accelerator pedal pressure

VARam1500 · 12-09-2002, 12:48 PM

I found one old post about this but there weren't any replies, so here goes......

My car takes significant pressure to depress the gas pedal and I'm wondering if this is a "standard feature" of all your cars or if I'm just "lucky". I thought I needed a new cable until I disconnected it from the throttle body. With it disconnected, I can make the pedal flap up and down easily by working the cable at the engine. With it connected, however, it takes a lot of umph to overcome the spring on the throttle body when you press the pedal to open the throttle.

Just to give an idea of how much pressure it takes to press it down, lets just say that if you were pressing the pedal with your hand you would have to use the heel of your hand and put your body weight into it 'cause you couldn't do it with your fingertips.

Any ideas?

--Case....

Brad Roberts · 12-09-2002, 12:53 PM

Your stock style white cable housing is broken at the firewall.

Have a freind pull tension on the cable end with it disconnected from the throttle body while you push the pedal.

When the white plasitc liner breaks.. it causes the problem you have.

Order the Weltmeister cable from PP or the Terrycable... whatever they decide to call it.

Sometimes the tube for the throttle cable gets bent and will cause all factory cables to break that you put in it.

B

VARam1500 · 12-09-2002, 01:36 PM

Ahhhhhh. Got it! Thanks, Brad. For something like this, I'm almost glad to have a broken part 'cause that means it's not the normal condition and can be fixed for just a few bucks.

Guess I'll add one of those to my wish list. Thanks again!

BTW, when you guys have sawzall parties, do you ever have any rear trunk corner pieces that aren't rusted through?

--Case....

Brad Roberts · 12-09-2002, 01:40 PM

Its hit and miss on the trunk pieces. Some of them are rusted some of them are not. It rains here for 2-3 months out of the year...soo some of them are rusted.

We still have some pieces left over from the cars, but I personally am done with the sawzall parties until the new shop is finished.

B

pbanders · pbanders's Garage

One thing all 914 owners should do is to sit in other 914's and operate the controls. Brake pedal firmness, clutch operation, gearshift, accelerator pedal operation, steering play, etc. What you'll find is either your car is really good or really bad on one or more of these controls.

I've spent a lot of time making sure my controls operate properly and I'm always amazed at how much effort that other owners think is "normal". When they try my clutch, or my throttle (nothing fancy, just stock stuff that's correctly adjusted), the reaction is usually "WOW! Is that how it's supposed to work?"

Basically, nothing should require a heroic amount of effort to operate. Your gearshift should go into gear easily, with little side-to-side slop once in gear. Your clutch should be smooth and not require a 28" thigh to operate. Throttle movement should be smooth and light.

AaronM · 12-09-2002, 02:15 PM

I'll second the TerryCable recommendation. I replaced my throttle cable with one and it made a huge difference. Just make sure that you don't accidentally wrap the throttle cable around the clutch cable when you're putting the new cable in, it's not uncommon to have happen and it's no fun when the engine revs past redline when you push the clutch pedal down.

Aaron

Brad Roberts · 12-09-2002, 02:20 PM

Paul is soo correct.

Drive as many 914's as you can. Try and find somebody with a stock car that will allow you to drive it. This way you have multiple "feeling" for the cars to compare against.

I get into some peoples rides and wonder how they drive them.. they dont know any different, so it doesnt bother them.

B

VARam1500 · 12-09-2002, 05:15 PM

You west-coast guys are a lot of fun!

Quote:

Originally posted by Brad Roberts
Try and find somebody with a stock car .....

I live six miles down a dirt road in the hills. I know of only one other 914 within a 70 mi. radius of here (of course it's cool that its owner works where I do!). I've never actually driven a Porsche at all--not even my own because it didn't run when I bought it and still isn't roadworthy (need tires and brakes).

If it wasn't for this forum, I'd never have gotten in to this. Thanks so much to people like Dave, Brad, Paul, and others for your patience with this half-witted mechanic wannabe. (While I'm giving a speech, thanks also to Paul Woodbury and Ron Meier for parts -- watch your mailboxes, guys!)

All that to say you west coast guys have a great environment for being a community of enthusiasts! I'm green with envy!

Quote:

Originally posted by Brad Roberts
I personally am done with the sawzall parties until the new shop is finished.

Best wishes on gettin' that new shop finished real soon!!

--Case...