General Ford Ranger Discussion General discussion of the Ford Ranger that does not fit in any other sub-forum.

Had a hitch in my giddy up.

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Old Jul 19, 2008
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Lord Of War's Avatar
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Had a hitch in my giddy up.

Today my girlfriend and I were headed up to Estes Park to have lunch and to walk around the cool old town. As were driving up the steep mountian roads my throttle body cable snaps. At first I have no idea what it was, all I know is that I am going up a steep hill with no gas pedal.

So we coast as far as we can which ended up not being very far. Since there was really no pull off I was half off the road and half in the road which was really ****ty considering we where right on the other side of a blind corner. I could not pull off the road because I didnt have a gas pedal.

So we are freaking out hoping not to get hit and what not. So I call my girlfriends, moms boyfriend who is a firefighter. He says to put it in 4 low and let out the clutch slowly. So I did, and my truck started to move about 1 MPH but it was enough to get me up the hill so I could pull off and check out my truck.

I get out and start to check things out and find that the problem lies in the engine bay. I pop the hood and starting looking around the throttle body to see what was up. I had some tools with me so I took off the throttle body cover and see that the cable had snapped.

I ended up messin with it for about a half hour and figured out a way to "jerry rig it". I tied the cable in to a not and attached a few zip ties to the throttle body lever that actually moves. It worked good enough to let me drive 40 miles to my dads house to get it fixed.

All I know is I am glad I didnt get hit and that I had some tools and parts to help me get it done.

Just remeber guys.... always keep some tools and spare parts like zip ties and duck tape in your truck.

BTW, the new throttle body cable is alot different then my old one. It doesnt have the green spring attached to it. Works great though.

In the pics you can see a reflector post right after the turn. Thats where we stopped. As you can see there is no room to get over.

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The evil culprit


 

Last edited by Lord Of War; Jul 19, 2008 at 06:24 PM.
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Old Jul 19, 2008
  #2  
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From: lakeland, fl
damn that sux..glad u got it home safe n fixed quick
 
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Old Jul 19, 2008
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From: Boring, Oregon
oh yes...i love snapping throttle cables...happend about 3 times in my chevy.

Whats the deal with the springy thing on the new cable?
 
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Old Jul 19, 2008
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From: Centennial CO
Damn dude, you didn't even make it far outta Lyons before it snapped!!!

Least ya got it off the road and fixed!
 
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Old Jul 19, 2008
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Lord Of War's Avatar
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From: Thornton, Colorado
Originally Posted by Fx4wannabe01
oh yes...i love snapping throttle cables...happend about 3 times in my chevy.

Whats the deal with the springy thing on the new cable?
That was my old cable. The new one did not come with it. I was curious to see what most have out there.


Originally Posted by thesoundmaster
Damn dude, you didn't even make it far outta Lyons before it snapped!!!

Least ya got it off the road and fixed!

Your right Chuck... I was only a few miles outside of Lyons when this happened.

It was a really bad place to have it snap.

What causes the cable to snap? Its not like its under that much pressure.
 
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Old Jul 19, 2008
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damn that sucks, i need to get some more zip ties in my truck tool box. Though i have a entire roll of duct tape = fix anything.

lol
 
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Old Jul 19, 2008
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From: Thornton, Colorado
I would have been ****ed with out zip ties.
 
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Old Jul 19, 2008
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Originally Posted by Lord Of War
Your right Chuck... I was only a few miles outside of Lyons when this happened.

I've driven that road too many times to count...
 
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Old Jul 19, 2008
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From: Boring, Oregon
Another suggestion....anybody with a superlift or RCD, be sure to carry a T30 in your set of tools......when that front shaft goes....it REALLY goes! I didn't have my torx sockets, so a tow truck towed me home.
 
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Old Jul 19, 2008
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Glad you fixed it and didn't have an accident. It's pretty out there too!
 
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Old Jul 19, 2008
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i used to work on a race car, and i saw a fellow race car drive snap his throttle body cable. they duct taped it on and he finished he race.
 
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Old Jul 19, 2008
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Nice done!
 
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Old Jul 20, 2008
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so, since my throttle body cable is the original from nov of 2000, am i in danger of it snapping? should i just go out and buy a new one and have it ready?
 
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Old Jul 20, 2008
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I drove that road in college ,, Man ,,, someone was looking over you !!
 
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Old Jul 20, 2008
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Lord Of War's Avatar
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Originally Posted by edgeaholic (tm)
so, since my throttle body cable is the original from nov of 2000, am i in danger of it snapping? should i just go out and buy a new one and have it ready?
I really doubt it. That cable could have last a 100 years. I really think it snapping was a fluke.
 
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