10 posts in 8 years and 4 of them are in this thread. Alt/troll account?

 

Good point....didn't notice that until you mentioned it.

 

Oh and by the way, not so impossible to press the brake and the gas at the same time. Here I am doing it:

 

Were any of you folks claiming unintended acceleration pressing on the brake with only your left foot?

If not, then you were touching the left edge of the accelerator pedal with the right side of your right shoe. You'll never feel it, and I guarantee you'll never see it.

If your right foot is involved, at all, in using the brake pedal, it's you, not the car's electronics/systems. I know you don't think it is, but you're incorrect.

 

Wait.... am I supposed to be using both feet in an automatic vehicle?!?!

 

Lol you should not be using your left foot to do anything in any automatic car. I'm pretty sure he knows that . At least not in the states.

 

 

I have different shoes that I wear at different times of year. As fall approaches, I begin wearing my Caterpillar Electric work boots, because they are warm, comfy, and durable. The sole at the toe of these boots is much wider than dress shoes. And lo and behold, I had the "brake-torque as I slow down" phenomenon happen once right after I started wearing the boots again. The accelerator is very close to the brake pedal on our cars, and as you pivot from accelerator to brake, it is very easy (if wearing large-toe boots) to catch the accelerator with the edge of the sole while braking.

 

I'm NOT suggesting people drive an automatic with two feet, I'm just saying, if you're using your right foot for braking, then you're hitting the accelerator with the edge of your shoe.

 

 

Caflashbob - It may be the A/C compressor kicking on (and off). When it kicks on, there is a slight increase in rpm to overcome the compressor drag. Perhaps you're feeling that. And, most A/C systems are not supposed to turn on / off like that at idle. It generally represents low A/C refrigerant. However, with our cars, putting it in ECO mode (which I do) may cause the A/C compressor to turn off (at idle, then back on so the car doesn't get to warm) in order to reduce fuel consumption. That's something I don't know … I only speculate. Mine turns on / off at idle. I can't feel it, but I can hear it due to the Exhaust Vents.

 

 

The compressor should cycle, regardless. At least, unless you just started the car and it's hot, then it'll run for a while, non-stop.

Long gone are the days when a compressor ran 100% of the time, whether more compressed refrigerant was required or not. That was just wasteful of both gasoline and compressor life.

What you have to look for is short cycling. Clicking on for a second, back off for a couple of seconds, on for a second (and it might be half a second, it's quick), and back off. If it does that, then you have a low charge.

What you feel when the A/C kicks on is the idle speed solenoid compensating for the extra load of the compressor. Normally, they're pretty smooth, but over time, yeah, they can get kinda ham fisted as they age.

 

Hmmmm, did not know this but I've noticed short cycling lately while sitting parked. I thought that maybe it was just trying to maintain the set temp so was cycling on and off, but this may be worth looking into. Intervals are around 5 seconds at times. Doesn't happen while driving that I can tell.

 

If you haven't already, highly recommend listening to Malcolm Gladwell's podcast on this topic. Part of his "revisionist history" series. It's really fascinating.