RF02 Van Diemen Throttle Pedal Stuck to floor

[JC86]

Hi all,

This past weekend I was at the Daytona Double. Unbeknownst to me, on the cooldown lap some spectators caught smoke coming from the back of the vehicle (haven't had time to look into the source, whether it be from the exhaust or engine itself). Approaching the bus stop, I was unable to downshift the car and quickly realized the car had shut off. Tried to refire, and the engine wouldn't turn over. Soon after coming to a stop i found myself searching for the throttle pedal in the footwell to eventually realize the throttle pedal was completely stuck to the floor.

In the time it took the marshals to come to my car, the pedal slowly started returning forward, but in a "mushy" way, as when I would try to press on the pedal it would still stick to the floor, and slowly return to the normal position after a few seconds.

We again tried the throttle pedal back in the garage only for it to be appearing relatively normal, but then would occasionally get stuck again. This time, it would return to the normal position at full speed, rather than slowly/ "mushy".


Any ideas about this? New throttle return spring? Or more serious underlying issues? Any help would be greatly appreciated, will give more detail if necessary. Thanks!

[stonebridge20]

Sounds like you melted the throttle cable.

[Mike B]

My first thought is a failed or failing throttle cable, either worn or possibly melted inner housing. Disconnect both ends and see if it moves smoothly by hand throughout the full range. While it's disconnected you can also feel the pedal through its full motion and actuate the throttle body by hand to help narrow it down.

[JC86]

Sounds like you melted the throttle cable.

Don’t believe so. We’re not using the standard ones that are replaced in the car. It’s an aircraft grade steel rod like from Aircraft Spruce.

[JC86]

My first thought is a failed or failing throttle cable, either worn or possibly melted inner housing. Disconnect both ends and see if it moves smoothly by hand throughout the full range. While it's disconnected you can also feel the pedal through its full motion and actuate the throttle body by hand to help narrow it down.

Please see above. Not sure/don’t think it’s the cable as we are not using the flimsy Primus Racing standard ones for the F2000s, we have one made from Aircraft steel. It’s extremely robust compared to the “stock” throttle cable. That’s why it’s such a mystery to us

[Mike B]

It's not the cable that melts, it's the lining of the housing that melts. If you disconnect it at both ends you can isolate the only components that could cause this problem.

[JC86]

It's not the cable that melts, it's the lining of the housing that melts. If you disconnect it at both ends you can isolate the only components that could cause this problem.

I will give it a look. Thank you!

[Roland V. Johnson]

You probably had the ground fail and the throttle cable becomes the path of least resistance and melts the lining.

[DaveW]

It's not the cable that melts, it's the lining of the housing that melts. If you disconnect it at both ends you can isolate the only components that could cause this problem.

I will give it a look. Thank you!

I've had some push-pull cables melt and freeze the swaybar adjustment. There are high-temp cables available. I get mine from "Control Cables."

https://www.controlcables.com/

[Purple Frog]

Zetec or Pinto?

Did you find source of smoke?

[JC86]

I've had some push-pull cables melt and freeze the swaybar adjustment. There are high-temp cables available. I get mine from "Control Cables."

https://www.controlcables.com/

Interesting, I'll look at this site. That is the main thing that I believe most people here are under the assumption we are using a standard woven cable, when it is the aircraft push pull control type cable. Still scratching my head

[JC86]

Zetec or Pinto?

Did you find source of smoke?

Zetec engine, and not yet. Swamped with so much footage i have yet to go through - but I am assuming the throttle pedal getting stuck and the ignition turning off are not related and just happened at the same time by coincidence. If you have any ideas let me know!

[stonebridge20]

Don’t believe so. We’re not using the standard ones that are replaced in the car. It’s an aircraft grade steel rod like from Aircraft Spruce.

The push/pull cables have a nylon inner sheath just the same as a multi strand cables. They need to be protected from heat sources all the same.

[Bob Coury]

Zetec or Pinto?

Did you find source of smoke?

Pretty sure it was a blown head gasket. Going to pull the head in the next few weeks. Ironically, he did the fastest lap in class around that time that it was smoking. Also beat his old mans time by almost 2 sec.