Gas medal not reaching kick down switch
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 352
Likes: 47
From: Bham, Alabama
Gas medal not reaching kick down switch
“72 coupe with 350 and turbo 400. Just discovered the gas pedal isn’t touching the kick down switch. I noticed this when I replaced the throttle cable. Does this mean my gas pedal is bent. I don’t see any slack in the cable, so I feel like bending the pedal will engage the throttle. What should I do?
Thanks
Keith
Thanks
Keith
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,920
Likes: 731
From: Youngstown Ohio
I removed the switch bracket and slightly bent it so that when you have full throttle, it pushes the switch the 1/2" it needs. A little trial and error, and takes more time, but is better than using a spacer.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Danville Illinois
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,307
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From: Marietta GA
You will find it extremely difficult to work under the dash,some guys remove the seat. Do some Google searches so you know exactly what the guys are describing. I had to use a large donut size rubber piece of pipe to have the accelerator pedal hit the switch. Good luck, one of the worst repairs that I have made.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 352
Likes: 47
From: Bham, Alabama
My pedal isn't even touching the switch, so if it needs to move 1/2", I would need a hose at least 3/4" thick. Doesn't seem like I'll be able to make that work easily. This is a really poor design. Maybe I could drill new holes to move it forward and use a nut and bolt to mount it?
I'm happy to know this is an issue, as I had the transmission rebuilt a couple years ago and felt like it was never as good as I thought it should be. Not having any prior knowledge to go by, I've just let it ride.
So now I need to figure out at what point I need the switch to engage. Should it be when the pedal is to the floor (WOT) or sooner?
Keith
I'm happy to know this is an issue, as I had the transmission rebuilt a couple years ago and felt like it was never as good as I thought it should be. Not having any prior knowledge to go by, I've just let it ride.
So now I need to figure out at what point I need the switch to engage. Should it be when the pedal is to the floor (WOT) or sooner?
Keith
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,307
Likes: 712
From: Marietta GA
Same problem with a 73 manual tranny. A lot of guys are able to cut a small piece of vacuum hose and slide it over the switch. I tried that and it wasn’t even close. Looking around my garage, I discovered the rubber doughnut shaped “Anti Rattle” piece that goes on the OEM Tire Iron fit perfectly. If you search in most Corvette Vendor Catalogs you will see it. Oh, first I wasted $35 and bought a new switch, that didn’t solve the problem. If you do more investigating, the slide switch is supposed to be “Indexed” after pushing down the accelerator one time. Don’t hold your breath. Ok, I even opened up my OEM Switch and found that it was NOT broken. As best as I could tell, no one had ever touched the bracket, switch, or accelerator on my car. On the 73 manual cars, the switch opens the air intake door under the hood. I can take a picture of the doughnut, if you need better clarification.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 352
Likes: 47
From: Bham, Alabama
Same problem with a 73 manual tranny. A lot of guys are able to cut a small piece of vacuum hose and slide it over the switch. I tried that and it wasn’t even close. Looking around my garage, I discovered the rubber doughnut shaped “Anti Rattle” piece that goes on the OEM Tire Iron fit perfectly. If you search in most Corvette Vendor Catalogs you will see it. Oh, first I wasted $35 and bought a new switch, that didn’t solve the problem. If you do more investigating, the slide switch is supposed to be “Indexed” after pushing down the accelerator one time. Don’t hold your breath. Ok, I even opened up my OEM Switch and found that it was NOT broken. As best as I could tell, no one had ever touched the bracket, switch, or accelerator on my car. On the 73 manual cars, the switch opens the air intake door under the hood. I can take a picture of the doughnut, if you need better clarification.
Keith
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 352
Likes: 47
From: Bham, Alabama
There are no stupid questions. I didn't even know there was a switch until I was changing the cable.
I haven't tried this or even knew it was something that I could do. I'll Google and see what I need to do. Great starting point.
Thanks,
Keith
I haven't tried this or even knew it was something that I could do. I'll Google and see what I need to do. Great starting point.
Thanks,
Keith
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
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From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Just pull it all the way out (towards the rear of the car I think it's actually towards the front of the car and the pedal arm pushes it towards the rear) and then press the gas pedal to the floor and that should set it... If it's actually reaching it of course. If it's not reaching then you'll need to bend or pad out the switch like everyone is saying
(If it's working you should be able to hear a click from the transmission with the key on, car not running type of thing)
M
(If it's working you should be able to hear a click from the transmission with the key on, car not running type of thing)
M
Last edited by Mooser; Feb 17, 2023 at 01:25 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 352
Likes: 47
From: Bham, Alabama
Just pull it all the way out (towards the rear of the car) and then press the gas pedal to the floor and that should set it... If it's actually reaching it of course. If it's not reaching then you'll need to bend or pad out the switch like everyone is saying
(If it's working you should be able to hear a click from the transmission with the key on, car not running type of thing)
M
(If it's working you should be able to hear a click from the transmission with the key on, car not running type of thing)
M
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,380
Likes: 415
From: N J
Although personally I would like it to be correct, as an alternative they sell a simple microswitch for the kickdown that mounts at the carb.
I almost went that route till I realized it had to be reset to work correctly as Mooser explained.
I almost went that route till I realized it had to be reset to work correctly as Mooser explained.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,920
Likes: 731
From: Youngstown Ohio
If you need more than a 1/2" spacer to reach your kickdown switch, your gas pedal rod is probably bent. (Years of mashing it down causes this). Check to make sure you are getting full throttle with the pedal down.
Last edited by C3 Stroker; Feb 20, 2023 at 02:47 PM. Reason: Typo correction
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 880
Likes: 154
From: Oswego IL
When I had my 1974, I experienced the same issue as above. The gas pedal would not engage the kick down switch. I removed the pedal, bent it back, re-set the switch, etc. It was a no go. I added a piece of fuel line over the switch which made up some of the gap, but it was not not enough. I then bought another larger piece of rubber hose that fit over the gas line. That did the trick and I never had issues with it after that fix.