# Jeep Compass throttle gap **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** compass, jeep\ **Created:** [August 13, 2017, 3:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jeep-compass-throttle-gap/106861 "2017-08-13T15:06:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![macfisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@macfisto](https://community.cartalk.com/u/macfisto)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2017, 3:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jeep-compass-throttle-gap/106861/1 "2017-08-13T15:06:57Z")
2007 Jeep Compass 2.4L The car has recently started developing a lurch when I back off the gas after accelerating. It usually happens at medium throttle or higher, like when accelerating up an on-ramp or something. It accelerates fine, but then has a single, brief lurch like the throttle gets fully closed for a moment as I slowly back off the throttle when getting to the speed I want, or get over the crest of the hill, or whatever. After the lurch the revs return to normal. It’s the same effect as if I quickly took my foot right off the gas pedal, then immediately pushed the pedal back to where it was. It’s drive-by-wire. I’m thinking that a bad spot has developed in the gas pedal sensor. I probably won’t be able to figure out very much about it before I give up and take it to the shop. 1. Before I start playing around with the pedal, are there any other obvious places I should be looking? 2. If it goes to the shop, would this be a dealer-only option because of \_\_\_\_\_? ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 12:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jeep-compass-throttle-gap/106861/2 "2017-08-14T12:14:34Z")
I think the throttle pedal sensor is a pretty good bet. As far as the “playing around”, that depends on the tools you have to play with. Do you have a scanner that can data-log the sensor signal? That would show any signal noise to verify sensor problems. Do you own a digital voltmeter that you can probe the output signal from the sensor to look for noise in the signal? If you don’t own this stuff you could take a chance and just change the pedal and sensor assembly. No, it is not a dealer-only thing. Aftermarket parts are available (see link below from RockAuto) and you could just change it yourself ($65 part) as a pretty simple DIY job. Not much of a gamble at $65 and 3-4 bolts and an electrical connector. [http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=2064234&cc=1433554&jsn=434](http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=2064234&cc=1433554&jsn=434) ---
**Author:** ![macfisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@macfisto](https://community.cartalk.com/u/macfisto)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 1:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jeep-compass-throttle-gap/106861/3 "2017-08-14T13:14:13Z")
No, no scanner. For the pedal I was mostly thinking about a multi-meter on the bench. Beyond that I’d have to pay somebody for diagnostics. New complication: it did it once yesterday with the cruise control on. I’m starting to think there’s some programming glitch that closes the throttle too fast - some self-learn thing gone awry? ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 1:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jeep-compass-throttle-gap/106861/4 "2017-08-14T13:49:49Z")
It could be an occasional misfire. I once saw this symptom due to a cracked spark plug. ---
**Author:** ![macfisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@macfisto](https://community.cartalk.com/u/macfisto)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 5:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jeep-compass-throttle-gap/106861/5 "2017-08-17T05:58:46Z")
Thanks, but would that always happen only when just backing off the throttle after accelerating? ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 1:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jeep-compass-throttle-gap/106861/6 "2017-08-17T13:42:00Z")
Not much cost or effort to inspect the plugs. If it were the pedal sensor wouldn’t the engine “hiccup” every/most times the pedal moves past the bad spot, not just coming off acceleration? Does this have a hot wire MAF sensor? That could just be dirty. You’re not using an oiled air filter, are you? ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jeep-compass-throttle-gap/106861/7 "2017-08-20T23:09:44Z")
Another idea if you haven’t solved it yet, sometimes the injectors get a little clogged and it causes problems in metering out small volume flows of gas. No effect on medium to high fuel flow rates, but when you just need a small amount of gas to keep the engine running during deceleration, instead of a little, at first you get too much, then none at all, as you back off the gas pedal, which causes a jerk sensation. Try running a can of fuel injector cleaner through the tank, see if that has any effect.