What to do if you break your throttle cable. | FerrariChat
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What to do if you break your throttle cable.

Discussion in '308/328' started by brook308, Oct 5, 2009.

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  1. brook308

    brook308 Formula Junior

    Oct 19, 2007
    346
    SS Coast, Australia
    Full Name:
    George
    #1 brook308, Oct 5, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I had the misfortune of breaking a throttle cable on the weekend.

    Someone must have been looking after me as I broke down outside a mechanics house.

    He was working on his Dad's car in the drive way. So with his trolley jack, 8mm socket and a pair of plyers I was on my way again.

    I simply put a loop in the end of the choke cable, attached it to the ball joint on the carb linkage and used the choke as a hand throttle to get me to my destination.

    It took a bit a practice taking off with the choke/throttle but I got there.

    Cheers

    George
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  2. Falcon

    Falcon Formula 3

    Aug 19, 2008
    1,304
    New England Region
    Full Name:
    Falcon
    #2 Falcon, Oct 5, 2009
    That's pretty clever. I had the same thing happen on my 328 but I don't have a manual choke. I turned up the idle to 4000 rpms and limped home at 15 mph. I felt like a jerk at the intersections waiting for lights to turn green.
     
  3. ace_pilot

    ace_pilot Formula Junior

    Sep 6, 2007
    921
    Long Island, NY
    Full Name:
    George
    #3 ace_pilot, Oct 5, 2009
    Where did the cable break? Is there a specific region where the cable is more prone to breaking? (Like the clutch cable?)

    Ace
     
  4. SoCal308GTSiQV

    SoCal308GTSiQV Formula Junior

    Nov 3, 2008
    585
    Ojai, Ca.
    Full Name:
    Chris
    #4 SoCal308GTSiQV, Oct 5, 2009
    Thats also a smart idea! I'll just tuck that into the back of the mind!
     
  5. Jedi

    Jedi Moderator
    Moderator Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Mar 18, 2008
    32,280
    Seattle Area
    Full Name:
    Dave
    #5 Jedi, Oct 5, 2009
    I once did something similar in a VW squareback - I had some speaker
    wire in the back of the car so ran from the linkage (engine bay opens
    inside the back of the car), through the rear seat ceiling hand straps,
    then the front driver's strap, and had a 'pull cable' throttle that got me
    75 miles back home. Yes, it took a few miles to get the hang of how
    to make it go, but it ended up working perfectly.

    There's a McGyver in all of us car guys :D

    Jedi
     
  6. brook308

    brook308 Formula Junior

    Oct 19, 2007
    346
    SS Coast, Australia
    Full Name:
    George
    #6 brook308, Oct 5, 2009
    Ace the cable broke where the cable is crimped onto the fitting that goes into the throttle lever direcly under the pedal.

    On my car there is an inspection plate under the car.
     
  7. eracer

    eracer Karting

    May 29, 2009
    141
    Michigan
    Full Name:
    Eric W.
    #7 eracer, Oct 5, 2009
    About 10 years ago the throttle cable on my 308 broke about 5 miles from my house. It was just starting to get dark on a holiday weekend, and I really wasn't looking forward to the two hour wait for a AAA flatbed. After thinking about it for a while, I was able to rig up a hand throttle with the remaining cable by threading it out of the engine compartment and over the top of the targa (top off). I pulled the throttle cable with my right hand while steering with my left. I got home fine--and I don't mind saying--was pretty damn proud of myself.
     
  8. Falcon

    Falcon Formula 3

    Aug 19, 2008
    1,304
    New England Region
    Full Name:
    Falcon
    #8 Falcon, Oct 5, 2009
    I thought of doing the same thing but I was afraid the cable would rub on the car and damage the paint. Were you able to do this without creating any scatches?
     
  9. Falcon

    Falcon Formula 3

    Aug 19, 2008
    1,304
    New England Region
    Full Name:
    Falcon
    #9 Falcon, Oct 5, 2009
    Mine broke near the throttle linkage. It was frayed but I thought it was good until winter. It wasn't. I did the clutch cable at the same time.
     
  10. Earthboundmisfit

    Earthboundmisfit Formula Junior

    Aug 7, 2009
    886
    Ontario
    Full Name:
    Steve
    #10 Earthboundmisfit, Oct 5, 2009
    "What to do if you break your throttle cable."

    Ans: Hope your car isn't a 3.2L Mondial cuz apparently I got the last one. Brett at Gran Turismo in Ontario had a very hard time tracking one down for me, but he did and it's in transit now (yay! thanks Brett!), but you may be SOL if you're looking for one now.
     
  11. eracer

    eracer Karting

    May 29, 2009
    141
    Michigan
    Full Name:
    Eric W.
    #11 eracer, Oct 7, 2009
    Yes, I keep a toolkit in the car with rags, duct tape, etc., so I was able to cover all the possible rub spots.
     
  12. Grumpy B

    Grumpy B Karting

    May 31, 2005
    184
    South Bay
    Full Name:
    Don
    #12 Grumpy B, Oct 7, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  13. fgcfire8

    fgcfire8 Formula Junior

    Jan 19, 2008
    459
    Montpelier Va
    Full Name:
    Frank Castelvecchi
    #13 fgcfire8, Oct 7, 2009
    lol reminds meof the day i lost a tranny cable on one county car and shifted the auto by set parking brake open hood and count cliks to gear took it back to shop got another loaner
    and 2 hr later its torque converter locked up so had to go to neutral when approaching stop and do neutral drop with tire spin to get going to get that one to shop
     

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