2002 with sudden acceleratio

[Skiscott00]

Help 2002 with sudden acceleration!

My mom has a 2002 model that has sudden acceleraion while appying the brakes. Ford has looked at it over the years and is unable to duplicate it. They replaced the Idle air valve twice while in warranty. Still same problem in time. The last time was this year when she had it valve again replaced at her expense. Shortly the car acted up again. She is now afraid to drive it as it does not happen with any consistency. There are no conditions where it happens other than when applying the brakes. I have personally had this happen to me and it was not the floor mat (we removed them when it first happened in 2003). I also thought my foot may have been also on the accelerator but it was not when I came to a stop by shutting off the engine. I have read onlie two other people having this problem. Can anyone assist me with this issue? Thanks Mel

[Ray]

Re: 2002 with sudden acceleratio

Yes Ray, that's TSB 03-15-08, but I thought it was for 2003 models - He has a 2002. Also doesn't mention surging forward, unless I forgot

Yes, it was for 2003s built during a six month period, 11/02-05/03, but I thought maybe it was worth him looking into. I've had so many TSBs done to my car, maybe I have them confused, but I'm pretty sure it was the update they did to the transmission that got rid of the surging.

[z06bigbird]

Re: Help 2002 with sudden acceleration!

wow!!

[BirdsAndBugs]

Re: Help 2002 with sudden acceleration!

Are you sure it's not being caused by simultaneously hitting both the accelerator and the brakes at the same time. I've had that happen to me a few times; quite scary. In my opinion, they're too close together on the Thunderbird as I've never had that issue on any other car I've owened. Now I'm much more conscious to make sure I move my feet over to apply just the brakes so that I'm not hitting the accelerator too.

[Ray]

Re: Help 2002 with sudden acceleration!

Are you sure it's not being caused by simultaneously hitting both the accelerator and the brakes at the same time.

It wasn't in my case. There were times when I had both feet on the brake, and the car kept surging. Once I had the update done, it never happened again.

[Ediron]

Re: Help 2002 with sudden acceleration!

My mom has a 2002 model that has sudden acceleraion while appying the brakes. Ford has looked at it over the years and is unable to duplicate it. They replaced the Idle air valve twice while in warranty. Still same problem in time. The last time was this year when she had it valve again replaced at her expense. Shortly the car acted up again. She is now afraid to drive it as it does not happen with any consistency. There are no conditions where it happens other than when applying the brakes. I have personally had this happen to me and it was not the floor mat (we removed them when it first happened in 2003). I also thought my foot may have been also on the accelerator but it was not when I came to a stop by shutting off the engine. I have read onlie two other people having this problem. Can anyone assist me with this issue? Thanks Mel

Shutting the engine down ?? you lose all power try kicking it into neutral .Much safer IMO
I had an '86 Caddy did the same thing ,you would be stopping for a toll booth and it would keep going .Almost took out the gate one time.Caddy could never find the problem .My brother-in -law a mechanic found a bulletin on it .Caddy had to replace the transmission.

[steelblue5505]

Re: 2002 with sudden acceleratio

Ediron,
If Caddy had to pay for the new tranny then I guess we know why they couldn't find the problem until after your brother told them what was what.

[Ediron]

Re: 2002 with sudden acceleratio

Ediron,
If Caddy had to pay for the new tranny then I guess we know why they couldn't find the problem until after your brother told them what was what.

100% correct.The owner of Sarant Cadillac (Mrs.Sarant) even had the guts to tell my ex cars don't last forever and she should thing of buying a new one.The Eldo was 3yrs old and she told her "if i had your money I'd buy 2 new ones"

[mexibird]

Re: 2002 with sudden acceleration

This has happened once to us on our '02; almost wiped out the trash can at a rest stop . I'm sure it was not poor foot placement, but I couldn't be sure it wasn't the floormat, so I took it out. Based on this thread, I'm now concerned that it may be a random mechanical condition. I definitely need to look into the TSB. Thanks for this discussion.

[Red Bird Dave]

Re: 2002 with sudden acceleratio

It hasn't happened for several years, I'm more aware for the possibility( especially since I have EEE width feet). The worst time was coming back from Desert Thunder II on Hiway 395 in Nevada. I almost took out a flag man.`

Red Bird Dave

[redbirdsal]

Re: 2002 with sudden acceleratio

I don't remember that this has ever happened to me in my almost 8 years of ownership

BUT

Yesterday my friend was driving CARTOY and I was the passenger. We were stopped in line at the Toll Booth of the airport. All of a sudden I felt the engine surge and we both freaked out! Two cars ahead of us...all of cars were stopped, and the barricade arm was down.

It was a Scary situation!!! Yes, he has a large foot and he was on both pedals.