has led some researchers to hypothesize a number of automotive weaknesses, including ergonomic design errors, electro-mechanical issues, and electronic issues.
These incidents are also the result of a driver error, such as pressing the throttle pedal instead of the brakes.
Is Unintended Acceleration Bad?
Yes, it is. Unintended acceleration might signify something wrong with your vehicle’s operating system. Not only is it bad for your car, but it is also dangerous for you.
Once the car starts to accelerate, it is challenging to halt because the driver has little control over it. Unpredictable and severe collisions might happen if you lose control of the vehicle.
Should I Shut Off The Engine When The Car Accelerates By Itself?
Do not shut the engine off when you find yourself in this situation. Doing this will cause you to be unable to control the steering wheel and brakes, which you require to maneuver your car off the road.
This can cause even more severe accidents.
The Bottom Line
What to do when my car accelerates without hitting gas? You have your answer after reading this post. Sudden acceleration is exceedingly risky and can result in catastrophic accidents.
The most important thing you need to do is to remain calm. Keeping your head clear is crucial in order to get you out of this dangerous situation.