Honda Car Forum

I have a 99 Accord Ex 4cyl auto and have been having a sticking accelerator
problem? It occurs when you initially step on the accelerator causing you
to make jack rabbit starts even if you don't want to. Really it is becoming
a safety hazard. I tried greasing the pivot points under the dash and
greasing the cable under the dash and under the hood where it enters and
leaves the cable housing. I suspect it will require replacing the cable and
cable housing.

I have the extended warranty purchased when I bought the car and believe
this should be covered. I guess I will find out when I take it to the
dealer.

Has anyone else had this problem?

Sid

This could easily be typical carbon buildup in the throttle body where the
throttle plate is. You can search this NG on google:groups and find lots of
discussions. If you have the warranty and it's not out-of-pocket, then get
them to fix it. It's not much work so they shouldn't have cause to object.

You can confirm by popping the hood and seeing if the throttle is sticky
when you actuate it by hand right at the cam. Have a friend hit the gas to
see what moves if you're unsure.

Hope you didn't use normal grease on that cable...can attract dirt causing
problems down the road.

Good luck,
-Arthur


Sid wrote:

> I have a 99 Accord Ex 4cyl auto and have been having a sticking accelerator
> problem? It occurs when you initially step on the accelerator causing you
> to make jack rabbit starts even if you don't want to. Really it is becoming
> a safety hazard. I tried greasing the pivot points under the dash and
> greasing the cable under the dash and under the hood where it enters and
> leaves the cable housing. I suspect it will require replacing the cable and
> cable housing.
>
> I have the extended warranty purchased when I bought the car and believe
> this should be covered. I guess I will find out when I take it to the
> dealer.
>
> Has anyone else had this problem?
>
> Sid
>
>

In article <bCvnc.64895$hR1.58249@fe2.texas.rr.com>, "Sid"
<sfincher@hot.rr.com> wrote:

> I have a 99 Accord Ex 4cyl auto and have been having a sticking accelerator
> problem? It occurs when you initially step on the accelerator causing you
> to make jack rabbit starts even if you don't want to. Really it is becoming
> a safety hazard. I tried greasing the pivot points under the dash and
> greasing the cable under the dash and under the hood where it enters and
> leaves the cable housing. I suspect it will require replacing the cable and
> cable housing.
>
> I have the extended warranty purchased when I bought the car and believe
> this should be covered. I guess I will find out when I take it to the
> dealer.
>
> Has anyone else had this problem?
>
> Sid

Yes, this is a recurring 'feature'. Happens to me once or twice a year on
my 98 4 cyl Accord. Starts to stick when accel first pressed after
sitting, usually overnight. Once it lets go, it is Ok for rest of day.
Doing it now, and am stalling having it taken care of. I was even in there
a couple of weeks ago, and forgot.

Throttle body needs to be cleaned. I have dealer do it. Frankly I think
they should cover it, since this is not really 'normal'.

If it continues all the time, then you really want to take care if it.

Also not sure if you can do it yourself. Others can weigh in on what to
use. George?

This is really my only problem. And it is really more loke a small
nuissance. At 90K I have had ony one repair (fuel pressure guage). Also
have original brakes (still 30% left on front!!), muffler, battery. No
rust. I think driving a 5 speed helps on the brake wear. Even rotors are
still good.

You are correct. It was carbon build-up on the throttle plate. They
cleaned the throttle body for $73. Not bad, but Honda Care would not pay.
They said it was just maintenance (cleaning) and since no part was replaced
and it was not due to a Mechanical Breakdown due to a defect... etc. I
think that is Bunk! and told them so. If it was just maintenance they
should have put it in the table of regularly scheduled maintenance items.

Spoke with the Service Manager to no avail. He said they have to do what
Honda Care tells them. Right. I then called the Honda national customer
service hotline and was assigned a case worker. He called the next day and
said Honda would reimburse me because they want me to be a happy customer
and to think about Honda next time I buy a car. So it worked out well in
the end, but I still think Honda Care should have paid. Before the case
worker called I had filed a complaint with the NHTSA, because it was clearly
becoming a safety hazard.

Sid

On 5/11/04 11:13 PM, in article Ivhoc.86474$NR5.51554@fe1.texas.rr.com,
"Sid" <sfincher@hot.rr.com> wrote:

> You are correct. It was carbon build-up on the throttle plate. They
> cleaned the throttle body for $73. Not bad, but Honda Care would not pay.
> They said it was just maintenance (cleaning) and since no part was replaced
> and it was not due to a Mechanical Breakdown due to a defect... etc. I
> think that is Bunk! and told them so. If it was just maintenance they
> should have put it in the table of regularly scheduled maintenance items.
>
> Spoke with the Service Manager to no avail. He said they have to do what
> Honda Care tells them. Right. I then called the Honda national customer
> service hotline and was assigned a case worker. He called the next day and
> said Honda would reimburse me because they want me to be a happy customer
> and to think about Honda next time I buy a car. So it worked out well in
> the end, but I still think Honda Care should have paid. Before the case
> worker called I had filed a complaint with the NHTSA, because it was clearly
> becoming a safety hazard.
>
> Sid
>
>

I think I agree with the dealer - this is a routine maintenance issue, not a
defect.

You could have cleaned it yourself for about $5 with a can of air-intake
cleaner from Autozone or Pep Boys. Thirty years ago, we were spraying carb
cleaner down the throat of the carburetor every year or so. This is just
the modern equivalent.