[s-cars] re. Broken Plastic yields red line auto

[Calvin Young]

Sorry it took so long to get back to you guys, I was out of town for an
extended period and these emails got lost in the pack until I decided to
clean up.  

My main concern is that everyone who has this part or even a new one, should
have it strengthened or replaced by a metal part.  Too much is at stake on
such a cheap plastic part. I hope to put a metal clip over the part until I
can fashion a metal replacement.  Now the details.

First the simple.  Turning off the key during DC rush hour beltway traffic
is out of the question.  This was my first thought.  Then the reality of
hundreds of 75-80 mph hour cars going by and me in the next to the far left
lane with no control disabused me of that notion.  Better to risk losing an
engine than a high speed crash involving scores of autos.  Also lurking in
my brain was he thought that the steering wheel locks up once the key is
turned off.  In the crush of the moment, I could not reason that if I put
the key in accessory I would still have steering control.  No matter, back
to the first threat, all those speeding cars with no mercy or thought of
others.  DC drivers used to be a thoughtful lot, but no more.  It is every
man for himself and the devil take the hindmost.  After I got off the
beltway and onto a main road, not one car stopped to ask if they could help.
I mean hundreds of cars as I waited for my wife to come and get us.  

Our cars need a permanent fix, period, period, period.  Not one person
should have an accident because of this part. An adult solution is to find a
fix and implement it.  A recall is the best solution.  Anyone know how to
bet this started with NHTSA?

During the wait, I figured out a way to restrain the throttle with wire so
that I could get the car moving off that busy street.  On a side street, I
adjusted the throttle to get 3000 rpm and limped home with the car (I just
hate the wait to get towed).  With flashers on, I had to endure hecklers
yelling and horn honks that as I limped home.  Like I said, merciful lot.

Next issue.  What other time bomb is waiting for us like this one.  We
really should look at the car with this thought in mind.  If Audi engineers
were so thoughtless in this way, what other catastrophic failure mode is
waiting for us.  Just a thought.  I plan to go over my car with this in
mind.  I already have had a rubber fuel line break.  Luckily it did this at
my home.  The fuel line in question is the one from the gas tank to the
metal line near the rear passenger door.  This line is somewhat unprotected
and really should be encased in hard rubber plastic.  I would replace this
as a precaution.  Trouble is Audi wants $3500 to drop the tank and the rear
suspension.  Luckily I found a local mechanic to replace the line for under
$300.


I want a permanent fix.  Anyone want to work with me on this if we do not
have one in hand?

Cal


Guys:

Given the failure mode, do you _really_ want to replace this part with a 
used one?

Forget about the "cost" of the plastic part (probably pennies) Think more
about the impact of the failure to yourself, loved 
ones, others,  and your wallet.

Consider it an 1 time replacement during the life of your car... That might
make the $90 investment in a new throttle cable more palatable ;-)

-Peter

Also, is this something that the more mechanically-inclined folks might 
think is worthy of creating a replacement ?
I.e., have something machined out of a plastic such as delrin?




At 09:18 AM 1/9/2007 -0500, Ben Swann wrote:
>Which engine/car is this for.  I may have the part, and have a couple
>of throttle bodies - one for an AAN.
>
>
>
>Do you have a picture of the part - I think I know what it is, but
>picture would clarify.
>
>
>
>Ben
>
>
>
>[Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2007 21:43:04 -0500
>
>From: "Calvin Young" <calvinyoung at cox.net>
>
>Subject: [s-cars] Broken Plastic yields red line auto
>
>To: <s-car-list at audifans.com>
>
>Message-ID: <00db01c73397$e6b52d20$6401a8c0 at LivingOne>
>
>Content-Type: text/plain;     charset="us-ascii"
>
>
>
>Guess what guys, a small plastic piece that connects the end of the
>
>accelerator cable to the throttle body breaks and the engine
>immediately
>
>goes to 7000 rpm.  Keep the car out of gear and the engine blows.  Keep
>the
>
>car in gear and it goes for the top speed.  Put a foot on the brake to
>slow
>
>down the car and the brakes begin to burn up.
>
>
>
>Finally stopped the car and saw that the manifold was red hot, I mean
>cherry
>
>red hot.  Found the problem and it is a 2 cent piece of plastic
>
>See Calvin young at myspace.com to see the part.
>
>
>
>The dealer wants $95 for the entire cable and they are not sure that
>the
>
>part even comes with it.  The throttle body could also have the part
>and the
>
>price is $890.  My solution is to find someone that has solved this
>problem
>
>in a reasonable way.  Since I still have the part that broke off, I
>hope to
>
>glue it back and try to wrap it with metal.
>
>
>
>Given the consequences, you would think Audi would have thought of
>that.
>
>
>
>Any body had this problem?
>
>
>
>Calvin Young, 94S4]
>
>_______________________________________________
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-Peter Schulz
Chelmsford Ma, USA
http://www.naaclub.org/

1995.5 S6 Emerald/Ecru
1991 200 20v Q Avant Titan Grey
1991 200 20v Q Avant Indigo Mica (for Sale)
1991 90 20v Q Red

1990 CQ silver
1991 CQ silver  (eS2 recipient)