348 throttle cable replacement problem | FerrariChat

348 throttle cable replacement problem

Discussion in '348/355' started by dontknownuttin, May 30, 2014.

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  1. dontknownuttin

    dontknownuttin Karting

    Mar 21, 2014
    133
    Forest Lake, MN USA
    Full Name:
    Jonathan
    I'm working on replacing the throttle cable in my '90 348. I've got it off the pedal, and off the engine. It should be free to slide through the tube, correct? I cannot see any points where it would be bolted in place, but I cannot see all of it. Is there somewhere under the center console or behind the gas tank that the cable is fastened in some way? Again, both ends are free, so it is tube end to tube end, but something is keeping it firmly in place.
     
  2. plugzit

    plugzit F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2004
    7,776
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    Bruce Bogart
    Rust. No kidding. Lotsa WD40.
     
  3. dontknownuttin

    dontknownuttin Karting

    Mar 21, 2014
    133
    Forest Lake, MN USA
    Full Name:
    Jonathan
    I was afraid of that. It won't even budge a mm. Thanks for the info.

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  4. Dino Chang

    Dino Chang Guest

    Dec 29, 2012
    772
    355s have a strong clip that holds the cable tube against the transmission tunnel under the carpet.
    This may also be your problem.
     
  5. tbakowsky

    tbakowsky F1 World Champ
    Consultant Professional Ferrari Technician

    Sep 18, 2002
    19,948
    The Cold North
    Full Name:
    Tom
    Did you remove the holder that is attached to the thermostat housing? It's an eyelet, with a c-clip holding the cable..
     
  6. dontknownuttin

    dontknownuttin Karting

    Mar 21, 2014
    133
    Forest Lake, MN USA
    Full Name:
    Jonathan
    Yes, I removed the holder. I have not found the clamp talked about before though. Is that under the center console?
     
  7. dontknownuttin

    dontknownuttin Karting

    Mar 21, 2014
    133
    Forest Lake, MN USA
    Full Name:
    Jonathan
    Pulled the entire center console. No clamps. So, rust/build-up it is. eek
     
  8. dontknownuttin

    dontknownuttin Karting

    Mar 21, 2014
    133
    Forest Lake, MN USA
    Full Name:
    Jonathan
    and it's out. I had to cut a section out just inside the firewall. It is NASTY. I had filled it with WD-40, but it was solid gunk. It came out, but it was seriously like snaking a totally backed up drain 4' long. Now debating if I want to try to clean the inside of the tube at all. The upper part is OK, but the part that runs under the center console is filled with dirt and gunk.
     
  9. dontknownuttin

    dontknownuttin Karting

    Mar 21, 2014
    133
    Forest Lake, MN USA
    Full Name:
    Jonathan
    #9 dontknownuttin, May 31, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    OK, here is the aftermath, and the very nasty old cable. The heart of the problem was the cable shielding cracked and came loose, then got gummed up by the dirt and such. I created this super amazing Ferrari Authorized vacuum tube to hook to the wet/dry vac and stuck it on one end. At first, even with the cable out, it was still 100% clogged. I used a coat hanger to pull out a lot of extra shielding. That opened up a small hole. Then I got a funnel and poured water down. That got the rest of the small bits out and I was able to fish the new cable through with relative ease.
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  10. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 19, 2001
    22,614
    The Brickyard
    Full Name:
    The Bad Guy
    Wow!

    You were on a mission to get that out.
     
  11. dontknownuttin

    dontknownuttin Karting

    Mar 21, 2014
    133
    Forest Lake, MN USA
    Full Name:
    Jonathan
    Yeah. Gas pedal is important. There is a lot wrong with this car, but in time, I will fix it all. That is why I bought it.
     
  12. cuneo

    cuneo Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 20, 2006
    2,469
    You could probably engineer a better throttle cable system yourself. Ferrari did a lot of things wrong, sadly, and the 348/355 throttle control is pretty archaic.
     
  13. pnicholasen

    pnicholasen Formula 3

    Jan 14, 2011
    1,364
    South of Philly
    Full Name:
    Paul Nicholasen
    Wondering if the rusty housing could be replaced with a length of bicycle brake cable housing. I think some even come with a fancy Teflon inner sleeve.
     
  14. Dave rocks

    Dave rocks F1 World Champ
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    Nov 23, 2012
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    Orchard Park, NY
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    Dave Lelonek
    I don't know if the 348 and 355 share the same cable, if they do, PM me, I have brand new one I would sell for 25% off the price (my issue was not the cable)
     
  15. dontknownuttin

    dontknownuttin Karting

    Mar 21, 2014
    133
    Forest Lake, MN USA
    Full Name:
    Jonathan
    It already is that type of cable. It is just a cable inside a sleeve, that is coating in plastic, that is then fed through the tube. I could understand the tube part over the gas tank as you would have to pull the tank otherwise to run a new cable. But the rest isn't required.
     
  16. dontknownuttin

    dontknownuttin Karting

    Mar 21, 2014
    133
    Forest Lake, MN USA
    Full Name:
    Jonathan
    I had already sourced a cable before starting this, but thanks for the offer. My problem was the cable.
     
  17. Dave rocks

    Dave rocks F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Nov 23, 2012
    16,047
    Orchard Park, NY
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    Dave Lelonek
    Glad you found the problem.
     

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