'98 V 70 -- Accelerator cable worn out?

Post by **E Showell** » 22 Aug 2016, 19:09

While recharging the A/C compressor, I asked both my wife and son to hold the revs at idle around 1,500 while I recharged the compressor. It was tough to do. What I noticed is that the pedal takes a fairly firm press to advance it and once you get it going, it is tough to back off on it enough to steady it in at a particular engine speed. I notice no such difficulty with the car in gear and moving on the road. Any thoughts? I am probably on the original accelerator cable. (I had cleaned the throttle body beforehand -- but noticed the behavior both before and after cleaning since I had attempted a recharge a few days earlier but the 15 amp climate control fuse was blown.

Post by **cn90** » 22 Aug 2016, 19:14

Accel. cable usually lasts about 140K or so, after that engine heat damages the sheathing, corrosion sets in.
It is a safety issue, I have seen cars in accident simply b/c the cable is seized (you rev it up and it does not "return").
It is cheap at dealer (about $30 IIRC), replace it at this age.

Post by **erikv11** » 22 Aug 2016, 20:50

These blanket statements that such-and-such part usually goes out at xxx miles tend to drive me nuts (maybe I already am!

). They're showing up more and more on the forum yet, in my experience, most (like this one) are inaccurate.

For example, consider that most P80 cars passed 140k about 5-10 years ago, yet you will find very few posts about bad throttle cables. Or, that I've yet to encounter a bad accelerator cable on a P80, and I've owned and driven five of them well above 140k. So far. Six if you count the parts car that I only drove across town before I began dismantling it. Yes of course the cable can and does go bad, but as is almost always the case, there are likely several variables in play. The odometer clicking over 140k is not going to be very relevant here.

From what you describe Evan, I would try lubricating the cable. If that helps, then either go with it lubed or replace it, your call. If lube doesn't help, then maybe the trouble is somewhere else. Is the throttle linkage in good shape?

Here is some reasoned discussion, from 5 years back: https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?t=35579

Post by **cn90** » 23 Aug 2016, 07:44

It is OK to go nuts, nothing wrong with that erik.

What I am saying are:

1. Accel. cable is a thing of the past, most car mfg's switched to TBW after 2000, for better or worse.
So most of these cables are OLD.

2. Notice I said "Accel. cable usually lasts about 140K or so".
There you go, everything is approx.
What if I say "tires last about 40K", "brake pads last about 45K"? Same thing, every item has a lifespan.

I have owned a lot of cars with accel. cable, after some 10yr/140K, the sheathing is damaged from the heat, now the metal coil (basically a very long spring) has no protection: debris/salt gets in.

People can play Russian roulette with the accel cable.
I don't.
It is inexpensive and simply good maintenance to replace it when the time comes (i.e. getting stiff).
It is a SAFETY issue.

jantt · Post by **jantt** » 23 Aug 2016, 09:03

my cable is 24 years old and has 300.000 km on it

How do I know ? It was a company car and as I work at Volvo I can see all history on it.

Post by **abscate** » 23 Aug 2016, 11:25

My cable wore out in....wait a minute - I have a fine Italian electronic throttle ...sneer......

>>>>ETS light on<<<<<<

Post by **scot850** » 23 Aug 2016, 11:48

There was a recent post about how best to lube the cable. But if it is as cheap as suggested then for all the hassle it may be worth just replacing it.
Part number should be: 9157601 for auto and 9157600 for manual.

Don't see any for $30 but I did see this:

https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Volvo-Th ... B00FZ5Q8M4

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/VOLVO-OEM-93-97- ... 1322731843

http://www.tascaparts.com/oe-volvo/9157601

It will probably take as much time and effort to do the lube process and as you have to disconnect it anyway at the throttle body end, it is your call.

What I would also check is the throttle body control spring area and give that a tube where it rotates, and also remove, clean and a small amount of grease on both ball and socket ends of the throttle linkage to the throttle body. Again those tend to get over looked in maintenance.

Good luck!

Neil.

Post by **jreed** » 02 Sep 2016, 04:45

I noticed a lot of cracked sheathing on the throttle cable on my '97 855 GLT at ~180k miles. This is the original cable as far as I know and it seems to be working smoothly with no problems noted. Would you guys take a look and let me know if you think this requires replacement please?

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Sommerfeldt · Post by **Sommerfeldt** » 02 Sep 2016, 06:21

erikv11 wrote:These blanket statements that such-and-such part usually goes out at xxx miles tend to drive me nuts (maybe I already am! ). They're showing up more and more on the forum yet, in my experience, most (like this one) are inaccurate.

+1. I've also never seen a throttle cable fail, and I've had 3 of these and an S70 for a while. My current one is 25 000 km over that 140k miles limit by now. There's also other things I've seen claims about recently, such as o2-sensors, linkages and bushings to mention a few, and I just don't think it's true. All wear depends on such a multiplum of factors - weather, storage, parking, road conditions, temperatures, humidity, other parts, other replacements, accidents, and a thousand others, that it's impossible to tell.

In this case, I don't think cn90 is correct - it's not a safety issue. An e-brake is a safety issue.

I've tried to look for accidents with Volvos that involve the so-called "involuntary acceleration", but I can't seem to find any. Apart from cn90's own accident, where the throttle got stuck due to an impact, there doesn't seem to be much precedence for calling this replacement a safety issue. Remember also that it takes quite a bit of force to have the TB stay open - it really wants to slam shut.

- S

Post by **cn90** » 02 Sep 2016, 07:35

Sommerfeldt wrote:...In this case, I don't think cn90 is correct - it's not a safety issue. An e-brake is a safety issue.

WRONG!!!

The parking brake in the Volvo is close to worthless. Try a new car, drive at 30 mph, pull the parking brake and it will take forever to stop.
So on a moving car, the parking brake is close to worthless: we have discussed this before in forum.
I have spent countless hours on the parking brake and now it is worthless.
(New rotor, new shoes, lubed everything...see the DIY).

So, Parking Brake on a stationary car, even if the parking brake is bad, you can live with it (you should fix the parking brake as much as you can):
- Manual: engage 1st (or reverse) gear, turn the wheels to curb as they teach in driver's ed school. You should be fine.
- Auto: set it to Park. Avoid steep hill when parking. Of course turn the wheels to curb.

Just google "stuck throttle cable accident", you will tons and tons of posts for all kinds of cars. Make sure you know how to slide your foot under the gas pedal and lift it up in case of emergency.
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=st ... e+accident

Between the parking brake and throttle cable, I'd pick a functioning throttle cable any time. In other words, I can live w/o the parking brake.
In fact, after spending money on new parts, adjusting the parking brake many times, I finally gave up and accept the fact that my car has no parking brake (for now). That is for my 1998 S70 automatic. The car is doing fine.

The liability is MUCH BIGGER for a bad throttle cable > a bad parking brake.

The cable: bicycle cables fail, motorcycle cables fail, car throttle cables fail.
jreed, if your cable works fine, then I guess you can leave it alone.
But if this were my car, I'd replace it, you will see the difference, the gas pedal will be "feather light".
The cable is cheaper than liability involved should your engine runs out of control.

PS: The problem with these 20-year-old cars....the value is now down to $500-$1000, most people don't want to spend the extra $.
I am different, if the car deserves a new cable, I will buy a new cable.
Safety first...