Someone Who Knows About Cars - HELP!

[SamIam]

OK, today I was driving to the library to meet my friend Jim. When I got there, the truck suddenly stopped responding to the excelerator. It wouldn't run in any gear even though I had my foot pressed all the way down to the floor. I also had the AC and CD player going - not that I can see how that would make a difference.

So Jim looked under the hood and he said there was a wire that wasn't pulling on the two parts which allow the gas to get to the excelerator (he told me their actual names, but I forget them). When he manually moved the parts, my engine started to rev again, but then quit when he took his hand off the parts.

Jim told me he really didn't know enough about cars to tell me what was wrong, so we went into the library to see if we could get enlightenment from a Chilton's Manual. Well, we found the right manual, but nothing in it seemed to address my truck's problem.

We went back out and Jim was going to drive me home, but I said, "Let me try it one more time. Maybe it healed itself." Jim had a good laugh over that, but I got in and tried anyway. And the excelerator worked just fine and I was able to start the truck! I did not have the AC or CD player on for whatever that's worth.

So, is this a symptom of some horrible failure soon to come in the truck's future or is it some simple thing that someone who knew a little about cars could fix for me. I have no money to take it in to the mechanic, so I am hoping that some clever person here can tell me what to do.

Here's a couple of pix of the engine. The red arrow points to the wire, and the yellow arrows point to the parts that Jim was able to manually press to get the truck to excelerate.

Sorry to be so stupid, but help!

[zippyt]

well your thingamabob has CLEARLY come un frazzled form the Whatitz !!!

[HungLikeJesus]

Were you able to drive it home? If so, how did it behave?

Edit: And I completely agree with zippyt.

[footfootfoot]

Could also be the dingus got loose from the gazinta. Hard to say.


Maybe it's time to call cartalk.

[classicman]

Could be a stuck accelerator cable? Might just need to be tightened. Might need to be replaced. Could be whatever it is attached to needs to be lubricated or has some type of dirt/crap/crud .... WD-40 the entire engine, then duct tape something and see what happens.
I AM NOT A MECHANIC.

[tw]

When accelerator is pressed, that cable should retract to the right. That is the first thing to inspect (with engine off). When a driver (assistant) releases the accelerator, then that cable must move leftmost. And always be under tension. Movement should always be smooth.

Curved part moved by the accelerator connects to shaft and a plate inside the air duct. As the accelerator is pressed, then the plate opens. More air let into that duct means a computer dumping more gas into the engine - also called acceleration. Computer will dump as much gas as necessary to maintain a vacuum behind that throttle plate.

You must be able to rotate the curved piece counterclockwise with your hand. It must also move smoothly. And the cable should retract accordingly - and smoothly.

Any stickiness is why Toyotas were accused of uncontrolled acceleration. Any stickiness means you must treat it as a loaded gun pointed at someone's head. The motion is so critical that multiple springs exist so that a released accelerator pedal will rotate the curved piece fully clockwise everytime.

Your symptoms do not make sense. If you pressed the accelerator pedal, then the cable must always move right. You should not be able to press the accelerator without moving that cable in the picture. There must be nothing to cause the curved piece to be disconnected from the accelerator pedal. Stated with conviction - if that makes the point.

I am thinking he reconnected a clip that holds the cable to that curved piece. That could only happen if springs that push the curved piece and throttle plate back to idle were somehow missing. And if the clip that holds that cable to the curved piece is worn - must be replaced by a new one from the dealer's parts department. But then that is only speculation, in part, because what Jim may have reconnected is not even shown in any pictures.

BTW, solve it now. Winter gets too cold to fix things right.

Anyone recommending WD-40 should be banned from technical discussions. WD-40 is not and never was a lubricant. With age, it makes accelerator cables sticky (ie Toyota stuck accelerators). WD-40 is a solvent like kerosene, Mr Clean, and Naval Jelly. Except it gets sticky with age. It must be removed after breaking free rust so as to not 'glue' things together. Never use WD-40 on the accelerator cable and related parts. Also stated with same conviction.

Nothing to adjust. If any part is loose, does not move smoothly, or intermittently disconnects, then a cheap solution is obtained in the dealer's parts department. Nothing in that 'throttle plate control system' should need adjustment. If any part disconnected, then it is still defective.

[jimhelm]

I had a vw rabbit that fid something like that
wss. The throttle cable would occasionally come out of its seat on the back of the gas pedal. Did your gas pedal feel normal? If so i agree with tw. Also with it being a dangerous situation.

[SamIam]

Originally Posted by tw

When accelerator is pressed, that cable should retract to the right. That is the first thing to inspect (with engine off). When a driver (assistant) releases the accelerator, then that cable must move leftmost. And always be under tension. Movement should always be smooth.

Curved part moved by the accelerator connects to shaft and a plate inside the air duct. As the accelerator is pressed, then the plate opens. More air let into that duct means a computer dumping more gas into the engine - also called acceleration. Computer will dump as much gas as necessary to maintain a vacuum behind that throttle plate.

You must be able to rotate the curved piece counterclockwise with your hand. It must also move smoothly. And the cable should retract accordingly - and smoothly.

Any stickiness is why Toyotas were accused of uncontrolled acceleration. Any stickiness means you must treat it as a loaded gun pointed at someone's head. The motion is so critical that multiple springs exist so that a released accelerator pedal will rotate the curved piece fully clockwise everytime.

Your symptoms do not make sense. If you pressed the accelerator pedal, then the cable must always move right. You should not be able to press the accelerator without moving that cable in the picture. There must be nothing to cause the curved piece to be disconnected from the accelerator pedal. Stated with conviction - if that makes the point.

I am thinking he reconnected a clip that holds the cable to that curved piece. That could only happen if springs that push the curved piece and throttle plate back to idle were somehow missing. And if the clip that holds that cable to the curved piece is worn - must be replaced by a new one from the dealer's parts department. But then that is only speculation, in part, because what Jim may have reconnected is not even shown in any pictures.

BTW, solve it now. Winter gets too cold to fix things right.

Anyone recommending WD-40 should be banned from technical discussions. WD-40 is not and never was a lubricant. With age, it makes accelerator cables sticky (ie Toyota stuck accelerators). WD-40 is a solvent like kerosene, Mr Clean, and Naval Jelly. Except it gets sticky with age. It must be removed after breaking free rust so as to not 'glue' things together. Never use WD-40 on the accelerator cable and related parts. Also stated with same conviction.

Nothing to adjust. If any part is loose, does not move smoothly, or intermittently disconnects, then a cheap solution is obtained in the dealer's parts department. Nothing in that 'throttle plate control system' should need adjustment. If any part disconnected, then it is still defective.

Well, THANK YOU, TW! I knew someone on the Cellar would have a practical solution. I'll try the things you suggested. My accelerator does not stick. It just did not rev the engine even when pushed to the floor.

Originally Posted by Classic

Could be a stuck accelerator cable? Might just need to be tightened. Might need to be replaced. Could be whatever it is attached to needs to be lubricated or has some type of dirt/crap/crud .... WD-40 the entire engine, then duct tape something and see what happens.

There is something about WD-40 which is dear to the male heart (tw being the exception). I called another friend who supposedly knows EVERYTHING about cars. He came over stared at the engine for a while and said "It just needs a little WD-40. I've got some with me." Then he proceeded to drench the offending parts in the stuff.

I love duct taping things! I have this really cool turquoise duct tape. Maybe I'll wrap some around a radiator hose or something.

HungLikeJesus]Were you able to drive it home? If so, how did it behave?

Edit: And I completely agree with zippyt.

That is the weirdest thing of all. It drove home from the library, running just like always. After being sprayed with WD-40, it drove just fine to Wal-Mart and back again. Maybe Jimmy should have more faith in his mechanical skills and he actually fixed it.

Maybe it was just a fit of elderly car grumpiness. Or maybe it was that gazinta acting up. I'm planning on taking it on a relatively long trip in about 10 days. I hope it doesn't choose to play the same trick 20 miles up some jeep trail in Canyonlands.

[classicman]

OMFG, I WAS JOKING!

[SamIam]

Originally Posted by classicman

OMFG, I WAS JOKING!

Well, my engine got WD-40ed before I got the warnings about it. And it was an aquaitance named Mac who did the dastardly deed, and the car is still running (for now). And I have better things to do than wrap parts of my engine in turquoise duct tape - cute as that might turn out. So fear not - any automotive disasters of mine will not be your fault.

[jimhelm]

I think you should turquoise duct tape SOMETHING ....

I know.... make license plate frame with it!

[classicman]

Thanks sam, as a member of my posse' I knew you would understand it was a joke. I was referring to that IDIOtw.

[zippyt]

Easy Now Folks He Said Posse' !!

[classicman]

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by tw

WD-40 is a solvent like kerosene, Mr Clean, and Naval Jelly.

I was under the impression that WD-40 is a water dispersant. As in Water Dispersant, formula #40.

I've always found it to be pretty safe on damn near everything. What does it dissolve?