Question about my car

"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
07/30/2014 at 10:06 • Filed to: None

When you floor the accelerator pedal in my car (which of course I never do, because speeding is illegal, so this is all hypothetical) it hits a little black stopper, like a doorstop on a wall, rather than going to the firewall. However, I discovered that by jabbing it acutely with my toe, I can make it "click" and go a little further. It's like it has 2 separate "floored" positions. Let this video demonstrate:

That thunking you here is the pedal going from the first "stopping point" to the second "stopping point". Not only that, but this added accelerator movement, from "floored" to floored, does increase acceleration. So what's up with this? Is it a safety feature designed to keep people from gunning it all the time? Or is it a design flaw? Or do I have a unique car that has a secret warp speed no one else's car has?

DISCUSSION (20)

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/30/2014 at 10:08

You'll never know unless you test it out.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/30/2014 at 10:09

I'm missing how flooring a car is illegal...

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
07/30/2014 at 10:10

Just between you, me and the NSA, I may or may not have tried it out. And then tried it out a few more times just to be sure. And then tried it many more times over a long period of time just t0 be sure I could consistently replicate the situation.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
07/30/2014 at 10:11

You can't floor that thing for very long without ending up going way, way too fast.

Alfalfa > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/30/2014 at 10:11

Let's just call it a feature.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/30/2014 at 10:14

It's the same on our Mini. I've wondered sometimes, but it hasn't really bothered me.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
07/30/2014 at 10:15

It doesn't bother me either. In fact, I kind of like it.

Jake, Yes, wearing khakis > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/30/2014 at 10:17

In some cars with drive by wire it is a mandatory "kick down" for the trans.

It also could be a switch to advance or retard the timing or change the tune depending on the vehicle. Just to give you that extra bit of power.

Again, this can vary from model to model.

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/30/2014 at 10:18

it's a kickdown, right? Some cars have em. Do you get kicked down a gear when you go past it?

Takuro Spirit > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/30/2014 at 10:20

WOT is WOT. Is the throttle body opening any further? And what car is this? Is it drive by wire or old school cable?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > sefeing, actually bought an E46
07/30/2014 at 10:21

I don't think so, but I'm not really sure. I'll have to not check that out and get back to you on what I don't discover ;)

TJDMAX > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/30/2014 at 10:21

I would guess that your car is drive by cable instead of drive by wire, so that stop is there because there is only so much travel that the throttle body flap can open, aka only so far the cable can pull. If its like my older expedition then the stopper is threaded in so there is probably some "play" in how much room you have, and seeing as it was probably installed by some guy not every one will be exactly the same.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Takuro Spirit
07/30/2014 at 10:22

It's a 2001 A8L, and if the throttle body opening further means the car is accelerating faster, then yes.

EL_ULY > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/30/2014 at 10:28

My BMW's (except M3 because manual) had those. Passing gear switch

Mattbob > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/30/2014 at 10:30

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/30/2014 at 10:34

not a flaw design feature VW/Audi put in their cars. It's designed to stop drivers going all out and WOT all the time. it engages/disengages as need be/how hard you hit the gas

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
07/30/2014 at 10:37

You're like the 5th person to say "WOT". What is that?

EDIT: Just thought about it for a sec. Wide open throttle?

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/30/2014 at 10:44

yup

Edit: Actually no, it's there to stop your car from becoming an inquiring English gentleman

Flugtechnik > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/30/2014 at 10:45

On my '05 BMW that is a signal to the automatic transmission to stay in gear longer before upshifting. You have WOT, then you have WOT where the car doesn't shift until it hits redline. I couldn't tell from the vid if your car is an auto or stick.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Flugtechnik
07/30/2014 at 10:50

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