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Bill A
Dodge Dakota
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12/30/2004
12:18:17

Subject: Throttle cable adjustment
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Hi,

I sure could use some advice...
I have a stck 97 Dakota, that has had regular maintenance, but she's old! (190,000 miles)

Yesterday my son tried to start her, and she wouldn't start unless he depressed the throttle a bit. Then, with his foot slightly on the acceoerator, she idled fune, revved fine, sounded fine, but as soon as he removed his foot from the accelerator she died. The same symptoms occurred several times, everthing seems fine until you take your foot off the gas.

I am NOT a mechanic, so please forgive my ignorance. The throttle cable seem to have quite a bit of slack in it, and i can see it tighen up to where it just seems to take the slack out when he has the accelerator cable depressed just enough to run at a normal idle.

Does it sound like i need to adjust the cable?
If so, how do i do that?

Thank you VERY much!!!

Bill



JasonB
Dodge Dakota
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12/30/2004
13:45:05

RE: Throttle cable adjustment
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Have the battery tested and clean the throttle body.



Bill A
Dodge Dakota
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12/30/2004
14:05:02

RE: Throttle cable adjustment
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Thank you, Jason!

The battery tests fine, but I have never cleaned the throttle body...wish me luck!

(I'd appreciate any tips or pointers you might want to offer...thanks!)



Figols
Dodge Dakota
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12/30/2004
14:26:31

RE: Throttle cable adjustment
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Sounds like the Idle air control valve(IAC). Try cleaning it or replacing it. The cable could be stretched from age and use, but I doubt it has anything to do with your idle problem. Really all a strectched out cable is going to do is keep you from getting full throttle.



actually
Dodge Dakota
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12/31/2004
11:07:33

RE: Throttle cable adjustment
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the cable is fine they come from the factory long like that and DO NOT stretch out with use. have some one hold down the pedal and look at the TB (do this with the engine OFF) and you will see what I mean.



Figols
Dodge Dakota
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1/02/2005
18:27:36

RE: Throttle cable adjustment
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Actually, "actually", it is possible that the cable is stretched, but I doubt it has anything to do with his particular problem. All cables will stretch out over time and use. I think you're confusing the cable sleave with the actual cable that runs inside of the sleave. The sleave won't stretch, but the actual cable running in side of it absolutly will. Many cars still have adjustable throttle cables and detent cables (for those trannys that still have a mechanical valve body)just for that reason, to compensate for stretch. Dodge (of course) takes the cheap route and provides a non adjustable cable.



Rob C
Dodge Dakota
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1/03/2005
00:18:45

RE: Throttle cable adjustment
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Bill A, the symptoms you're descibing sound like 2 things that are common. 1. Your battery is going bad. Even if the engine cranks over, when the battery get weak, sometimes a high load on the battery (like when starting) causes the battery voltage to drop below the minimum level required to maintain the settings on your PCM. This resets your parameters to factory default which may cause difficult starting. Have your charging system tested at AutoZone for free.
2. Your throttle body and IAC (idle air control) port and pintle motor have dirt build up on them. This is normal and will cause a poor or no idle condition. Here's a link to the procedure for cleaning them: http://www.speedtweaks.ca/tipsandtricks.php#CleanTB
Good luck!



Bill A
Dodge Dakota
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1/06/2005
18:46:27

RE: Throttle cable adjustment
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I cleaned the throttle body and IAC, started her up and drove for about an hour...no problems since.

I appreciate all your help!



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