My floormat almost killed me

[freakstatus]

So, I'm driving to work this morning in the pouring rain, I have a big stretch of road ahead of me with cars about a mile down the road at a stoplight. For some reason I decide to floor it just for the heck of it. She gets on it pretty quick as usual with some wheelspin due to the wet roads. I let my foot off the gas and.....the pedal is stuck to the floor. Adrenaline rushes in, I slam on the brakes as I approach traffic. The tires are spinning now and I feel like the car may spin out. Finally the pedal pulls itself free and I come to a stop about 4 meters behind the stopped traffic.

Turns out my pedal got caught in my heavy duty Michelin floor mat. I pull the mat back and go to work.

Needless to say, I am now awake.:beer:

[red]

Turns out my pedal got caught in my heavy duty Michelin floor mat. I pull the mat back and go to work.

Sorry to hear. Same mat, same problem here. I cut it smaller and periodically check that it's pushed a little under the seat. Also, this is the reason why real events make you remove floor mats.

[SWOOSH]

Wow, you are the smart one! I had that problem in my Mustang. I ordered mats from Summit. Just one day, probably months later, I was driving and the car suddenly goes full throttle, had to shut off the ignition. It wouldn't start, so I had it towed to a Mustang shop; they replaced the TPS. I was driving again, slam the pedal down and the car went full throttle again, I just shut off the ignition. I took it to a shop and they had it a week and gave up because they couldn't figure out the problem. I took it to Ford, they called me the next day, guess what, FLOOR MAT!

[Cheeseheadbob]

I too have had a run-in with a renegade floor mat. Simple solution; remove it. Since the MM already has a rubber protective area by the pedals, there is no wear and tear. Just a thought.

[magindat]

Buy a grommet kit at and HW store. Poke a hole add a grommet. Hang it on the pin. Done.

[LVMarauder]

Scary, something similar happened to me when I first got my MM except the pedal just striaght up got stuck in the WOT position. I kicked it loose and was on a big wide street so it all worked out. Happened twice but never again. Glad to hear it ya made it.

[Local Boy]

Glad you are OK Derek...

How's the baby?

Hope all is well...

ALOHA

[Bluerauder]

For some reason I decide to floor it just for the heck of it.
Hey, you're a new Dad .... and need to kick back and take it easy for the next 18-21 years (or more). Then you can get back into the game. ;)

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:jk:

[red]

Buy a grommet kit at and HW store. Poke a hole add a grommet. Hang it on the pin. Done.
Problems are: the Michelin mat is too thick, the hole in Michelin mat is in the wrong place, and I want to keep the original mat under the Michelin one so I don't tear up the carpet (preventing me from reusing the pin). This thread is motivation for me to look into a solution again...

[Vortech347]

I don't have a floormat anymore in my mustang anymore because of that. I lost an engine too it. 6000rpm's banging off the rev limiter for 10 seconds in a 600hp engine is not a good thing. It broke a piston ringland. Needless to say the only time she gets a floormat is at car shows and even then I screw it down in the back with 2 small black screws you can't see. I'm surprised there arn't 2 factory "hooks" for floormats. Or even some sort of way to "lock" them in place.

[magindat]

I don't have a floormat anymore in my mustang anymore because of that. I lost an engine too it. 6000rpm's banging off the rev limiter for 10 seconds in a 600hp engine is not a good thing. It broke a piston ringland. Needless to say the only time she gets a floormat is at car shows and even then I screw it down in the back with 2 small black screws you can't see. I'm surprised there arn't 2 factory "hooks" for floormats. Or even some sort of way to "lock" them in place.

Drill a hole.
JB weld a nylock nut under floor. Screw that b!tch down.

[magindat]

Problems are: the Michelin mat is too thick, the hole in Michelin mat is in the wrong place, and I want to keep the original mat under the Michelin one so I don't tear up the carpet (preventing me from reusing the pin). This thread is motivation for me to look into a solution again...

IIRC, the pin is screwed to a #8 metric bung in the floor.
Remove pin, scoot rugs back 3/4" screw them down.

[ImpalaSlayer]

1. why would you floor it in the rain? thats asking for trouble

2. my floor mat has a hook in it......

[freakstatus]

I'll probably end up swapping the Michelin mat for a thinner one. Out here on the"wet" coast we have quite a lot of wet and slushy weather to contend with and I'm a little paranoid about rusty floorboards. Guess my life is more important though...

[magindat]

I'll probably end up swapping the Michelin mat for a thinner one. Out here on the"wet" coast we have quite a lot of wet and slushy weather to contend with and I'm a little paranoid about rusty floorboards. Guess my life is more important though...

Coat them with Herculiner or Cascade.

[Vortech347]

Why floor it in the rain? Marauder's are fun sideways.

[Shora]

Same thing happened to me once in my Explorer (except I didn't floor it in the rain).

Since then, I always just buy extra factory Matts and use the originals for everyday. It looks better then some rubber matt and much safer.

Too bad Weather Tech doesn't make the matts for the panthers. Those I would have bought.

www.weathertech.com (http://www.weathertech.com)

[larryo340]

Too bad Weather Tech doesn't make the matts for the panthers. Those I would have bought.

www.weathertech.com (http://www.weathertech.com)

Yes they do,

http://www.weathertech.com/store/mvproduct.aspx?ItemGroupId=3&VehId=813&Year=2003

[Shora]

Yes they do,

http://www.weathertech.com/store/mvproduct.aspx?ItemGroupId=3&VehId=813&Year=2003


I spoke out against using rubber matts and there I was talking about buying "matts". I didn't pay attention that weather tech calls the product I want from them a "floor liner" rather than a matt.

Check out their "floor liners" if you have a chance. Now those seem like a quality product.

[Vortech347]

Hey hey hey...Matts are not for sale to be stepped on. However mats are.

[Shora]

opps (if that is how you even spell it). LOL

[Taemian]

So, I'm driving to work this morning in the pouring rain, I have a big stretch of road ahead of me with cars about a mile down the road at a stoplight. For some reason I decide to floor it just for the heck of it. She gets on it pretty quick as usual with some wheelspin due to the wet roads. I let my foot off the gas and.....the pedal is stuck to the floor. Adrenaline rushes in, I slam on the brakes as I approach traffic. The tires are spinning now and I feel like the car may spin out. Finally the pedal pulls itself free and I come to a stop about 4 meters behind the stopped traffic.

Turns out my pedal got caught in my heavy duty Michelin floor mat. I pull the mat back and go to work.

Needless to say, I am now awake.:beer:

Wow, thanks for the diagnostic credit on this one, pal!:) Here's what happened, folks...the phonecall I got at 0830 this morning.

Me: Hello?
Derek: Ian, I nearly killed myself just now, my Marauder is possesed! It just took off on me!
Me: Calm down, what happened?
Derek: Blah blahblahblah floored it blah blah full throttle blah blah nearly died!
Me: You ok?
Derek: Yeah, but what could it have been? The TPS? The throttle body spring? A computer glitch? Aliens? It could be ANYTHING! What am I going to do??? HEEELLLP!!!
Me: Calm down. Start with the simple stuff. Did anything wedge itself under the pedal, like maybe your floormat?
Derek: (......silence...)
Me: Just a guess, but I'll bet that's what it was.
Derek: (.....crickets chirping....)
Me: So was I right?
Derek: Oh, just shut up.
Me: Glad to be of help.
Derek: If you tell anyone about this, I'll hurt you. Seriously.
Me: Enjoy your day, bro.
Derek: I mean it, I'll hurt you.
Me: Have a nice day! 'click'

[magindat]

Hellz yeah - now that's a good one!!!

[jgc61sr2002]

I have the factory all weather mats that fit properly and they have the mounting hole.
They are reasonably priced.

[TAKEDOWN]

Stupid, stupid mats!

[magindat]

This thread is killin me. You guys have a 2 ton projectile at your command and you're letting floor mats screw with you?! Come on! Your life and the lives of others are at stake over this cosmetic issue! There's a million ways to hold mats still.

Safety first - cosmetics second - always.

It was eluded to above that this is why events make you remove your mats completely!!!

Use your heads and be SAFE people - this thread has a bit of note of silliness, but this is friggin serious stuff. Square away your mats or don't drive the car. Period.

[Master]

Its even worse when you are coming up to a roadblock, hit the brakes to slow down and that 40 ouncer you just hid slides out from under the drivers seat and wedges under the brake pedal. Have fun explaining to the cops why you just blew through their roadblock.
True story - not me, though.

[red]

This thread is killin me. You guys have a 2 ton projectile at your command and you're letting floor mats screw with you?! Come on! Your life and the lives of others are at stake over this cosmetic issue! There's a million ways to hold mats still.

Speaking on the others' behalves: If we knew it was going to make the accelerator stick, we would have taken precautions. It's not like anyone is being careless. I trimmed mine back, it is tucked under the seat, and it is retained by the backing, so it is no where near the accelerator; my preference is to additionally have it retained by the pin. I check it periodically to make sure it's still in the place I want it. Also, the choice to go with this mat did not account for cosmetics; the mats prevent a lot of water, etc. from reaching the carpet.



Safety first - cosmetics second - always.

Use your heads and be SAFE people - this thread has a bit of note of silliness, but this is friggin serious stuff. Square away your mats or don't drive the car. Period.


No offense, but aren't you riding around without ABS right now because of your rims? :rolleyes:

[magindat]

Speaking on the others' behalves: If we knew it was going to make the accelerator stick, we would have taken precautions. It's not like anyone is being careless. I trimmed mine back, it is tucked under the seat, and it is retained by the backing, so it is no where near the accelerator; my preference is to additionally have it retained by the pin. I check it periodically to make sure it's still in the place I want it. Also, the choice to go with this mat did not account for cosmetics; the mats prevent a lot of water, etc. from reaching the carpet.




No offense, but aren't you riding around without ABS right now because of your rims? :rolleyes:


Red, dude, I know you're smarter than that, but just had to rant on the safety concerns so that young'uns and newbs take note.

Yes I am riding sans ABS. ABS is an over and above basic safety feature - the mats moving around is equivalent to riding around with a known brake fluid leak and not knowing when it will show itself and not stop the car.

Just like mentioned above - at track events - remove mats - many have or do unplug ABS.

[red]

Red, dude, I know you're smarter than that, but just had to rant on the safety concerns so that young'uns and newbs take note.
Understood.


Just like mentioned above - at track events - remove mats - many have or do unplug ABS.
Yup, mat removal is mandatory at some events. I've heard of pulling ABS systems for weight savings. I'm assuming disabling ABS would be for brake feel during track events or disabling stability/traction control on cars that don't have a button for that purpose.

[magindat]

Understood.


Yup, mat removal is mandatory at some events. I've heard of pulling ABS systems for weight savings. I'm assuming disabling ABS would be for brake feel during track events or disabling stability/traction control on cars that don't have a button for that purpose.

Yessir, gives you thresh-hold braking instead of taking over for you.

I am seriously considering ABS system removal and replacement with a distribution block. If found out after a crash, tho, ins may have a problem with that. Not for weight but for simplicity as the car is doing VERY well with thresh-hold braking.

[sailsmen]

If I floor it in the rain I never have to worry about mats for the MM again.;)

[Ms. Denmark]

2. my floor mat has a hook in it...... Mine does too.

[HotRodMercury]

Ask your local merc dealer for factory replacement mats,
might cost a few bucks but, but at least its safe for you
to floor it, or mabey I seen this new thing at Pepboys,

some kinda locking cap looking thing place the mat
to the floor and turn the cap, as you turn these metal teeth,
grab into the carpet keeping it locked,

happend to me once in my 5.0 raceing a newer cobra,
got stuck at a 140mph, had to shut off ignition scary stuff,
good luck.


as I also use factory mats with the hook
some company on here makes MM mats listed in forms area?

[HotRodMercury]

I just rememberd as I got off 595 ext Unv
at the first or second light?, i tryed to race a 540I or a 740,
not sure but I floored when the light turned green,

guy in bmw rolled down his windo, and said
hay man you got that thing running right I said Thanks,
and nailed it down to the next light lol.

[Aren Jay]

Is that a rubber mat or a cloth one?

[red]

Is that a rubber mat or a cloth one?
I'm not sure which mat you're asking about, but the Michelin one is rubber. The pictures here (http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/inside-out/57643-michelin-heavy-duty-floor-mats-model-hd902.html) show mats that look very similar to mine.