new one - ghost throttle!

[vash]

ok, i drove my car to a friends down the street. hanging out, and on my way out. it was damn cold, by california standards at least. my car was fully frosted. i started it up, nothing spectacular. but the car was stumbling a bit, so i feathered the gas. from there, things got wierd. my car started reving up. it got to about 4k, when i came to my senses and shut off the ignition. i jiggle the foot throttle, nothing wierd, popped the hood, checked the throttle from that end, nothing wierd. i restarted the car and all was well. what happened? my floor mat was clear, nothing amiss. i am stumped. it ran fine all the way home. (against my better judgement, but i kept one hand close to the key)

cliff

[AFJuvat]

Sticky throttle linkage.

Check around the bell crank and at teh back of the engine for obstruction.

It may have just been some moisture and it froze up for a second.

AFJuvat

[vash]

you know, i never thought about that. viscosity! i will check it in the daytime. thanks.

[Cookie Porsche]

As above, check entire throttle cable for any restrictions, binding, etc.

Also known is for the small spring on the throttle body to come off / break. If you look on the LHS were the linkage opens the throttle it's quite easy to see.

The results could be scary - from experience.

Regards, Tom

[CRH911S]

It may have just been some moisture and it froze up for a second.

Very, very unlikely. I'm a native Californian and have lived in Alaska 25 years.

I like the possibility AFJuvat offered, humorous, but it has to be something else. While freezing is cold that alone isn't enough.

Good luck with your search for answers though.

[Wil Ferch]

Grease /gunk on throttle linkage that works fine warm...but gets gummy cold.

Clean up and use dri-lube on the joints...perhaps ....

Wil

[304065]

Dude, Steve McQueen is haunting your car, trying to get you to put your FOOT DOWN!

The only way to excise him is to go to the track.

[john walker's workshop]

the cruise cable often comes out of it's upper bracket and hangs up the throttle. a couple of criss crossed zip ties keep it in place.

[jester911]

Yes as JW said it could be the cruise cable. Mine hung up a couple of times and it would hold the revs up around 4k. I had to cut the cable to the cruise or at least I thought so at the time.

Anyway the cruise never worked and since the cable was cut it never hung up again.