I had the gas pedal catch on a piece of loose carpet once and stick to the
floor. As the car accelerated out of control in first gear, I punched in the
clutch, and watched the tach needle hit the stop at the red line so hard that
it actually bounced back. I quickly shut off the car, freed the pedal and
restarted it. The engine ran like crap the whole way home, but I was too
apprehensive to stop and take a look although I did mentally catalogue the
most expense alternatives. Turned out that the vibration had merely shook a
spark plug wire loose. How's that for luck?
I believe that the spring that you're talking about is underneath the dash
where the pedal assembly mounts to the bulkhead. You have to lie with your
head in the footwell to see it. However, I agree with the other lister that
the problem is probably your cable fraying. I had a similar problem including
not being able to take my wife's car. Since I didn''t have time to obtain the
necessary cable from the normal suppliers, I replaced the inner wire only with
a brake cable from a ten speed bicycle cut to size and fed through the
original cable sheathing. Not exactly a sanctioned repair, but it WILL work
until you can get the right parts (in my case, three years and counting).
-Greg
------original message follows ---------------
>From: jak0pab@jak10.med.navy.mil (Bowen, Patrick A. RP2)
>Sender: owner-spitfires@autox.team.net
>Reply-to: jak0pab@jak10.med.navy.mil (Bowen, Patrick A. RP2)
>To: Spitfires@autox.team.net
>Imagine this, yesterday morning, overcast with fog and a slight drizzle in
>north Florida. I walk into the garage open the large garage door and
>proceed to start my car. It starts, but while waiting for the Tach to pick
>up and start reading, the engine starts to take on a hideously loud whir,
>and then a whine, and then a scream! Just as the tach decides it is now
>time to work and reads right at 6500 rpm at the same instant my hand turns
>off the engine. As I am already late for work, and this is my only car (if
>I took my wifes, the perverbial oil leaking support vehicle, I would leave
>her stranded) I had to drive it to work. Well on went the cycle of turning
>off the engine when I stopped and trying to keep the accelerator up by
>pulling with my toe. Definitely not the most pleasing method of driving a
>spit.
>
>Well to make an already too long stroy short. My accelerator is sticking.
>Best that I am able to surmise the reason is that there should be a spring
>between the pedal and somewhere on the firewall. This apparently supports
>the weight of the pedal and provides quick return.
>Can someone please tell me where on the firewall (or wherever) this is
>suppose to connect? and the general size and shape of this spring. I
>currently have two rubber bands doing the job. Also Vicky Brit list two
>accelerator cables one for up to 78 and one for 79-80. What is the actual
>difference. My vehicle is not stock and I want to know which will meet my
>need.
>Thanks Very Much.
>Gee Officer would you believe the reason I was doing 80 in this fine sports
>car was ....
>Patrick Bowen
>'79 Spitfire
>Jacksonville FL
|