Date:         Thu, 5 Feb 2004 07:03:40 -0800
Reply-To:     Malcolm Stebbins <mwstebbins@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Malcolm Stebbins <mwstebbins@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Freezing throttle cable
Comments: To: "Spooner, Robert E." <bob.spooner@MIDDLETOWNPOWER.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <38E80B3C0CCC2D4EA2FCD4F75A38273505FC4A@hqmail02.nrgenergy.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

<bob.spooner@MIDDLETOWNPOWER.COM> wrote:
> All,  My 91 GL has not been getting much use in the
> past couple of months here in CT due to a freezing
> throttle cable.

Brings to mind one of my favorite vanagon stories.
I'll make it short:  Many years ago, I had a NEW 81
westy. I was driving on a bitterly cold February day
and going up a LONG hill - peddle to the metal - by
the time I reached the top of the hill the throttle
cable had frozen in the WIDE OPEN position.  It was
COLD COLD out and I did not want to stop, nor did I
want to test the top-end of my new 81 Westy camper.
So I alternately turned the key OFF then ON to keep
the van's speed between 60 and 100 kph,  till I
reached my exit where I knew there was a gas station -
phone - and warmth.  Upon coasting to a stop at the
gas station, I turned on the aux-heater and after
about 5 minutes, I hear a SNAP and I had the throttle
back.

The problem was water (that had frozen) in the
throttle cable sheath.  One of the caps had some off
the end of the cable and let water in.

YOu might try squirting copius amounts of anti freeze
in there, and then in the spring, take it all apart
and lub it with something that will not gunk up in
cold weather.  This is not a big job, but it is a bit
finicky to thread everything from front to back under
tha van.  Thanks for giving me a rason to remember my
experience.  Malcolm (Halifax)

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