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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Sticking Throttle Cable

Posted by: vesnyder Mar 21 2006, 07:01 AM

I want to thank everyone who has assisted so far in debugging my car in making it road worthy, despite my blunders. The latest is a sticking throttle or over revving engine? I've replaced the throttle and clutch cable and think I've made sure they are clear of each other - several times - but yesterday on a road test the motor surged as I was exiting a freeway to the point of engine damage (I think I escaped anything permanant?). I am not 100% convinced that the cable/pedal is sticking - any chnace that the throttle body is wacked? How about adding a stronger spring? I lubed the throttle body but I am not confident I've found the source of the problem and I've got too much work into this to blow the engine before I get a Summer of driving out of it!!

Posted by: JJ914 Mar 21 2006, 07:46 AM

Hey,

I had a similar problem with my car, but my cable was bad. Try disconnecting the cable from the pedal and throttle body and see if it slides very easily. At least then you can rule out the cable. While its disco'd you can check the the pedal to make sure its not binding. Good Luck.

Posted by: olav Mar 21 2006, 08:25 AM

I had a throttle cable that got bound up. I replaced it but that didn't fix the problem. I also found that the cable seemed to be fine out of the car but when I installed it it had the binding issues.

Finally, I just squirted some liquid lubricant down inside the cable sheath and that fixed my problem. The lubricant was kind of viscous so it would stay put sort of not super runny. Never had the issue again as long as I owned the car. It was a 74 1.8.

Posted by: vesnyder Mar 21 2006, 08:41 AM

I used the Terry cable which says that you should not use lubricant on the cable because it has a teflon insert and the lubricant just attracts dirt? I did note the new cable did not have a plastic sheath that the old one had?

Posted by: Dr Evil Mar 21 2006, 09:09 AM

Mine stuck once like that. It turned out to be the end of the cable contacted the intake plenum box when at WOT. It acted as a stand to hold the throttle open.

Check the end that protrudes from the hold nut of the throttle body.

Posted by: Dr Evil Mar 21 2006, 09:12 AM

I, too, added more spring. You can get them at your local auto store in the red packaged parts section.

Posted by: vesnyder Mar 21 2006, 09:47 AM

Dr Evil - I think you may be on to something? Are you talking about the air filter plenum?

Posted by: Dr Evil Mar 21 2006, 09:52 AM

Mine stuck on the lower part, but that does not rule out the upper air cleaner housing If you move the throttle by hand you will likely accomodate for this, and/or your air filter housing will be removed. If you have someone actuate the pedal inside while you watch the throttle you may find the culprit.

Posted by: goose2 Mar 21 2006, 09:56 AM

Throttle stuck wide open on my six once...I got it shut down before it over-revved but it was pretty exciting. It turned out that the return spring was located such that the throttle lever went over center on the spring and held it open. Something else to check.

Posted by: Joe Sharp Mar 21 2006, 06:13 PM

I've had the throttel cable wraped around the clutch cable and also had the pedal stick on the floor board. Check the TB to make sure it closes correctly(snaps shut). If you have to add a spring something is wrong.
:PERMAGRIN: Joe

Posted by: Rand Mar 21 2006, 06:25 PM

QUOTE
If you have to add a spring something is wrong.

And I wouldn't feel good knowing that I was only overriding the problem with extra spring tension. Sounds like something is binding or catching.