Unexpected acceleration?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 18,401
Likes: 3
From: Retired but working
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Never heard of that happening, but I'd check my electrical connections and grounds along with the batt.
I was going to crack wise, but that is something that could get down right dangerous, especially in cross traffic.
Hope someone can help as I'm at a loss.
I was going to crack wise, but that is something that could get down right dangerous, especially in cross traffic.
Hope someone can help as I'm at a loss.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,977
Likes: 9
From: Houston, TX www.djmotorsportaccessories.com Specializing in C5 & C6 Accessories. DJ Motorsport Accessories.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Man I just read that link and what a scary thought if more cars do that. I would think it would have been a very isolated issue because I haven't heard of it before.
On another note; I was driving my C4 several years ago on the highway and gave it the peddle for a little stretch on the road. Well when it came time to slow my car it was still going full tilt
, I put the brake on but the thing was still going. I franticly pulled out the floor mat and that released the peddle. Scared the crap out of me! On the C4's there aren't any tabs to hold back the mats so it got jammed up over the gas peddle some how. I was pretty shaken over the thing and velcoed the mat down.
On another note; I was driving my C4 several years ago on the highway and gave it the peddle for a little stretch on the road. Well when it came time to slow my car it was still going full tilt
, I put the brake on but the thing was still going. I franticly pulled out the floor mat and that released the peddle. Scared the crap out of me! On the C4's there aren't any tabs to hold back the mats so it got jammed up over the gas peddle some how. I was pretty shaken over the thing and velcoed the mat down.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 18,401
Likes: 3
From: Retired but working
Cruise-In VI Veteran
I can not belive that if that complaint went to GM that somehow they did not get involved because of the safety issue.
I have read a lot of posts on this Corvette Forum and on other forums and have never seen this before. Perhaps others will pipe in on this one. I hope mind never does it, but ya pays your money ya takes your chances.
I do hope it's on a long stretch of abandoned highway at least.
I have read a lot of posts on this Corvette Forum and on other forums and have never seen this before. Perhaps others will pipe in on this one. I hope mind never does it, but ya pays your money ya takes your chances.
I do hope it's on a long stretch of abandoned highway at least.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,176
Likes: 1
From: Hafnafjörður Iceland
I have NEVER heard anything like this happening to a C5, never. I really hope this is an isolated issue and glad to hear you're ok.
I really doubt that you will find much info on this issue but maybe someone
will chime in.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
Nice day in Troy, MI so I drove the car to work. Coming back from lunch I was coming up to a RED light…. The car was crawling… just rolling a little with my foot gently pressing down on the brake when the car suddenly unexpected accelerated!
Because my foot was already on the brake, my instinct was to smash it down. The car lunged forward about 3 or 4 feet but I was able to stop it.
When the light turned green, I was able to drive off as normal and pulled over to check all systems… including myself. All looks fine.
I searched the board, is there a bulletin about this issue?
Because my foot was already on the brake, my instinct was to smash it down. The car lunged forward about 3 or 4 feet but I was able to stop it.
When the light turned green, I was able to drive off as normal and pulled over to check all systems… including myself. All looks fine.
I searched the board, is there a bulletin about this issue?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 18,401
Likes: 3
From: Retired but working
Cruise-In VI Veteran
I work on a computer all day and build them. (Desktops and laptops not car computers) but I can say these things sometimes have a life of their own. I have set them up perfectly only to have one go array and do weird friggin things. I agree with the post find an answer or get rid of it. Know it's hard, but I'd get it to a good CORVETTE Tech or get on the horn to the general.
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
Nice day in Troy, MI so I drove the car to work. Coming back from lunch I was coming up to a RED light…. The car was crawling… just rolling a little with my foot gently pressing down on the brake when the car suddenly unexpected accelerated!
Because my foot was already on the brake, my instinct was to smash it down. The car lunged forward about 3 or 4 feet but I was able to stop it.
When the light turned green, I was able to drive off as normal and pulled over to check all systems… including myself. All looks fine.
I searched the board, is there a bulletin about this issue?
Because my foot was already on the brake, my instinct was to smash it down. The car lunged forward about 3 or 4 feet but I was able to stop it.
When the light turned green, I was able to drive off as normal and pulled over to check all systems… including myself. All looks fine.
I searched the board, is there a bulletin about this issue?
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 652
Likes: 5
From: Tampa Florida
It has happened to me!!!!!! I was having transmission and overheating issues with my car last summer. I was also sitting at light =, setting up for a right turn, waiting for some cars to pass when my 98 Vert lutched out into traffic. At that time I noticed the car was running really hot...redline. So I turned everything off to try to cool it down. It happened again a few weeks later. This time I had picked my car up from the dealer and was on the phone with them. I was sitting at a red light, foot on brake when car shot forward 4 feet. It took both feet and me practically standing up to keep the car still.
I took it to West Coast Corvette and after much investigation and changing out the thermostat the issue stopped. My car has been modded...3:73 gears, blah, blah, blah. Anyway, I was told that when the car starts to run hot, the computer takes all the settings back to stock. Somehow this creates a vacuum. The surging forward is that vacuum breaking. Basically...the car starts fighting itself..
I took it to West Coast Corvette and after much investigation and changing out the thermostat the issue stopped. My car has been modded...3:73 gears, blah, blah, blah. Anyway, I was told that when the car starts to run hot, the computer takes all the settings back to stock. Somehow this creates a vacuum. The surging forward is that vacuum breaking. Basically...the car starts fighting itself..
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 652
Likes: 5
From: Tampa Florida
It has happened to me!!!!!! I was having transmission and overheating issues with my car last summer. I was also sitting at light =, setting up for a right turn, waiting for some cars to pass when my 98 Vert lutched out into traffic. At that time I noticed the car was running really hot...redline. So I turned everything off to try to cool it down. It happened again a few weeks later. This time I had picked my car up from the dealer and was on the phone with them. I was sitting at a red light, foot on brake when car shot forward 4 feet. It took both feet and me practically standing up to keep the car still.
I took it to West Coast Corvette and after much investigation and changing out the thermostat the issue stopped. My car has been modded...3:73 gears, blah, blah, blah. Anyway, I was told that when the car starts to run hot, the computer takes all the settings back to stock. Somehow this creates a vacuum. The surging forward is that vacuum breaking. Basically...the car starts fighting itself....engine vs tranny. Stock settings vs modded settings.
Next time, check your engine temp. Changing my thermostat to a 170* took car of the problem. Good Luck!!!
I took it to West Coast Corvette and after much investigation and changing out the thermostat the issue stopped. My car has been modded...3:73 gears, blah, blah, blah. Anyway, I was told that when the car starts to run hot, the computer takes all the settings back to stock. Somehow this creates a vacuum. The surging forward is that vacuum breaking. Basically...the car starts fighting itself....engine vs tranny. Stock settings vs modded settings.
Next time, check your engine temp. Changing my thermostat to a 170* took car of the problem. Good Luck!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,706
Likes: 552
From: St. Peters MO
C7 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
2018 C7 of Year Finalist
Since the C5 uses no mechanical link on the accelerator pedal perhaps it is an electronic glitch in the "fly by wire" throttle.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
From: Chelsea MI
Interesting, not to over simplify, but, since the throttle plate position is controlled by an electric motor that opens based on the voltage applied to it, there must be some serious safe guards in triplicate designed into this system to prevent such an event. I would be interested in any experts that could give a narrative on the electronic throttle system. Any erroneous activation of the electronic throttle would be an automotive engineers worst nightmare !
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 30,897
Likes: 45
From: Picking on the weakest kid in the yard.
You do know that was all bogus, right? The actual incedents were people making contact with the gas pedal due to unamerican pedal placement style. The 20/20 or whatever show it was actually rigged their test car to show what the fault would look like. Just like they rigged the chevy truck to blow up on side impact. Fact.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,818
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Not sure if I can post links... please forgive me if this is a no, no... but want to find out what I am dealing with.
This is the only thing I could find on the web and pretty much describes my experience
http://www.complaints.com/directory/2004/april/25/5.htm
This is the only thing I could find on the web and pretty much describes my experience
http://www.complaints.com/directory/2004/april/25/5.htm
There is no way for the engine to overpower his brakes under those so called conditions. If he had his left foot on the brake pushing as hard as possible and his right foot on the gas pushing as hard as possible the brakes would still win.
The brakes are by far the most powerful system on any car. The engine can accelerate you from 0 to 100+ in a quarter mile. The brakes can stop you from that same terminal speed in far less distance.
Bill
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
If the cruise control module was bad or the cc functions on the switch on the stalk were bad it may input false resume speed signals. The only flaw with the logic is that hitting the brakes would trip the cruise control. The T/S switches are known to cause occasional problems with the headlights.
I must admit I always leave mine off for that reason. I'll check that more often now
Last edited by DeeGee; May 23, 2007 at 01:35 AM.