Date:         Thu, 14 Jan 1999 17:45:55 -0400
Reply-To:     Tim Smith <smitht@UNB.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tim Smith <smitht@UNB.CA>
Subject:      throttle spring
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hi All,

saw the post on replacing spring to fix stuck throttle.  Won't work!!
There is 10' of plastic tube with the cable inside.  Unhook it at both ends
and pull it out WITHOUT breaking the tube, then separate them.  Yup, PITA.
Tie a SMALL rag onto cable, spray WD-40 into tube/on rag and then pull it
through to clean out the tube.  Repeat until the very fine road silt and
water ooze is gone. Then grease the cable, WD-40 the tube and put it all
back in. Ggotta love that gas tank, have patience (not a prob for Syncro
owners :).  The 'new' feel of the pedal will amaze you. No need for a heavy
spring at all.

 This problem happened to me, it's sneaky since cable may work around town,
but after a few minutes of highway windchill the ooze freezes solid and you
get cruise control!  Oncoming drivers (and those you are rapidly
approaching from the rear) will wonder why your headlights keep going on
and off as you get closer. After the accident you can explain that you were
trying to regulate the van's speed by turning off/on the engine. (nope I
didn't hit anyone) At night this adds a real element of danger to the mix.

So fix the problem, don't band-aid over it. And do it again, in say another
10 years!  MAke sure the little rubbers at the ends are intact/in place.


bye, Tim