Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:43:39 -0900
Reply-To: Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Subject: Re: Frozen accelarator cable?
In-Reply-To: <BAY134-W30C36A34806197464CAB6FDB2B0@phx.gbl>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Sounds frozen. The accelerator on my `87 Westy Syncro has the same malady right now. Push on the pedal and it goes down and stays there. Check it at the engine to make sure that the return spring, linkage, etc, is working. If yours is like mine the moisture is inside the cable housing, it works when it is warm out but not below freezing. I did get mine to work using a heat gun and some brake clean, but that only lasts until it cools off again. You need to get it inside and warm for a day or so, preferably with heat applied to the underside for faster/better results. Our Westy does not fit in the garage so it will have to wait, as just today it finally warmed up to +13F. Lucky for me I don't have to worry about it until Spring as we do not drive it during the Winter months. As I understand it, you can remove the inner cable from the outer housing(somebody correct me if this is wrong), once you get it to move, doing this may allow you to do a better job of drying it o
ut and lubricating it. When you pulled the plastic cover off the pedal mechanism where there any holes in it other than the one for the cable? Mine had a small hole knocked in it which allowed water in. The linkage did not freeze, but the water got into the cable and froze there.
Mark in AK - Waiting for Spring in the frozen North
----- Original Message -----
From: Edward Duntz <eduntz@HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Monday, February 11, 2008 4:31 pm
Subject: Frozen accelarator cable?
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> I tried to leave work last night and when I started the '87
> Vanagon w/ manual trans, the pedal seemed stuck. I gave it a
> little more pressure and then it went to the floor. I checked the
> throttle at the engine and it wouldn't move. It was in the teens
> and single digits last night so I thought some water got in there
> somewhere and then froze.
>
> I was able to get the van into a heated garage nearby today and I
> took the cover off where the pedal mechanism goes underneath to
> the cable. All seemed ok- no water, nothing frozen. Just to be
> safe I cleaned it up and put some grease on everything under the
> cover and replaced it. I also lubed it at the throttle.
>
> I went home and did a few more things and went to leave again a
> few hours later- with the same problem! Pedal goes to the floor
> and stays there. What am I missing? Could something be sticking on
> the cover over the linkage underneath? While I'm at work I put a
> heater inside and a lamp underneath aimed at the cover over the
> linkage to see what that does. If that does it, what was frozen.
> If not, where else should I look?
>
> I've had too many problems already with this van. I'm getting too
> frustrated.
>
> Thanks,
> Ed in (now cold) CT
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