Gas pedal question

[PJONG]

Hi can someone enlighten me... what is the circular thing under the gas pedal? a friend of mine told me that is the button that activates the overdrive when the gas pedal is floored... mine's a manual tranny so what use does this thing have?

TIA

[Morgenster]

That's not a button in mine. I think it just stops the pedal from going all the way down and overstretching the throttle cable at the intake inlet.

[skr]

i thought it was used for reducing fuel consumption , as in turn the screw and WOT will be at like 90% OT...

[Morgenster]

i thought it was used for reducing fuel consumption , as in turn the screw and WOT will be at like 90% OT...

I'm gonna give that a try! Not that it'll make such a big difference I think, cause the throttle position sensor is linear and there's no real WOT switch.
Besides, power between 50 and 90% open throttle doesn't seem to increase all that much. The range seems to be 'felt' best between 0 and 50%.

[JD525IA]

Also called the kickdown switch, for overdrive.

[Jay 535i]

It's a kickdown switch. It forces a downshift in cars with automatic transmissions. Often when you floor the pedal the car will downshift, but not the to very lowest gear possible. Pressing that button tells the computer you want the lowest possible gear.

It does not activate overdrive. That wouldn't make sense. When you press the gas pedal all the way, you want to shift down a gear -- not up one.

AFAIK it has nothing to do with the stomp test, either. You can complete the stomp test without pressing the pedal far enough to trigger the button.

I don't know what it's for in a manual car. Unless your car used to be auto?

[JD525IA]

It's a kickdown switch. It forces a downshift in cars with automatic transmissions. Often when you floor the pedal the car will downshift, but not the to very lowest gear possible. Pressing that button tells the computer you want the lowest possible gear.

It does not activate overdrive. That wouldn't make sense. When you press the gas pedal all the way, you want to shift down a gear -- not up one.

AFAIK it has nothing to do with the stomp test, either. You can complete the stomp test without pressing the pedal far enough to trigger the button.

I don't know what it's for in a manual car. Unless your car used to be auto?

Then why was I able to do the stomp test to get codes by just shorting out the kickdown wire to the chassis. You see, my kickdown switch broke and before repairing it, I needed to fix an engine issue. I simply took the wire off the switch and, using a tool, touched to the bolt 5 times and read the code.

Ref: http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/trouble/engine_codes.htm

Do you really think overdrive means that something is going up? (Damn right, the RPM's are). It means that the engine, on any car, is being driven to give max output power, ususally to get you away from slower drivers or some other situation. If I am on the highway, in 4th gear, and I want to pass a slower vehicle, I can give it a good amount of pedal and drop to 3rd, or really stomp it to the mat and go down one more. When that switch is hit, it is telling the ECU to go throttle wide open.

Overdrive can be somewhat equated to "Ludicrous speed".

May the Farce be with U!

[pingu]

Overdrive can also be equated with sluggish acceleration, as overdrive is the highest gear (ratio) available - check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overdrive_%28mechanics%29
Jay 535i is right that kickdown does not activate overdrive.

[JD525IA]

I guess I was using the wrong terms. I suck.

[sKilled]

...Overdrive can be somewhat equated to "Ludicrous speed".

Oh my god, look it's Regal, and he's gone plaid!

Sorry, couldn't help myself. At lest I managed to stop myself writing stupid helmet jokes.