Blog

Do you ever find yourself in a situation where your car won’t stay running unless your foot is on the gas? This is not a problem that can be overlooked. Imagine pushing a heavy trolley down a slope but feeling the weight in your arms. The wheels of the trolley feel useless and the strenuous feeling is uncomfortable. You might feel a similar mental strain of pushing your car when it won’t run unless you push the gas pedal. This is a point of concern and there can be many reasons behind this malfunction.

You need to get rid of this problem as soon as possible. It is not only a factor promoting an uncomfortable driving experience but also a safety concern. It might be a case of a faulty fuel pump and overlooking a fuel pump-related problem can hamper the safety standards of your drive.

Why My Car Won’t Stay Running Unless my Foot Is On Gas?

There can be various reasons for this problem and these reasons can be classified as basic malfunctions which are easy to fix and they can also be complex problems that require professional guidance for repair.

Basic Malfunctions:

These are some usually occurring malfunctions that can be a reason if your car won’t stay running unless your foot is on gas.

1. Lack Of Air Flow

This is a basic obstacle in the process of air entering the combustion cylinders. This can be due to residual debris on the air inlet or any other obstructing material in the air passage. Pushing the gas pedal is the only way in which the required amount of airflow can be achieved.

2. Dirty Fuel Filter

A rusty layer forms over the fuel filter which causes it to function improperly. A dirty fuel filter indicates that there is a lack of maintenance in the car. A fuel filter restricts any form of debris and dirt to enter the main engine of your vehicle. A dirty fuel filter indicates that dust and debris are entering the engine, which causes incomplete combustion and excess gas is required to run the car.

3. Low Compression Level

The process of compression involves pressing a mixture of air and fuel into the confined area of the engine cylinder of the car. The compression process and the ignition of the vehicle aree the combination that makes the vehicle move. A low level of compression means that the process is hampered and the mixture of fuel and air cannot reach the engine cylinders. This leads you to a situation where your car won’t run unless foot is on gas.

Complex Malfunctions

There can be a situation that includes a major problem in the functioning of the vehicle:

1. Bad Fuel Pump

The fuel pump is a basic component for the functioning of your car. It functions by transferring liquid from the fuel tank to the internal combustion engine of the vehicle. A bad fuel pump is a reason behind your vehicle demanding excessive gas.

2. Faulty Idle Air Control Valve

The idle air control valve keeps a check on the amount of air that will be mixed with the fuel before it enters the engine cylinders. If the amount of air calculated is wrong, the mixture will not be efficient, and excessive push to the gas pedal is required to run the vehicle.

3. Bad Throttle Position Sensor(TPS)

The Throttle position sensor is a mechanism that monitors the amount of air intake of the engine. If this sensor is not functioning properly, there would be a disturbance in the air intake and your car won’t stay running unless your is on gas.

How To Fix The Excessive Gas Requirement?

There are a few fixes that you can try if you have examined the problem and figured out the part which is causing the problem. Usually, the excessive gas requirement is a problem caused by faulty air intake in the engine. This section will highlight the few fixes you can try in such a case.

1. Compression Parts Replacement

An ideal compression level for a car is 100PSI per cylinder. If you examine the compression level to be lower than this standard value, It’s a case of a leak in the compression procedure. The best strategy here is to get the leaking part replaced. The part referred to here can be the piston, the head shaft, or the compression valves.

2. Fuel Pump Replacement

If the problem lies within the fuel pump mechanism, replacing it is the best solution. A fuel pump Functions to let the liquid run into the engine. A fault in this process can be really dangerous for the people in the car. Replacing the fuel pump will not only fix the excessive gas pedal push but will also make sure that the engine gets only the required amount of fuel and air to function efficiently.

3. Cleaning The Fuel Filter

A dirty and rusty fuel filter is easily observable. Cleaning it might prove to be the simplest fix to this complex problem. Cleaning the filter will obstruct any debris flowing into the engine; Henceforth, only a clean mixture of air and fuel enters the engine.

4. Repairing The Throttle Position Sensor

The throttle position system works to monitor the amount of air entering the engine; hence a repair in this sensor helps in regulating the required amount of airflow into the engine. Additionally, a good TPS will proviprovide with  you a better and comfortable driving experience.

5. Fixing The Idle Air Control Valve

The idle air control can be a reason behind the excess gas requirement; hence a repaired and clean idle air valve will provide the cylinders with clean air without any obstruction in its flow.

Cost Of Replacement For Specific Parts

Sometimes, mere cleaning and repair of a part won’t fix the problem, and your car stalls unless foot on gas; hence there is a need for replacement of a few parts. A fuel pump replacement is a costly scenario. The cost of a fuel pump ranges between $200 to $1000, depending on the vehicle. Furthermore, A new throttle position sensor costs around $180. In addition to that, an average labor cost of around $150 would be incurred.

Frequnetly Asked Questions :

So,here are some of the frequently asked questions about Why do I have to keep my foot on the gas pedal to keep my car running? , Why does my car shut off when I take my foot off the gas etc?-

Conclusion

If you observe a problem while driving and your car won’t move unless your foot is on gas, it’s necessary to get this fixed. Firstly, it would improve the overall driving experience and secondly, it would be an advancement for the safety standards of your drive.

A car that won’t run without a push on the gas pedal is highly inefficient in fuel standards; hence, continuing with such a car is a costly thing to do. Keep driving safe and keep a check on the dust-prone parts of your running machine.

Drive safe and enjoy your ride

Thank You