Seem to have a problem that you guys may have come across before. It's odd - when I release the accelerator, the throttle appears to "stick" so when you de-clutch to change gear, instead of the revs dropping immediately, they actually increase momentarily. When the throttle is released in gear to slow down, there is a definite "lag" - i.e the revs stay the same and then 1/2 second later, they begin to drop. I think this is the same affect in both scenarios; the former is more noticeable because there isn't any load on the engine and as a consequence, the revs go up when the clutch is released. I took the Octy back to the dealer on Tuesday with a list of problems and they said they'd dismantled the accelerator unit and "cleaned it out" and that should cure it - big "no" on that one!

It's worse when the AC is on - last saturday was quite hot down here in the south and I had the AC on for an hour or so and during this time it was like having a "cruise control" (it dosen't have it BTW - it's a 1.6 Ambiente!) and when the clutch was released, the engine revs went right up to 4k! I had to stick my foot under the pedal and this seemed to release it and the revs went back to idle. Touch the pedal again and the revs went climbing back up. I haven't used the A/C since I got the car back from the dealer, but I would surmise that the compensatory increase in the idle speed that the AC system adds just exacerbates the problem, hence the revs increasing more when this is on. I cannot believe that an electronic "drive-by-wire" accelerator system would be less responsive that an "old fashioned" cable and therefore there is something wrong here!

So, any help or advise anyone has would be appreciated!

Num

Could be something to do with momentum at the flywheel?

I'll have a go in mine if I remember, see if I can get anything like it...

Rob.

I sometimes get a similar sort of effect - I ease off the accelerator, but there's a fraction of a second before the revs start to drop. It hasn't caused any problems (yet).

I had assumed it was something to do with the automatic transmission trying to smooth things out - it usually seems to happen after "brisk" acceleration (not kickdown) - but if it's happening on a manual car as well there must be some other explanation.

Num, what model and year?

1.6 ambiente

Early 2001 model...

Rob.

And no cruise control. I'm getting the picture, thanks...

What is happening is dangerous, ie you don't have full control over the engine and power delivery. When my Felicia suffered a similar problem, albeit with cable throttle, it needed connecting up to a VAG1551 to sort it out. The problem arose when the throttle cable length changed due to circlip going missing and the replacement not being put back in exactly the same position. I think a trip back to the dealer is called for. Sounds like something is not right in the engine electronics.

Originally posted by DGW in this post

What is happening is dangerous, ie you don't have full control over the engine and power delivery....

Thanks for all the replies. Yep - it is a worry hence my eagerness to get it sorted out. I have to say I have driven many, many vehicles and I've never experienced this before - well, except once at Bruntingthope proving ground in a Merc SLK when the throttle jammed wide open - had to turn the ignition of to bring it to a stop! Hairy at 130mph! Turned out the accelerater stop on the foot of the pedal had got wedged underneth the heavy rubber mat!! Nowt like this on the Octy though! I'm sure it must be something to do with the drive-by-wire system.

Num

My Felicia was positively dangerous to drive at times - but was quickly sorted out by WJH Motors who correctly diagnosed the problem first time.

Did you try it out on your Octy Rob?

I did...mine seems to drop very responsively, though the throttle is quite sensitive at the top.

That is, you really need to make sure your foot is off the throttle, and not just off the biting

part of it.

Dunno - discuss it with the dealer, they might have never had it before, yet know off the top of

their head it's an easy fix...

Rob.

Well, they tried on Tuesday this week but it didn't cure it. Apparently, they "cleaned-out" the throttle unit at the head of the pedal but this hasn't made any difference.

Does the accelerator pedal have a spring attached to it of sorts? (that's a question addressed to

anyone who knows, BTW )

Just wondering if this is misaligned or squished or something...

Rob.

Can't see a spring as such Rob. It's doing it again today BTW! Definately much worse with AC on. Bah!

Just to let you know - the dealer replaced the pedal assembly under warranty and it's now fine.

Cheers peeps...

Good news, and it proves it is worth persisting with dealers when you know the car is not right.