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Been through a couple threads about tightening the throttle cable, but haven't seen anything definitive on measuring the slack. Am I looking for option A, from a flat plane, or B its total distance from one extreme to the next (or something entirely different). Doubt it'll make that much of a difference but before I head out to the car figured I'd ask to make sure its not too tight or loose before I reinstall it.
A would be correct if this was tank, APC, or other very heavy track, B would be correct if this was bicycle or motorcycle chain, but it isn't.
What's measured is the free play in the system, the length the cable has to tighten before the throttle moves -- a lineal back and forth cable movement, not sideways measurement. Free play in the mechanical throttles (not DBW) should be 15mm - 18mm movement.
A would be correct if this was tank, APC, or other very heavy track, B would be correct if this was bicycle or motorcycle chain, but it isn't.
What's measured is the free play in the system, the length the cable has to tighten before the throttle moves -- a lineal back and forth cable movement, not sideways measurement. Free play in the mechanical throttles (not DBW) should be 15mm - 18mm movement.
-- Chuck
Hey Chuck, I have a somewhat off topic question. I notice that when I engage my cruise control, it likes to drop down a few MPH's before going back up to the original speed I had intended to hold. Is this caused be slack in the throttle cable where the cruise control module is? Mine is a 2005.
How could you actually meassure the free play?
You need one person sitting in the driver seat and slowly pressing the pedal. Annother person is peeking under the hood, watching the movement of the cable and notice when the throttle actually opens.
And of course you need some markings on the cable: 0, 15 and 18 mm.
Or do i miss something?
The pre-DBW cars have another cable controlling cruise control so cable slack comes into play. You should find information on checking this buried somewhere among the 2,000 pages of the Service Manual. Don't sweat it, the PDF file is searchable, unlike the printed manual.
No hesitation or lag on my 2006 DBW cruise control as it's done by magic not mechanicals.
Yep, a very short cable between the pedal and position sensor that I'm guessing was done for the convenience of not having to cram the sensors under the pedals. Cruise control looks electronic direct to the throttle body.
Just had a look in the English and German FSM.
The slack should be meassured like Option A), from a flat plane, as seen in the picture. It should be 4-6 mm.
How to Measure Throttle Cable Slack
