Accelerator Pedal Switch?

[BoomerZoomr]

Now that my new CX-5 (turbo) has some miles on it, yesterday while merging on the interstate highway I floored the gas pedal. I felt some resistance against the pedal, which then broke free. I thought maybe the pedal had snagged/hung up on something. When I got home, I checked it out pushing the pedal to the floor with my hand (engine off). Under this condition, it feels/sounds like there is a very heavy duty button/switch under the gas pedal. Internet searches turned up a switch of this type in other cars to downshift the transmission or kick off the AC compressor. Nothing on this Mazda though. The throttle position sensor would seem to make a switch like this unnecessary. And the physical resistance of this switch is significant. Do others have something like this?

 

[N7turbo]

You are right that downshifting is controlled by throttle position and load. What you found is simply a detent for driver feedback and does not mechanically couple to anything.

 

[dunhillmc]

 

[BoomerZoomr]

I still can’t say I understand the purpose of this mechanism under the pedal.

 

[N7turbo]

The kickdown switch is nothing more than a physical signal to the driver that you are going WOT. There is no electrical component to the actual switch, just there before WOT in the calibrated sweep in the APP.

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[BoomerZoomr]

So Mazda's mindset was… you can have 90% throttle, but if you want the last 10% you gotta show me you are committed

 

[BoomerZoomr]

Apparently this "dead switch" under the Mazda gas pedal isn’t something new, but I had never heard of anything like this. My Dad used to joke that if he caught me hot-rodding the Dodge Charger he gave me, he would mount a piece of wood under the gas pedal so I couldn’t floor it
So I guess don’t click that switch if you want to conserve fuel and prevent "vehicle shock". Sounds kinda screwy to me, but now I think I understand. I did find this old video from Mazda…

 

[paris1]

Apparently this "dead switch" under the Mazda gas pedal isn’t something new, but I had never heard of anything like this. My Dad used to joke that if he caught me hot-rodding the Dodge Charger he gave me, he would mount a piece of wood under the gas pedal so I couldn’t floor it
So I guess don’t click that switch if you want to conserve fuel and prevent "vehicle shock". Sounds kinda screwy to me, but now I think I understand. I did find this old video from Mazda…

It’s been used on all Skyactiv cars that I know of. However, having owned three such cars, I’ve never been able to detect its actuation.

 

[BoomerZoomr]

It’s been used on all Skyactiv cars that I know of. However, having owned three such cars, I’ve never been able to detect its actuation.

I just checked my wife’s 2019 Mazda6 with the same engine as my CX5. Her gas pedal "switch" is closer to the floor and not very noticeable. Mine activates sooner and is robust and noticeable. In fact, I had never even noticed her car had this until I checked it with my hand. Always something new to learn.