Unintended Acceleration - really happens

[Jim Jordan]

Hi,

I was the driver during unintended acceleration of my 5KT with over 334,000
miles on it this morning.  I mocked and scoffed at claims of it until now.
It happened after I drove about 5 miles on a freeway at moderate speeds,
turned onto an 8 lane boulevard, Laguna Blvd in Elk Grove, got off at the
wrong place, did a U turn, got back on the boulevard, and the UA started.
Traffic was light fortunately, I was able to break enough to make a right
turn at the the next light, then into a large parking lot which was mostly
empty.  I drove to an isolated spot, pulled into a parking place, popped the
gear shift out of "D" into "P" almost simultaneously turning off the
ignition.  The revs built like crazy in the split second between getting
into "P" and ignition off.  It was marginal if the brakes would have
completely stopped it if I really had to come to a full stop.  

It was unnerving to say the least.  I immediately opened the hood/bonnet,
checked the throttle rod, throttle position, cruise control rod, and tranny
to throttle rods.  All were in their normal stopped positions.  I had not
used the cruise control at all this morning.  

The most probable cause is that I used Gunk engine cleaner on the engine
yesterday and sprayed it off;  maybe I didn't dry it out completely and a
linkage bound up temporarily.

After the incident, I did my errands without further problems.  However, I
can see how an inexperienced or panicky driver might have had a problem with
the UA.  I can conjure up images in my mind of someone going about 100 mph
down Laguna Blvd, dodging in and out of traffic.  Couldn't wait for the gas
to run out;  the tank was just filled.  Yahooooooooo!

So there, now I've had my UA incident.

Cheers!

Jim Jordan