What is the accelerator / throttle cable?
The accelerator cable (or throttle cable) assists in the control of your engine RPM and acceleration of your vehicle. It is a metal cable that forms a connection between the accelerator pedal (or gas pedal) and the engine’s throttle body.
In petrol engines, the throttle controls how much air enters your engine, whereas, in diesel engines, it controls how much air and fuel is added. When the gas / accelerator pedal is pressed down, the accelerator cable is pulled, causing the throttle to open to let the air/fuel into your engine. This causes combustion of fuel, which allows the engine to produce power and the vehicle to move forward.
How does a car’s throttle system work?
Causes of a damaged throttle cable / accelerator cable:
Wear over time – The throttle cable / accelerator cable can become worn, causing it to weaken and eventually snap. This can sever your pedal’s connection with the throttle body and prevent your car from accelerating correctly.
Stretched cable – The cable can stretch over time. This can affect your vehicle’s driveability causing delayed acceleration and reduced responses.
Cable in need of adjustment – Sometimes, the accelerator cable can fall out of place and need to be readjusted/refitted. When the cable falls out of place, your accelerator pedal may not function correctly.
Cruise Control Malfunction – if you car has cruise control, it can affect the car throttle body cable / car accelerator cable. This is because the cruise control system also control the engine throttle body and engine rpm.
Symptoms of a failing accelerator cable:
Delayed response – A cable that is stretched or in need of adjustment can result in delayed acceleration when the gas pedal is applied.
Faulty cruise control – The accelerator/throttle cable often connects to the cruise control. If you notice that your cruise control is not working correctly, the throttle cable may be the culprit.
Cruise control fixes in Hamilton >
Car not accelerating – In severe cases, the car’s accelerator pedal may work at all. This is usually caused by a snapped cable.
Engine RPM stays high sometimes – this can be caused by an intermittently sticking accelerator cable / throttle cable. Sometimes if you “flick” the accelerator / gas pedal you can get the engine RPM to return to normal idle. A sticking accelerator cable / throttle cable can be extremely dangerous, especially in automatic transmission vehicles as it makes it more difficult to slow down and harder on your brakes and automatic transmission.
New Accelerator / Throttle Cable – Replacement in Hamilton
Are you in need of a new accelerator / throttle cable? At Grimmer Motors, we can remove your old, broken or sticking cable and install a new one for you. This will allow for proper acceleration that you can rely on. We can also adjust your cable so that it works more effectively.
For new accelerator cables / throttle cables in Hamilton, contact Grimmer Motors today!
Please Note – we don’t generally stock or supply just “parts only” for this service. We are a general automotive repair workshop. If you are able to bring your vehicle to us, we can diagnose the problem, find and fit the necessary parts, or organise the appropriate service for you.