350i throttle cable snapped! - what is it off?

[sprevett]

snapped off just at the pedal end - looks like it's been fraying a while... is it a standard car part from some obscure Ford or something?? or do I have to 'make do and mend' with a bicycle cable? any advice much appreciated...ta

[pacman1]

Best I can suggest is as you and others have suggested, and that's the good ol' AA! Mine went on a '98 Laguna, and the cable that was fitted at the roadside was far superior to Renault's, and FOC.

[Mr Tank]

Hi

There are at least two types of Cable! What age is yours as I have a new cable which is spare (For beer tokens) from a late 350i!

Andy

[sprevett]

Hi Andy - it's an 1985 series 2 - so I suspect it would be classed as an early?

[sprevett]

have managed to fashion a temporary lash-up using a Renault 'universal' kit - presumably I should grease the inner with something first? LM grease?

[adam quantrill]

Yes, good idea to do this - moly grease is best.

Or else: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=12&...

[Mr Tank]

Hi

Were your cable connects to the plenum, is it a large screww with an adjustable nut?

Andy

[sprevett]

the cable comes out of the outer sleeve in the engine bay and the inner cable nipple is located in what is best described as a metal cam which pivots (the cable feeds over the cam and the nipple locks it in place - there are no screws/nuts involved). The 'cam' has the two throttle springs attached, and an actuating arm is connected from the cam to the plenum throttle assembly. Hope that makes sense! I will photograph it later.

[tempus]

Try http://www.cable-tec.co.uk/ hth.

[sprevett]

interesting...thanks for the link. have just been to halfords to buy £2.49 worth of bike brake cable to have as a back-up....ok here is a pic of the quick fix - because I don't have a nipple at this end I have just fed the inner cable thru the cam and back on itself and clamped it with a 13amp house plug terminal leaving all the extra cable coiled up...just in case! I was thinking of using an electrical crimp join instead - the blue or red plastic coated variety that crimps with the special tool - I imagine it would be strong enough.

[Mr Tank]

Hi

That's an early cable! Sorry can't help there!

Andy

[grahamw48]

Those electric plug terminals are useful things to have in your glovebox.

(Just another tip from grahamw....tightwad, and heathrobinson extraordinaire ).

[Wedg1e]

A note on greasing cables... check to see whether the cable has a nylon inner liner. If it does, don't use petroleum-based grease as the nylon will swell and jam the inner cable. Haven't seen many car throttles with nylon liners but it's quite common on bikes... and car clutches. Have heard a few horror stories of bikers who greased their lined throttle cable and then found they couldn't roll the throttle off...
The nylon ones don't actually need greasing as the lining provides a lubricated surface, but you can use silicon grease without problems.