Button under gas pedal

danpatters · 11-09-2016, 07:52 PM

Hello,
I have a 1980 Porsche 928 witht the automatic transmission. There is a button under my gas pedal that looks like it should be being pressed in when I floor it. I was cleaning out the car when I noticed it and upon further investigation I found that it looks like there is a little arm that rests on top of it when the pedal is fully depressed. This button can be pressed in and it looks like a switch of some kind. I was curious to see If any one knows what that might be? I have tried looking in the electrical diagrams and I may have found it but Im not sure if it is the right component for one or what its supposed to do. Since I have had the car It has never down shifted by its self. I always have to tell it to down shift. Could this be some sort of electronic version of a kick down linkage? Any help would be much apreciated.

honerboys · honerboys's Garage

I believe that is the kickdown switch - it should be connected to the solenoid on the transmission - I don't know much more about it - maybe others that do will chime in?

danpatters · 11-09-2016, 09:05 PM

Thats what I thouhgt. So Is the arm that is supposed to be pressing on that supposed to be longer or is there supposed to be something attached to it? Im wondering because mine looks like a little tiny stub. At full throttle it is just resting on top of the button. doesnt actually press it in.

harborman · harborman's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by danpatters

Thats what I thouhgt. So Is the arm that is supposed to be pressing on that supposed to be longer or is there supposed to be something attached to it? Im wondering because mine looks like a little tiny stub. At full throttle it is just resting on top of the button. doesnt actually press it in.

It is the transmission kick down switch and should engage when the peddle is pushed to the floor.

danpatters · 11-10-2016, 09:38 AM

ok. So since it doesnt engage when its floored does that mean I am missing a piece on the accelerator pedal or button? Or is there some kind of adjustment I can do to move the pedal closer?

harborman · harborman's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by danpatters

ok. So since it doesnt engage when its floored does that mean I am missing a piece on the accelerator pedal or button? Or is there some kind of adjustment I can do to move the pedal closer?

Honestly, I have not looked at mine in sometime, but yes, the peddle has to hit the switch for it to work. So if yours doesn't, then something is wrong. See if you can look up the switch part and look at one intact. See if there is any way to adjust it, maybe not, maybe broken or missing something. Take a pic of yours and post it here.

harborman · harborman's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by harborman

Honestly, I have not looked at mine in sometime, but yes, the peddle has to hit the switch for it to work. So if yours doesn't, then something is wrong. See if you can look up the switch part and look at one intact. See if there is any way to adjust it, maybe not, maybe broken or missing something. Take a pic of yours and post it here.

This is what mine looks like.

danpatters · 11-10-2016, 02:54 PM

this is what mine looks like fully depresed.i have maybe an 1/8" or so before it hits the button

harborman · harborman's Garage

Looks like something is bent possibly or out of adjustment. Can you push the switch in by hand? Maybe the switch does not return to it's normal position. Maybe dirt causing a problem. Get in there clean it all up, see if switch works properly.

danpatters · 11-11-2016, 05:00 PM

So I did try pressing it and it seems to press in so Im thinking its working. it feels free but who knows it could be bound up still. Ill see what I can do and post the results here hopefully tomorrow. The car sat for about 21 years before I got it. so who kows whats wrong with the switch.

harborman · harborman's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by danpatters

So I did try pressing it and it seems to press in so Im thinking its working. it feels free but who knows it could be bound up still. Ill see what I can do and post the results here hopefully tomorrow. The car sat for about 21 years before I got it. so who kows whats wrong with the switch.

From looking at your picture and mine, it looks like your switch is not all the way out when not depressed. Hard to tell from the pictures.