Big Dave

My shark, an 85S, is in a very dangerous situation.....when not in gear, it revs to redline without me touching the gas....when in gear it just wants to keep accelerating.

I'm not kidding. I scared the $hit out of myself trying to get it home because I couldn't get it to stop even when STANDING on the brakes.

It still shifts gears (an automatic), but seems to be at full throttle no matter what I'm doing with the gas pedal.

PLEASE HELP ASAP!!!!!!!!!

Randy V

Sounds like an easy fix Dave.

You didn't mention any diagnosis you've done so I'll tackle the obvious potential problems.

Look at where the cable attaches to the throttle position plate on the engine. You should be able to move that plate by hand - a spring(s) returns it to the closed position.

If that looks OK, follow the cable to the firewall and check the condition of the bowden cable adjuster there (this is used to take slack out of the accelerator cable for better throttle response and cleaner trans kickdowns).

If all looks OK there, check the linkage attachment onto the gas pedal for binding.

I'm guessing that your throttle cable is malfunctioning, rather than this being a fuel management system problem.

Dozman

Dave,

When you were doing the spring cleaning this past weekend on the car. When you popped the hood, and peered at your marvelous engine, that asked to be cleaned, did you happen to lean on or put anything on the three cable linkages on the left front side??

I just had the same thing happen to me, and my gas pedal linkage was just barely binding. I adjusted the linkage a bit.

I believe Randy is correct. Or shall we call Randy, Quick Draw...

Dozman
'85 928 Auto, Black <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

Jerry 87 928S4

I think the other replies sound more plausible than what happened to me but I would just add that mine did the very same thing when the "brain" for my cruise control decided to go bad.

However, after finally stopping the car and turning it off it didnt do it again until I set the cruise.

Big Dave

Thanks for the replies everyone...I'll check your suggestions in the morning. It's a bit too dark out now. Keep your fingers crossed that no hoodlums in my neighborhood get any bright ideas. <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />

I truly hope it's an easy fix...I don't need to experience the feeling of unabated power without control ever again

I'll post the results tomorrow, good or bad. <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />

EDIT: I should add that turning the car off didn't solve the problem...on start up, it revs to full immediately. I spoke with an owner of an 82 in my neighborhood (thanks Dennis!) who also mentioned the possibility of the cruise control being faulty. If the throttle cable isn't the culprit, I'll of course check that too.

Randy: look at the throttle control plate from the front of the car, which side should be tight, the cable closer or futher from me? Currently, the cable closest to the front of the car is slack and the other one is tight. How much resistance should I encounter with these cables when I try to move it? I'm wary of fiddling with it with the car running --- can I do damage letting the car run with the revs so high??? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

Incendier

Dave:

Mine stuck a while ago because the linkage/spring assembly was all gunked up. If you need to do this, as an r&r tip take very careful note of how the linkage assembles. It's not necessarily apparent when you get the springs & washers off.

Though I thought it would be...

Randy V

Any progress Dave?

If I recall correctly, on your MY the throttle cable snakes around and attaches to a linkage at the front of the car, pulling the throttle plate towards the front of the car - I've done only minimal work on a friend's '85 so I could be mistaken.

There are two other cables that attach to the throttle plate - one for the cruise control, the other for the autotrans kickdown.

In any case, you should be able to move that throttle control plate by hand without any resistance - the spring should smoothly return it to the closed position without any assistance. If not, you have a cable or linkage problem.

Big Dave

Randy (and everyone else), thanks!

With a can of WD-40 in hand, I checked out the throttle plate. It was a bit hard to move but then gave way and moved, allowing the RPMs to return to normal. After a good shot of WD-40, it now moves freely again.

I assume that the problem was with the throttle plate sticking, but if the problem comes back, at least this time I'll know to check the cables.

THANK YOU!!!!!!! <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />

Big Dave

An odd thing I've noticed since I lubed the throttle plate: better response when I hit the gas pedal...I wonder how long it's been sticking for! Of course, the better response might be due in part to this tropical weather here in Michigan - 80 degrees in April!