Gas pedal to the floor!

[MuRCieLaGo]

Hi guys,

Just went for a 200 miles trip this morning. I turned on/off cruise control a couple of times (of course, nothing unusual there). After 150 miles, my gas pedal went to the floor.

You know, when you enable cruise control, gas pedal goes down by itself. It seems like it's stuck there now. I can still push the gas pedal, but not a lot. And even if I push it to the maximum, car doesn't have half of its usual power.

Cruise control still works as it should.

Got any idea?

[efnfast]

Sounds like the cable slipped in a retainer.
If it's a 90, the cruise works on a seperate cable.

[Hib Halverson]

I've also heard of a general C4 problem of the accelerator pedal assembly under the dash failing.

Years ago John Heinricy told me that occasionally happended to C4s raced in the old showroom stock series of the 80s and early 90s.

I kept a spare C4 pedal assy. on the shelf just for contingency, but my pedal in my car never broke.

If yours just did, I'll make you be glad to sell you an NOS GM C4 accel. pedal assy.

[MuRCieLaGo]

Sounds like the cable slipped in a retainer.
If it's a 90, the cruise works on a seperate cable.

'91,

Answer was:

I removed the plenum 500 miles ago and I didn't clip the throttle cable correctly. Easy fix.

Thanks guys!

[MuRCieLaGo]

Failed again... I recorded a video of the problem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwkHKuLrNTc

[MuRCieLaGo]

Should I bend the cable?

[MuRCieLaGo]

Alright, since I had no answer, I pried the cable with a screwdriver.

That was the dumbest idea ever. My cable is now badly stretched.

Now I need to change the throttle cable. It seems to be a major pain in the ***.

Should I destroy the car with a hammer (I've done 2,000 miles with the car and only had problems with it)?

[secondchance]

My experience with 94 (single cable) has always been, when the pulley is rotated or removed from the pulley, would retract by itself. The fact that it would stay put and work itself off the pulley suggests that it may have been kinked. If so, would have needed a new cable assembly.

[MuRCieLaGo]

Thanks secondchance, that's what I'm also thinking.

It seems to be a hell of a job to replace. And I can't find the assembly online.

[secondchance]

I don't know how you pried the cable and what makes you think you stretched the cable. Have you tried taking the cable off the pulley and moving the cable in and out by holding the cable end with your fingers? Cable may have been rotated when installed onto the pulley. These are stainless steel cables and not easy to stretch. It can get frayed while trying to remove with flat head screw driver but throttle pedal will be pulled down before being stretched.

[MuRCieLaGo]

The pedal has a very noticeable play in it. It seems I got like 70% of my power right now when I push the pedal to the maximum. I just used a regular flathead screwdriver and pried the cable with the plenum, to bend it.

Yes, I took out the cable from the pulley, and I can move it in and out.

I'd be happy to believe that cable is hard to stretch...

Maybe the cable end at the pedal just stuck into something when I pried it? I'd be really happy if that was the case...

[secondchance]

The pedal has a very noticeable play in it. It seems I got like 70% of my power right now when I push the pedal to the maximum. I just used a regular flathead screwdriver and pried the cable with the plenum, to bend it.

Yes, I took out the cable from the pulley, and I can move it in and out.

I'd be happy to believe that cable is hard to stretch...

Maybe the cable end at the pedal just stuck into something when I pried it? I'd be really happy if that was the case...

Push come to shove, you can shorten the cable at the pedal end using a locking collar.
http://store.chargerchassis.net/products/1-4-throttle-lock-collar

Hobby shop that sells to RC airplane crowd would have right size collar for throttle cable.

[MuRCieLaGo]

I found a way to fix my problem for now. I used a lead weight to shorten the cable!

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz332/TiGarsRotatif/13124758_10157184938005221_5498162341307704844_n.j pg