Frozen/Stuck Accellerator Cable

[bundoodle]

The last few times I've tried to take the van out in this cold weather the accellerator pedal appears to be frozen and when it finally goes down it sticks there. You then have to pull the cable back in the engine back and keep going like this until there is enough movement for the spring in the engine bay to pull it back.

Has anyone got any suggestions on how this can be fixed or do I need to fit a new cable?

Cheers

[ghost123uk]

There is some talk right now on here about special oil to put in door locks that stops the freezing up as well as lubing them. iirc the poster said it was commonly used in Sweden, or was it Finland. Someone said Halfords sell something like it. That might work, as might a liberal coating of Vaseline. First thing to do though is get it dry and that ain't going to be easy at the mo !!

E D I T = here it is viewtopic.php?f=4&t=78349&hilit=locks

[Red Westie]

Handbrake/throttle/gearbox cables CAN all suffer from this issue if they are not sealed at their ends as it is water that freezes.
Hand brake cables are particularly prone to this problem when the small end gaitors split and allow water ingress.

Martin

[Ralf85]

WD40

Patrick

[ghost123uk]

WD40
Patrick

I used Halfords silicon spray and so far the doors have not frozen shut but we only went down to -10. WD40 has water in it I think and will freeze.

I use a soft leaded pencil and shove bits of the soft graphite into the locks and crush them up using the key. Graphite doesn't freeze and is a great lubricant which doesn't attract muck and stuff!

Bold & italics put there by me

[Ralf85]

WD40

Patrick

WD40 protects from rust and corrosion and displaces moisture and frees things up!!!

Patrick

[kevtherev]

WD-40 protects metal from rust and corrosion, penetrates stuck or jammed parts, displaces moisture, and lubricates just about anything. WD-40 is also great when it comes to cleaning grease, grime, and other marks from most surfaces.

Plus gas is betterer at unseizing nuts on bolts though

[ghost123uk]

Actually Patrick, I think you are probably right

Off now to put some WD40 in the freezer and see if it does freeze

E D I T = Agree with you too Kev

[Ralf85]

Actually Patrick, I think you are probably right

Off now to put some WD40 in the freezer and see if it does freeze

E D I T = Agree with you too Kev

Don't do that. The gas is under pressure and a liquid at present. Just use the WD40 as I have done this winter.

It remains the majic answer to almost everything. Under very damp winter conditions I have even seen it used to spray into air inlets on marine diesel engines to get them to start and it worked (although it is not recommended evidently)
Patrick

[ghost123uk]

Ah Patrick, I was going to spray some into a thimble or similar (tho I have since decided I should find summat better to do !!)

[kevtherev]

[peasant]

WD 40 definitely works

My cable froze last winter and at the first thaw I doused it in WD40 from both ends. It hasn't frozen since (it did get a bit sticky at minus 17 the other day, though ...but it thawed fully once the engine was fully warmed up and the warm coolant came to the front)