Terrifying morning. I was on the highway and suddenly notice my car won’t stop accelerating. I brake till I can get over safely, get it stopped on the shoulder and put it in park. Then I turn it off because it’s still revving fully. I tried to turn it back on to close my windows, and the meters all started going back and forth and there was a clicking noise that wouldn’t stop, the doors kept locking and unlocking. I got it towed and now it’s at the mechanics, but it was a last minute call so they probably won’t get to it till Monday.
In the meantime does this sound familiar to anyone? It only has 85k miles on it. I lucked out not hurting myself or anyone but goddamn I love that car. I’m worried now that I hurt the transmission by shifting while it was revving like that, but the tow truck was able to shift it into neutral for a tow. Please, let me know if you have any guesses because the suspense is killing me
I dunno about the linc but it sounds like Throttle got stuck full open.
No mechanical advice here, but - that’s horrifying, man. Glad you’re alright.
I’m sure the transaxle is fine.
Is it possible, that in your advanced age you made a common mistake (for ancient people) that is: mistook the accelerator for the brake?
It’s completely normal! I’ve never done it, but I’m sure once I’m up around 60-70yrs old I will atleast daily.
No, I kid. But this is drive by wire, so…if it really took off like that it almost certainly requires the accelerator to be physically moved.
Alternatively a sudden large vacuum leak may cause unintended accel, but…not so much under load (in gear)
Looks like 1998-2004 are still cable operated throttle. Likely the cable is stuck.
If it really is at full throttle, modern fuel injection cars have a “clear flood” mode which will close the injectors (and thus the car won’t start) when WOT (full throttle)
Nascar’s nightmare
Usually when this happens, throttle gets stuck wide open, especially with no load(in park or neutral )main bearings will go buy-buy.