For my future reference, what is the quickest, least damaging way

[TheDebbieDee]

to stop a car with a "stuck" accelerator?

I drive an automatic with a key-engaged ignition. How should I stop the car if the accelerator gets "stuck"? Thanks in advance for your info.

[EFerrari]

1. Didn't someone say, put it in neutral? n/t

[Sinti]

4. Definitely neutral - then brakes and cut the engine with NP, I would think.

No brakes is another story all together.

[Uben]

2. turn off the key

An engine needs spark and fuel to run. Eliminate one, and it won't go.

[area51]

3. Won't that lock up the steering wheel?

:shrug:

[uncle ray]

7. there should be an "off" position between "run" and "lock".

you can check this sitting parked, start the car, then turn the key to shut it off, just until it stops, then turn the steering wheel. on modern cars, you can't usually remove the key in this position. turn it one click further to lock and now you can remove the key and the steering wheel will lock.

[Dennis Donovan]

8. Yes - better to put the car into neutral, then brake, then shut off...

[Fla_Democrat]

15. Won't that also

hinder power steering and power brakes? :shrug:

[MineralMan]

17. Yes, but the brakes and steering will still work.

They just take more effort or force. Steering will be fine at any speed above 10 mph. Braking will require extra pressure. You can put both feet on the brake pedal, if necessary.

[KittyWampus]

5. great question. Highly recommend this thread.

[AllentownJake]

6. Put your car in Neutral

and when the car slows down enough use your parking break.

[Warpy]

9. Put it in neutral, shut if off, and hit the brakes

That's why neutral exists on an automatic, mostly as a safety feature so you don't start it in drive or reverse and take out your garage.

If the power brakes don't work with the key off and you don't have the strength to stomp that pedal, help them out with the emergency brake.

[imdjh]

10. Aim it at a car with a McCain Palin bumper sticker.

[Dennis Donovan]

11. What if it's Meghan McCain's car?

;)

[imdjh]

13. shit happens

[MineralMan]

12. Turn the key to the off position before doing anything else.

Try this in your car before an emergency happens. There is an off position that does not lock the steering. Find it and burn it into your memory, in case something happens. Teach this to the other drivers in your househow.

With the engine not running, both the power steering and brakes will still work, but will require more force or effort than usual to operate. Try that, too, in a safe place like a parking lot. Once you've learned how to do this, teach it to everyone who drives vehicles in your household and have them practice it, too.

Odds are a stuck throttle is a fairly easy repair. Putting your car into neutral with a stuck throttle may result in a much more expensive repair. Once the engine is not running, it's perfectly OK to shift the transmission to neutral. In fact, you should. On some vehicles, the transmission may be damaged if in gear at road speeds with the engine off for an extended period.

Once you get the car stopped in a safe place, do not restart it until the problem that cause the stuck throttle can be found and repaired. That's just common sense. If it's something like a floor mat, you can probably fix it yourself, but any other problem will probably require shop repair.

[ecstatic]

14. Is it like the first setting beneath start engine mode?

Interesting. I'm going to try to make figuring that out a priority since we travel a lot.

[MineralMan]

16. Normally, it is the position to the right of the Run position.

As you turn the key, from the position where you can remove it, you should pass through the Off, Run, and Start positions. This varies somewhat from car to car, but that's the normal sequence.

When the engine is running, turning the key one click back should shut the engine off, but leave other electrical items operating. Turning it further back engages the steering lock.

Just try it in your car while the car is stopped, and you'll know exactly what position Off is. I believe that all vehicles are required to have an Off position on the ignition switch that does not engage the steering wheel lock. They should, anyhow.

Please ignore the posts telling you to shift into Neutral in this type of incident. That is the wrong advice. Turn the key off. Then you can shift into Neutral, once the engine is not running.

Again, go through this with your vehicles, making sure you understand how your particular vehicle operates. The information is also in your Owner's manual.