My gas pedal is really stiff on my '86 van with AT.  It is hard to push
down and takes actual muscle force to hold it steady during driving.  I
have checked all the linkages and cables and the lever on the trans to try
to find something binding.  It is all fine and dandy.  The resistance is at
the throttle body.  there seems to be an excess of throttle return
springs.  There is an extra throttle return spring of the type that wraps
around the throttle shaft, and then this apparatus is pulled by yet another
regular type spring that secures to another part of the engine.  I am
pretty sure they are supposed to be there, as I have seen them indicated in
Bentley.  Just for testing purposes, I unhooked this last spring, which
seems to let most of the tension off of the second spring wrapped around
the throttle shaft (mentioned above).  Doing this seems to restore a more
normal driving experience to the van.  (I also have gotten the trans to
kick down now, which it wouldn't before, even after adjusting the
linkage.)   The throttle closes fine with no hesitation.  Does anybody know
the story behind the "extra" throttle springs?  Am I now driving a
deathtrap, ready to ram me into the nearest tree?
Thanks,
Edward