[V8] throttle cable assembly (spin-off of Oh my achin'... well, everything)

[Ed Kellock]

The "square mounting" is inside the car.  It is a small black piece of
thin folded steel.  In the V8 Service Manual, it is item# 20 on page
20-140-1.  Of course it is nearly indistinguishable.in the picture,
but it seems to be the only bit that securely fixes the throttle cable
to the firewall.  I think it can fatigue and the "legs" of it just go
askew.  This allows the part of the throttle cable assembly and union
at the firewall to go askew.

On the engine side of the firewall, there is a small box to which the
throttle cable attaches.  There is a hook and a wire clip to secure
the cable to this box, but only on one side, the outboard/driver's
side of the assembly.  When this whole assembly/union goes askew
because of the failure of the "square mounting" inside the firewall,
this union outside the firewall does not appear to be correct; the end
of the throttle cable sits cockeyed or half-off of the box at the
engine side of the firewall.

Again, the presence of the distributor seems to serve to keep the
cable positioned so that this union is oriented properly as the cable
turns and presses against the dist cap in about just the right spot. 
Without the dist installed I used a hose clamp on the cable and some
stout yellow construction string to tie the cable into position such
that it no longer sits half off and the assembly/union at the firewall
appears to no longer sit askew.

I'm going to leave the yellow stinrg (how elegant) until I know more
about what's going on here.

Ed

On Sun, 5 Sep 2004 11:14:21 -0400, Intemann, Paul (GEAE)
<paul.intemann at ae.ge.com> wrote:
> Hi Ed,
> 
> quick question for you.  You mentioned the following below:
> 
> "During disassembly, I was a bit indelicate with the throttle cable and
> hear a crack or snap.  I noticed that it was cockeyed at the firewall.
> It has a retaining clip on one side only and was sitting half off due
> to the spring in the cable connection.
> 
> I finally made it under the dash to mess with the "square mounting"
> which had spread it's legs and was not holding the cable steadfastly
> place.  It seems like a cheap spring steel thing that probably cost 3
> cents and once it flexed, it seemed to have no inclination to do its
> job any longer."
> 
> Is the "square mounting" referred to in the second paragraph the one that is
> referred to as being cockeyed in paragraph 1??  I have noticed that same
> cockeyed "box" on my '90 V8 and have always wondered if that is the way it
> is supposed to be or if it is indeed missing a retaining feature on the side
> opposite the one with the retaining clip.  Neither ETKA nor the manual has
> helped me much in this regard and the way the throttle cable currently exits
> the "box" configuration seems to line-up the throttle cable perfectly for
> the "long gentle" bend necessary for it to interface "smoothly" with the
> actual throttle linkage located under the airbox.  Thus I have always
> wondered if that "sitting half off" configuration is really the way it is
> meant to be or not?   Sounds like it isn't ...  Any info would be
> appreciated since I am in the process of installing new steering rack and
> would like to "fix" this if it is indeed something that needs attention.
> 
> Regards,
> Paul
> 
> P.S.  Sounds like you have been busy lately ....
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ed Kellock [mailto:ekellock at gmail.com]
> Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2004 1:47 AM
> To: v8 at audifans.com
> Subject: [V8] Oh my achin'... well, everything
> 
> Pulled a full shift on the '90 V8q today.  Pulled the engine rpm and
> crank pos sensors last Saturdy.  The sensors I ordered from a supplier
> in Florida are indefinitely delayed for some strange reason.  Best
> wishes to all affected by Frances.
> 
> Thanks again to Scott Matus for having a stock of common V8 spares.
> Sensors arrived shortly after noon today.  I had already started
> putzing around and continued to do so, cleaning stuff, etc.  Got the
> sensors in okay.  I wasn't the one who removed them so I had to check
> ETKA and Audi V8 Service Training manual very carefully.  As a result
> I got them hooked up to the right connectors.
> 
> The rest of the day was eaten up doing some more cleaning and putting
> a new hose clamp on a hydraulic line.  Oh and effing around with the
> throttle cable...
> 
> During disassembly, I was a bit indelicate with the throttle cable and
> hear a crack or snap.  I noticed that it was cockeyed at the firewall.
> It has a retaining clip on one side only and was sitting half off due
> to the spring in the cable connection.
> 
> I finally made it under the dash to mess with the "square mounting"
> which had spread it's legs and was not holding the cable steadfastly
> place.  It seems like a cheap spring steel thing that probably cost 3
> cents and once it flexed, it seemed to have no inclination to do its
> job any longer.  I did some inventive rigging in the engine
> compartment to keep the cable in a certain position.  I'm going to
> have to watch it and see what all happens.  Once I had the distributor
> back in it seems that the "interface" with between the cable and
> distributor also holds it in place.
> 
> In the process the cable task, I readjusted the throttle linkage.
> 
> The distributor cap and rotor on the drivers side are original.  I
> have never seen so much crap on the inside of a dist cap.  I'm
> surprised it ran at all.  I cleaned up the contacts but will replace
> caps/rotors soon, along with fuel/air filters and probably plugs.
> 
> I started around noon and clocked out at 10pm.  There was a lunch
> break and some desk time to research sensor connections, but I spent
> the majority of the time laying on my stomach on top of the intake
> manifold.  I put a large flat 2x2 pillow down and it's quite
> comfortable for the first couple hours.  Tomorrow my ribs will be
> sore.  BTDT.
> 
> All in all a successful day.  Final reassebly will take place tomorrow
> morning.  Then I can clear the driveway for the urq to begin preps for
> a trip to Park City fo the West Coast UPG.
> 
> Good night all,
> Ed
> Colorado Springs.