True, the throttle cable with outer sheath on the rear part can get old/sticky/worn etc.

But that's not what I find will really help the throttle work smoothly again. ( sure ..lube that rear part ..where the inner cable goes through the outer cable or sheath )

'short version' is ...........remove forward cable from white tube in the body of the van ...clean and lube while fitting throttle cable back into that tube.

detailed longer version :

Remove the plastic cover under the front floor that covers the throttle bell crank. undo that barrel nut there - 8mm wrench. Go to the middle of the van , underneath .. undo a 10mm nut and bolt there. and pull the forwrad part of the throttle cable out the white plastic tube going forward. Blow that tube out with compressed air if you can. spray wd-40 into the tube, and blow that forward into the tube... idea being to get that tube clean and free of moistuer, crud etc.

then feed the front part of the t-cable back into that tube...spraying a good lube on the cable as you do. Lube the bell crank area really well. If you find a gab at the aft end of the white tube ...like some exposed innner cable there, the white tube has slid back a little in the van. Pull the white tub aftward so that gap is closed. Up front, about 6 inches aft of the bell crank area .....clamp the white tub so it can't slide . ...there's metal bracket or something to clamp it to, like with a small # 4 size american hose clamp. connect the 10 mm nut and bolt back together. Adjust the cable length with the 8mm barrel clamp thingey at the forward end of the cable. Check that full throttle is achieved with gas pedal flat on the floor. make sure there's some slack to it gets fully back to idle. put the plastic cover on last ....where the whitel tube goes through it ..I just cut a little slit there so I can put the plastic cover on last, after I'm totally satisfied with how the whole thing works. The 4 little screws that hold that cover like to fall and dissapear somewhere, so careful with that.

'all' vanaogns almost need this service. ....clean and lube white forward throttle cable tube in the body of the van.

Scott www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message ----- From: "David Milo" <dellaone@GMAIL.COM> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 4:02 PM Subject: Re: Bit of Toyota Syndrome in '84 Westy

> Hi Kevin, > > I don't know where you are located, but if it is in a damp cold area in > the > winter, you may want to check and replace your throttle cable and flexible > sheath. The sheath that transitions the cable from the rear body upwards > to > the engine will rust internally (along with the cable) and cause it to > stick, which is why they should be replaced together. The best way to tell > is to disconnect the cable from the engine and have a helper push on the > pedal with their hand while you hold the engine end of the cable with your > hand. It will be very apparent that the cable sheath assembly is bad by > the > "feel" of the cable and how smoothly it returns to being fully extended > when > you pull on it. > > At least, this has been my experience. > > Dave Milo > > On Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 5:13 PM, Kevin Gilbert <kggilbert@myactv.net> > wrote: > >> Hey kids, >> >> My '84 Westy 1.9l emerged from its winter garage hibernation in fine >> shape. However, the engine speed, once warm, doesn't kick down when I >> pull up to a stop. A swift punch of the accelerator brings the speed >> down to idle. >> >> The van was doing this intermittently at the end of last year. I shot >> some WD-40 in and around the accelerator pedal, and around the >> throttle linkage. It seemed to help some, but my imagination sometimes >> gets the better of me. >> >> Do you all think this a corrosion issue that can be satisfied with >> better lubrication, or am I looking at a parts change? >> >> Thanks. >> >> Kevin >>