Throttle (Not Glottal) Stop

[DeltaV]

Stupid question…

Does anyone else have a “hitch” or detent in throttle pedal travel about 90% of the way down?

I discovered this on mine while detailing the driver’s footwell, pressing the throttle by hand (engine off, of course).

Throttle moves freely until it hits a stop, but give some addition pressure and there’s another half inch (?) of travel.

I haven’t had an opportunity to determine if this persists while actually driving the car, yet, but thought I’d reach out to see if this is common or yet another idiosyncrasy about my car.

 

[JSolo]

It's the turbo boost position. IIRC it'll force the trans to downshift to the lowest permissible gear for speed/engine rpm.

 

[Flynfishmedic]

Commonly known as the "kickdown" switch!

 

[DeltaV]

Really?

That’s an old-fashioned physical switch like a NOS shot, not ECU-determined based on load, throttle position, MAF, rpm, and EGT?

Wow. Just wow.

So, it forces a downshift (if rpm allows, I presume) in any of the auto modes. But what if I’m in sport mode and manual shifting? Will it override my gear choice?

Wait, of course it will. That’s the default behavior in the car…it knows better than you.

 

[JSolo]

^^Good question. I would expect sport mode to hold what ever gear you're in. Not my usual driving style so can't say.

Test it on a straight road and report back ?

 

[General_Vodka]

No, if your in manual mode it will not downshift for you. At least mine doesn't

Really?

That’s an old-fashioned physical switch like a NOS shot, not ECU-determined based on load, throttle position, MAF, rpm, and EGT?

Wow. Just wow.

So, it forces a downshift (if rpm allows, I presume) in any of the auto modes. But what if I’m in sport mode and manual shifting? Will it override my gear choice?

Wait, of course it will. That’s the default behavior in the car…it knows better than you.

 

[oddball]

I'm 90% certain it doesn't actually do anything. Many cars do have some sort of catch/pop/detent down near the end of gas pedal travel. It's a leftover from the 60's when there was a kickdown mechanism (switch, valve, various stuff) that got tripped, so you would feel it.
My theory is: a) it's just expected as part of a normal car, and b) lets you know you're almost at Full Beans.

It's not in any way necessary for kickdown or anything else because the car clearly knows what's going on. It's purely mechanical feedback for the meat bag that thinks he's in control.

 

[DeltaV]

Hmm. Interesting.

I don’t recall this in my previous vehicles (different brand), but I can check.

Thanks for thinking outside the box.

 

[JSolo]

@oddball

Is tps @ 100% before the kick down or after?

Any one with a jb4 or obd reader hookup check?

If it's say at 97% pre kick down then you're not getting your full open throttle unless you go past kick down.

 

[DeltaV]

So, then, to confirm, everyone has this very firm detent at about 90% throttle with a solid snap when pushed past?

 

[D.J.]

So, then, to confirm, everyone has this very firm detent at about 90% throttle with a solid snap when pushed past?

Yes

When in manual shifting mode. The car will not downshift automatically if you press the gas pedal all they to (but not beyond) the switch. If you press harder, and press the switch, the car, even in manual mode, will understand that you want to gear down a gear or 2 (depanding on your speed and RPM of course )

The switch absolutely does function, in manual shifting mode.



In manual mode the car will still shift down if you go too slow for the gear you have selected... this is not related to the kickdown switch.

In auto shifting mode, I have not noticed the kickdown switch doing much. But I have not really tested it in auto mode.