ND2 throttle pedal click/detent removal
Discussion
Hello
I've recently purchased an ND2 and was surprised to learn it has a "feature" that I did not see mentioned in any of the reviews I read or watched prior to purchase.
The accelerator pedal has a noticeable detent/click in the last few mm of its travel. At first I thought the pedal was getting stuck on a piece of carpet/trim but from reading the manual, it is related to the speed limiter safety feature and allows the driver to override the speed limiter. However, the detent is present at all times, even when the limiter is not active.
I find this detent extremely annoying and makes it feel like the pedal is sticking when I put my foot down. I've not experienced anything other than a smooth pedal right to the stop in any of my previous cars. You can drive around it by being more gentle on the pedal and only pressing it up to the sticking point but it feels unnatural to do that.
I've done some searching but have found a surprising lack of discussion of this "feature" in other forums and absolutely no indication if it's something that can be removed. So that's basically what I'm asking - can it be removed? A throttle pedal from an earlier, pre-speed-limiter car would definitely solve it physically, but unsure if it would cause issues with the car's electronics. The ideal solution would be to simply remove whatever is causing the detent, but I'm unsure what that is.
Would be really grateful for any advice on this as it's spoiling my enjoyment of the car.
I've recently purchased an ND2 and was surprised to learn it has a "feature" that I did not see mentioned in any of the reviews I read or watched prior to purchase.
The accelerator pedal has a noticeable detent/click in the last few mm of its travel. At first I thought the pedal was getting stuck on a piece of carpet/trim but from reading the manual, it is related to the speed limiter safety feature and allows the driver to override the speed limiter. However, the detent is present at all times, even when the limiter is not active.
I find this detent extremely annoying and makes it feel like the pedal is sticking when I put my foot down. I've not experienced anything other than a smooth pedal right to the stop in any of my previous cars. You can drive around it by being more gentle on the pedal and only pressing it up to the sticking point but it feels unnatural to do that.
I've done some searching but have found a surprising lack of discussion of this "feature" in other forums and absolutely no indication if it's something that can be removed. So that's basically what I'm asking - can it be removed? A throttle pedal from an earlier, pre-speed-limiter car would definitely solve it physically, but unsure if it would cause issues with the car's electronics. The ideal solution would be to simply remove whatever is causing the detent, but I'm unsure what that is.
Would be really grateful for any advice on this as it's spoiling my enjoyment of the car.
Edited by swilcock on Wednesday 31st January 22:45
Thanks for the responses guys. Can confirm my car is a manual. I noticed it about 5 minutes into my first drive without the dealer next to me. Must have a heavy right foot!
I've done a bit more searching around and apparently it is a physical switch in the pedal mechanism that isn't connected to anything electronically so can in theory be removed. Haven't attempted it yet though. Will post an update if/when I do. Still can't get used to it.
I've done a bit more searching around and apparently it is a physical switch in the pedal mechanism that isn't connected to anything electronically so can in theory be removed. Haven't attempted it yet though. Will post an update if/when I do. Still can't get used to it.
Edited by swilcock on Monday 5th February 16:42
AdamR83 said:
That is exactly correct. Whip it out and you're good to go.
Pushing up to the clicker only permits 90% throttle opening, and there is a threshold in the ECU calibration which put the car into Hi Load mode only after 93% throttle.
One of the changes is allowing a richer (correct for high load / rpm) AFR, which in turn gives approx 15bhp extra having tested both back to back. I can only think this is an emissions trick, trying to stop people gping WOT.
Thank you for the confirmation Adam, though I'm surprised to learn that you only get full power by pressing past the switch. I'm definitely removing it now!Pushing up to the clicker only permits 90% throttle opening, and there is a threshold in the ECU calibration which put the car into Hi Load mode only after 93% throttle.
One of the changes is allowing a richer (correct for high load / rpm) AFR, which in turn gives approx 15bhp extra having tested both back to back. I can only think this is an emissions trick, trying to stop people gping WOT.
What really surprises me though is the lack of mention of this "feature" in any reviews of the ND2 that I've read or watched on YouTube, and on any other forums. It seems like such a glaring oddity/annoyance in what's meant to be a pure and simple sports car!
AdamR83 said:
You're welcome! Happy to dig out and share the data if you like.
It is indeed a bit odd, was quite surprised when I discovered it. I mentioned it on the US forums (miata.net) and they don't seem to have the same "feature".
My best guess is that it's a Euro 6 thing - up until the clicker the car will run at 14.7:1 AFR, after the 93% TPS point it will hit the Hi Load AFR target which is 12.5:1 in the OE map. So those not in the know will be hitting "full throttle" and using a lot less fuel, making average consumption figures less.
Yes, if you could share the data that would be really interesting. You have to be right about it being an EU emissions thing, it makes perfect sense with it not being a thing on US cars and it seems extremely intrusive for it just to be for the speed limiter override.It is indeed a bit odd, was quite surprised when I discovered it. I mentioned it on the US forums (miata.net) and they don't seem to have the same "feature".
My best guess is that it's a Euro 6 thing - up until the clicker the car will run at 14.7:1 AFR, after the 93% TPS point it will hit the Hi Load AFR target which is 12.5:1 in the OE map. So those not in the know will be hitting "full throttle" and using a lot less fuel, making average consumption figures less.
I'll hopefully have time to tackle the removal of it this weekend. Will post some pics of the process when I do to help out others who are plagued by this little switch!
Thanks so much Adam. I won't pretend to understand everything about those graphs but it's clear from them that the clicker matters and makes quite a bit of difference. After you mentioned the difference in performance I've been doing a bit of testing by "feel", accelerating up to the switch and then after it and I'm sure I can sense a difference.
I may be in touch with you about remapping at some point but for now I'm going to enjoy the car (sans clicker, after this weekend).
I may be in touch with you about remapping at some point but for now I'm going to enjoy the car (sans clicker, after this weekend).
I finally got round to removing the switch this weekend. It took about 30 mins in total. I disconnected the neutral terminal of the battery as a precaution, disconnected and removed the throttle pedal, then removed the switch from the pedal assembly.
The throttle is held on by two 10mm bolts, both on the left side of the pedal. Just need to remove a couple of covers using a flat head screwdriver then undo the bolts. Then unplug the throttle pedal by pushing down on both sides of where it clips in. The throttle pedal is then free to be removed.
The fiddliest bit is removing the switch thing from the pedal assembly. There are tabs on each side and a little hole to prise it out. I had a helper to push on one of the tabs while I pushed the other and prised the switch out, but it may be a little tough to do on your own.
Just a case then of plugging the pedal back in, bolting it back down and reconnecting the battery.
It feels as expected/hoped with the switch removed, just like a normal car!
I took a few pics of the process but sadly forgot to take a pic of the switch while it was in the assembly. You can hopefully see where it came from, in the little "box" underneath the pedal itself.
The throttle is held on by two 10mm bolts, both on the left side of the pedal. Just need to remove a couple of covers using a flat head screwdriver then undo the bolts. Then unplug the throttle pedal by pushing down on both sides of where it clips in. The throttle pedal is then free to be removed.
The fiddliest bit is removing the switch thing from the pedal assembly. There are tabs on each side and a little hole to prise it out. I had a helper to push on one of the tabs while I pushed the other and prised the switch out, but it may be a little tough to do on your own.
Just a case then of plugging the pedal back in, bolting it back down and reconnecting the battery.
It feels as expected/hoped with the switch removed, just like a normal car!
I took a few pics of the process but sadly forgot to take a pic of the switch while it was in the assembly. You can hopefully see where it came from, in the little "box" underneath the pedal itself.
S13_Alan said:
Just bought an ND2 and reckon even given a year I would never have noticed that.
What a completely daft thing.
Anyway, was a good use of 10 min there removing it! Thanks
Glad I could be of assistance! I've had it removed a week now and it feels so much better having a fully smooth pedal. I think I must put my foot down more than most as I noticed it almost instantly! What a completely daft thing.
Anyway, was a good use of 10 min there removing it! Thanks
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