What kind of machine do you have. Some Janomes are bad about the foot pedal going out....then most of time, you can take it apart and clean dust bunnies out and it will work fine....just be sure the spring does zoom across the room when taking it apart...foot pedals are about $80-100 dollars, so clean first, if you find out that is what it is. But don't turn your machine over to the tech until you check the foot pedal as suggest in previous post.