'88 5KSQ Accelerator Linkage Problem

[Buchholz, Steven]

The accelerator linkage on my '88 5KSQ seems broken.  The car will idle, but

the accelerator pedal seems to move about 1 inch before engaging.  This 
makes for very jerky operation.

I noted that there is a white plastic disk that is broken on the linkage to 
the cruise control.  Does that have anything to do with this problem?

*****

My guess is that the latter is probably related to the former ... 

The first thing to do ASAP is to disconnect the cruise control rod from the
ball on the throttle bellcrank.  The broken rod can jam while the throttle
is depressed which is not something you would want either.  I don't have the
P/N for the disk at hand, but if you look on TFA for the CC linkage on a V8
or A4 you will find the part called out separately ... it is the same part
as the 5kTQ uses and only costs about U$2 ...

The outer sheath of the throttle cable runs to a mount on the back of the
intake manifold where there is a clip that allows you to adjust the pedal
position.  I'm thinking that in the past the CC rod was jammed and someone
simply pushed harder on the pedal until the clip either broke off or slid to
another position.  Pull the cable sheath toward the firewall until you start
to see the throttle bellcrank pulling away from the idle position because
all the slack is gone in the cable ... choose a position for the clip where
the cable has just a little slack.  Now have someone depress the throttle
fully and make sure that the cable isn't being pulled tight at WOT ... as
that would be your next learning experience with throttle cables ... what to
do when they break!  BTDT on the '88 5kCSQA myself ... 

HTH!
Steve Buchholz
San Jose, CA (USA)
... reading the list via the archives ... BTW, if there is anyone who is
wondering if their posts are formatted or not just go to the archives and
check out your posts there ... it is actually a fairly common thing ...