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Topic: Throttle cable stretched ? (Read 1657 times) |
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Jonnycab
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Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
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Throttle cable stretched ?
« on: Jul 3rd, 2008, 1:27pm » |
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I seem to have a problem with the throttle not opening properly when pushing the accelerator.
It's not the throttle at fault, but seems as though the cable has stretched. The pedal doesn't have alot of travel & when flooring it, the throttle doesn't open fully. The cable feels as though there is too much slack when the throttle is closed compared to my wifes new 2.3, also the pedal in my wifes 2.3 sits higher & has more travel.
Would this be indicative of a stretched cable & if so, can it be adjusted or am I looking at a replacement ?....or is there some other reason ? 
Any advice please 
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Simmo
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Re: Throttle cable stretched ?
« Reply #1 on: Jul 3rd, 2008, 3:00pm » |
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Jon, I've just checked my 2.0ltr and there is an adjustment on the cable at the throttle end. Looks like you pull up a clip and adjust the travel?. It is after all only a Bowden cable. I can't feel any stops or otherwise at the pedal end but being a young supple lad, and not a creaky old pensioner  , you might !. Mike. 
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Jonnycab
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Re: Throttle cable stretched ?
« Reply #2 on: Jul 3rd, 2008, 3:26pm » |
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Hi Mike, I've already pulled the clip off that you mentioned, but there doesn't seem to be a way of adjusting the cable from that point, well not that I can work out 
The pedal end is fine, just managed to contort my body enough to take a peek ....& all seems good at that end (same as the pedal in my wifes 2.3)
It does have traction control & I'm wondering whether there could be a problem with the cable at this point, although the traction control seems to be working okay
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Simmo
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Re: Throttle cable stretched ?
« Reply #3 on: Jul 3rd, 2008, 3:47pm » |
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Jon, As it's you I've had another look !!  . On mine at the throttle end there is a tapered plastic sleeve about 3inches long in which sits over a threaded rod which has the cable running through it. At the thick end there is a spring clip which engages in the threaded portion. I removed this clip and it does allow a degree of adjustment. Mike.
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Jonnycab
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Re: Throttle cable stretched ?
« Reply #4 on: Jul 3rd, 2008, 4:49pm » |
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Hi Mike, I know the bit you are talking about & had another look. Removing the clip does allow the sleeve to move back slightly, but only about a couple of mms. But this doesn't seem to affect the cable length as it just runs loosely through the sleeving.
I'm pretty sure the cable has gradually stretched over the past 185,000 miles & as there seems to be no way of adjusting it, then it looks like it will need replacing.
I've rang Ford & unfortunately, as with alot of Scorp parts, the cable is now obselete as far as Ford are concerned & there does not seem to be a pattern part on the market
Maybe it's possible to shorten the cable a tad & fit a new nipple on the end
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Simmo
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Re: Throttle cable stretched ?
« Reply #5 on: Jul 3rd, 2008, 9:02pm » |
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Jon. I think your last idea is probably the way to go. Have you thought of trying a cycle shop? re the end fitting. Some of 'us oldies' can remember doing such things on our bike brake cables !!.The other way may be to try and fit a 'spacer' of some sort where the cable 'outer' is fixed to the throttle mecanism. I feel another Jonnycab' mod coming on !! .
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Jonnycab
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Re: Throttle cable stretched ?
« Reply #6 on: Jul 4th, 2008, 2:01am » |
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Sorry Mike, you were absolutely right about about the tapered plastic sleeve, it is for cable adjustment
When I removed the clip it looked like the plastic bit on the end had a thread that you could adjust by turning, which obviously wasn't the case 
It wasn't 'till a couple of hours later at work when I realised that I must have had a seriously 'blonde moment' & that it obviously just pulled out  ...... I jumped out the car, pulled the clip out & gave the end part a tug & it came out & the cable got tighter
I adjusted it to as far as the throttle would go before it hit the stop & took it for a spin......my god !!!..... it felt like it had another 20bhp & didn't change into 2nd until it hit 6000 revs in economy mode  ....& that was without using the kickdown
Slightly over adjusted I thought ....so readjusted it in a couple of notches to loosen the cable & now it's perfect...alot quicker off the mark than it used to be, & alot smoother & more responsive than it's ever been both in acceleration & gear changes 
Maybe the cleaning of the throttle has something to do with it as well & it wasn't just my imagination that it felt better after I had spent 2 hours removing the 'special black coating', filing down the choke plate screws & polishing it all up with a fine wire brush attachment on a rotary tool ?
Thanks again Mike for the advice ........at least it means I won't have to cut a nipple off now
P.S....there is also another cable adjuster, pre-traction control, in front of the battery. So if the cable stretches again & the front adjuster is at it's limit, then it can be adjusted from there as well
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Simmo
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Re: Throttle cable stretched ?
« Reply #7 on: Jul 4th, 2008, 7:38am » |
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Glad you're sorted Jon. Good to hear a success story !. Mike
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mr._floppy
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Re: Throttle cable stretched ?
« Reply #8 on: Jul 4th, 2008, 3:59pm » |
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I've always adjusted my gas pedal to be the same height ( at rest ) as the brake pedal so that it's a quick slide across by the right foot when braking on the overrun .
I'm amazed at people who have the gas pedal 4 inches lower than the brake one, that's a lot of extra leg movement 
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gozz
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Re: Throttle cable stretched ?
« Reply #9 on: Jul 4th, 2008, 11:33pm » |
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JC.
You will appreciate the wisdom of the old sage ! and I am very pleased to hear that you will not require amputation of a nipple !!
GOZZ.
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davem
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A member since August 2000
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Re: Throttle cable stretched ?
« Reply #10 on: Aug 2nd, 2008, 10:27pm » |
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Yes with the traction control on mine, I had to fit a new accel cable. The adjusters were behind the radiator inside the engine compartment.
BTW, my car goes much faster when I wear Nike Air
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'95 Cosworth - 185,000 miles and still going
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