Free play in accelerator pedal

[sunking101]

Hi guys, I'm about to have a look at this problem but I'm posting this request for advice should I encounter any problems! I trust I'll be running back to my pc later....
The pedal has around an inch of freeplay before the juice flows which is awkward when setting-off. I presume I'll be able to adjust the linkage somehow but I'll start at the pedal and see if there's any adjustment there. :?

 

[Derm]

Throttle linkage

Hi
I have had a slack throttle on my 230TE. It was adjusted according to the Manual but I cheated by tightening up the cable and adjusting the kickdown cable then fixed a bracket to the linkage to ensure the throttle idle switch was pressed when on idle. It made a big difference especially on motorway driving.
Good Luck

 

[rjbeston]

sunking101 - how did you get on with your problem? Did you get rid of the slack. I've got a similar problem. keep wheelspinning at traffic lights....
I would be interested in how easy this was to fix.

 

[sunking101]

Afraid I didn't "get on" at all! :-x
The cable from the pedal to the metal linkage works instantaneously so after a bit of a look I saw that the linkage itself is causing the freeplay but it doesn't appear to be adjustable. Basically when you press the accelerator a cable pulls a linkage under the bonnet which then travels sooo far before that in turn pulls another cable which goes to the engine. I'm sure they can't have been like that from new! I hoped it would be adjustable but it seems there is more to it than that, possibly with parts required. I'll ask next time I take it to a garage unless some kind soul on here can point me in the right direction.

 

[Derm]

Read my reply above, mine was the same and I have seen others, with this linkage travel. Take up slack by tightening throttle cable to pull on linkage, put bracket on to press on idle switch and adjust auto cable to suit, makes a big difference especially on the motorway.

 

[TonyCoolDaddy]

t210 new accelerator pedal 17K miles

You dont say what model/year yours is but my E200 komp went funny at 17K miles, the floor mounting screw had "gone" and the pivot had worn wonky, new pedal fitted under warranty £25 parts, 10 mins labour! My symptoms were like pulling away with a metro engine in a range rover.

 

[turnipsock]

I've just got a new cable and will be putting it over the weekend, sometime.

There seems to be an adjustment at both ends of the cable though. I haven't looked at the manual yet, but I guess you take the free play out with the adjustment just above the accelerator. You then adjust the travel at the engine end.

I'll let you know how I get on.

 

[sunking101]

I can see how to possibly take out the free play but what about the idle switch as mentioned earlier in the thread? I don't want to be brazing some kind of bracket on in order to keep this pressed, seems like a lot of hard work! :-?

 

[Derm]

For the throttle switch I bolted an L shaped bracket to an existing hole on the linkage cam and bent it to suit was quite easy.

 

[turnipsock]

I just bent the arm on the switch slightly so it worked properly.

 

[turnipsock]

New accelerator cable fitted now.

The old one had been routed wrongly and I had to take the foam thing out to remove it. Whoever fitted it had it, tucked it in under the brake pipes and stuff and put in a lot of unnecessary bends. This meant that the cable ended up a bit short and the outer had cracked at the bulkhead at the engine end.

I now have a silky smooth accelerator.

Note that these cables work best when straight. On every bend, the inner rubs against the outer and this leads to stiffness and wear.