Scary Moment!

[alan_thomas]

Stuck behind a JCB for a couple of miles down a country lane I saw there was a short straight and the opportunity to pass safely. I floored the throttle to kickdown the auto and whoosh went straight by the JCB then the auto upchanged and it continued to go faster and faster, the problem was I had my foot off the throttle by now and the car was still accelerating strongly. I got my foot under the accelerator and lifted the peddle, no difference!
With a corner rapidly approaching (good job its called the 'straight mile') I turned off the ignition and braked to a halt.

Played around with the carpet but it wasn't stuck inside the car so lifted the bonnet
Pic below shows where the end of the accelerator cable is with the throttle closed

IMG_2056.JPG

Pic below show how, on kickdown, the linkage goes passed the end of the cable and when it comes back it picks up the loose end of the cable and jams leaving the throttle half open.
IMG_2057.JPG

Worth getting your pliers out and making sure your cable end is nicely bent away from the linkage, it isn't a good feeling hanging on to the steering wheel as your car wants to zoom off into the distance

- Alan

[Stagdad]

Was that heading towards Brackell Alan. I think I know the bend.

[Goldstar]

Henceforth to be known as the Alan Thomas Brown Trouser bend - I know where you are describing, the road is quite undulating too. Glad you’re ok

[DJT]

Had the same several years ago. Since then, I’ve cut the inner cable as short as necessary and sealed the end in heat shrink tube.

[mike@thenook]

Henceforth to be known as the Alan Thomas Brown Trouser bend

LOL - I'll bet you'll never forget that 'fun' moment!

[alan_thomas]

Was that heading towards Brackell Alan. I think I know the bend.

That’s the road Steve, corner came up rather fast! Was doing 70 when I switched off

[steve.n]

I had a similar experience with my manual. Returned from shopping, pressed the accelerator a little, turned the key and the engine burst into life and revved like a banshee. Luckily i killed the ignition instantly, looked under the bonnet and found one of the plastic carb link ends had broken of allowing the link rod to jam the throttle open. Everyone at the bus stop looked at me like i was a t*t.
All changed to metal type now!

[KOY 23]

I fitted an aftermarket carb kit to my auto, the supplier for some reason, had not made provision for a throttle return spring.
Occasionally the throttles would not close and the engine would tick over at 2500rpm, not funny! Fortunately I could hook the pedal back.
Permanent cure was to fit a spring.

[djtaylor]

After my "moment" in a car park with the carpet trapping the accelerator, I'll be sure to check this too.

Thanks
David

[MandM]

Had the same several years ago. Since then, I’ve cut the inner cable as short as necessary and sealed the end in heat shrink tube.

me too, cut the cable right back and changed my pants!

[davidf]

I had a similar experience with my manual. Returned from shopping, pressed the accelerator a little, turned the key and the engine burst into life and revved like a banshee. Luckily i killed the ignition instantly, looked under the bonnet and found one of the plastic carb link ends had broken of allowing the link rod to jam the throttle open. Everyone at the bus stop looked at me like i was a t*t.
All changed to metal type now!

I had the same problem once when starting the car at the end of a cross-channel ferry crossing. The sound of a Stag V8 at high revs in the confines of a ferry car-deck is quite something !! Fortunately, I already knew that it runs very adequately on only one carb (due to the cross hole between the inlet manifold tracts), so it was a simple matter of removing that link rod to drive off the ferry to a suitable place where I could change the rod end.