Accelerator/Gas pedal feels spongy

[John19]

When I come at a stop, I can't press the pedal slightly, I have to push it a little hard so it can actually accelerate, this can be a problem because if I keep doing this it accelerates too sudden and could hit someone from behind.
One time, after i started the engine, the pedal felt so spongy that it didn't accelerate at all, so I checked it out just moved the pedal a little with my hand, and it went on like normal.

Soo... how do I fix this? Will I have to take the whole front dash and steering wheel out?

It's a 1997 Corolla 1.6 automatic base model.

[azcorolla]

Maybe a bad accelerator cable. goes from the pedal and through the firewall.

[John19]

So this means I will have to eventually disassemble the dash and steering, front cover assembly to re-route a new cable? Is there an illustration that shows how the wire is routed by any chance?

[Bitter]

clean the throttle body out around the throttle plate and lubricate the throttle pedal pivots inside the car with fresh lube. if it still feels like that, then you may need a new cable, you can replace it without taking the whole dash apart.

[John19]

I sprayed some carb cleaner in the throttle and the butterfly, wiped it off with a paper towel, and sprayed WD40 on the pedal pivots. I was wondering if it was OK to spray the WD40 there?

[azcorolla]

yep.

[Bitter]

Originally Posted by John19

I sprayed some carb cleaner in the throttle and the butterfly, wiped it off with a paper towel, and sprayed WD40 on the pedal pivots. I was wondering if it was OK to spray the WD40 there?

you're supposed to ask that before you spray it it should be fine, but you want a better lube that won't dry up like WD40. also, you need to jam the throttle open and clean it out better than that, probably a ridge of buildup where the throttle rests.

[John19]

Well this time I opened the throttle and sprayed carb cleaner inside and brushed with a tooth brush. In the morning on my way to work i noticed the difference, I can now press the pedal smoothly. Thanks alot Bitter, it helped.

[Bitter]

glad you got it, may not be a bad idea to prop it open again and feel for any carbon ridges still there or to just clean it again really good with some seafoam deep creep, its about the best stuff you can get 'over the counter' for cleaning throttle bodies out.