This driver control dictates the amount of air and fuel entering the engine. In older vehicles, a physical cable connects the pedal directly to the throttle body or carburetor. In newer vehicles, a position sensor sends an electronic signal to the engine control unit, which then commands an electric motor to open the throttle plate.
Heard on the job
The accelerator feels sticky, check if the throttle cable is binding up near the firewall.
Also heard as
- gas pedal
- throttle
Do not mix it up with
- Throttle body: The accelerator is the pedal in the cabin, while the throttle body is the valve on the engine that it controls.
Related terms
Gas pedal
The foot-operated control that regulates the engine's power output and vehicle speed.
Throttle body
A housing containing a pivoting valve that controls the amount of air entering a fuel-injected engine.
Drive-by-wire
The replacement of traditional mechanical control linkages with electronic sensors and actuators.