My 01 ls430 UL at 140k has recently started to get a sticking gas pedal. No codes other than evap. It happened a few times before and would go away every once in a while, but it is now starting to happen more frequently. It happens at all speeds, from a stop or at highway speeds. When it occurs on the freeway it feels like I have cruise control on and it'll maintain whatever speed I was going with my foot off the gas. A couple times on the freeway when it started to stick, I turned on cruise control to see if the radar would slow it down when it sensed a car in front and it would. Gas pedal seemed to return to normal after doing that, only to have it happen again when my foots back on it. Sometimes the pedal lifts back up on its own, but most times I have to physically lift the pedal up with my foot to stop it.

I removed the carpet just to rule that out, but it still happens. Also im not sure if it's normal and I'm only noticing it now, but when I press down on the pedal it seems to make a loud clicking noise when it does return back up on its own.

Does anyone think it could be or the pedal assembly itself? I made another thread a few days ago about other electrical issues I started having and am wondering if it could also be ecu related? Should I take a can of silicone spray or oil to the springs on the pedal assembly or am I chancing damaging some sensor?

This car has been my daily for many years and been good to me, I've kept up with all the maintenance on it so far but I been having all sorts of problems all of a sudden with it. Any help is appreciated.

 

Do not know about your issue and hope you find a simple solution to resolve it.

But, while the LS430 was not part of the Toyota recall, your issue does make me wonder.
(Vehicles involved were the 2005-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 Camry, 2007-2010 Tundra, 2010 Highlander, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Matrix, 2009-2010 RAV4, 2008-2010 Sequoia, and 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe.)
In those cars Toyota said a sticky accelerator pedal is an issue that becomes worse (and more likely) with time as well as wear, so the issue would be more likely in older or higher-mileage vehicles. In a release the company said: "Due to the materials used, wear and environmental conditions, these surfaces may, over time, begin to stick and release instead of operating smoothly. In some cases, friction could increase to a point that the pedal is slow to return to the idle position or, in rare cases, the pedal sticks, leaving the throttle partially open."
Toyota Motor Sales president and COO Jim Lentz, along with Toyota's VP of product quality, service and support, Bob Waltz, explained that excess moisture in closely spaced components within the accelerator linkage (those used to provide the resistance "feel") creates a binding affect due to surface tension—much like you'd experience between two wet glasses—causing the accelerator to fail to return to idle.
Toyota officials said that because the issue didn't involve any actual mechanical failure it has been difficult to diagnose and replicate, as it would only recur under very specific humidity and temperature conditions.
Toyota dealerships installed a retrofit shim—termed a "precision-cut steel reinforcement bar" by the company—to bring a smoother accelerator feel and eliminate the chance of sticking.


Toyota And Lexus Recall: Everything You Need To Know https://www.thecarconnection.com/new...u-need-to-know