Question: Does Toyota have a gas pedal cable or wires

2004 and above probably gas by wire. But I am not sure.

When the gas by wire messes up it gets real dangerous.

Everything breaks down sooner or later.

In other words, is the accelerator controlled directly by a throtle cable as was the case in all cars until just recently, or is the gas pedal on Toyota's what's known as a 'drive-by-wire' setup in which the variable position of the pedal via your foot sends an electronic signal to the computer, effectively making a suggestion that you'd like to accelerate, but it's the COMPUTER that actually applies the gas by sending a control signal to a solenoid at the throttle body...

Yes, is there a physical wire to the fuel?

If it is computer controlled - could it be a virus????

The ultimate conspiracy, corporate espionage by virus!

WOW, I hope its not computer controlled.

It could be worse, interference from blue-tooth, i-pod, 3g cell, ect..

When you say "Controlled by wire" I'd think you were talking about the throttle pedal controlling a potentiometer, which in turn regulates the fuel/air mixture to the engine. If you say a cable, I'd think of an actual pedal but to answer your question I don't know, you'd have to check with a Toyota engineer.

I'm thinking it's not a mechanical failure but an electronic/computer one.

I swear I'm buying me an OLD CLASSIC!

Hell, crank up starter old.

Sounds like the sticking happens over time when there's no floor mat, so perhaps more dust in the return piston on the pedal? Then there was some person who thought the floor mats caused an accident? I think the first option seems more liekly.

Otherwise, why the correlation between sticking and lack of floor mats? Also it happens over time? Sounds like accumulation of particles on some kind of return piston?



[link to autos.aol.com]

The condition is rare, but can occur when the pedal mechanism becomes worn and, in certain conditions, the accelerator pedal may become harder to depress, slower to return or, in the worst case, stuck in a partially depressed position."

Toyota noted that the remedy and timing of the fix isn't apparent yet. Today's announcement is a notice that they will bring a recall, not the actual recall filing itself.

Although Toyota hasn't indicated how many incidents led to this particular recall, they did indicate that reports of stuck gas pedals have surfaced in vehicles with no floor mats.

“In recent months, Toyota has investigated isolated reports of sticking accelerator pedal mechanisms in certain vehicles without the presence of floor mats,” said TMS Group Vice President Irv Miller.

“Our investigation indicates that there is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may, in rare instances, mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position. Consistent with our commitment to the safety of our cars and our customers, we have initiated this voluntary recall action.”

maybe not

...
.wikipedia
Electronic throttle control (ETC) is an automobile technology which severs the mechanical link between the accelerator pedal and the throttle. Most automobiles already use a throttle position sensor (TPS) to provide input to traction control, antilock brakes, fuel injection, and other systems, but use a bowden cable to directly connect the pedal with the throttle.

An ETC-equipped vehicle has no such cable. Instead, the electronic control unit (ECU) determines the required throttle position by calculations from data measured by other sensors such as an accelerator pedal position sensor, engine speed sensor, vehicle speed sensor etc. The electric motor within the ETC is then driven to the required position via a closed-loop control algorithm within the ECU.

Heh. Ford F150's from 04 to 07 had the issues of when you hit the brake slightly, the accelerator went way zoom. Many of the Ford owners complained, but a TOS was never issued. I got mine fixed by going to a dealer and getting the main brain re-flashed. All manufactures are the same. They ignore all issues until someone gets killed.

I hear ya, might even be worth the expense of digging a 67' Chevy, Olds, Pontiac, or even a Buick out of the junkyard and going through it. Best case would be to upgrade to a modern subframe, axles, and disc brakes and putting a crate 572 CI Chevy engine in it.