How to Adjust an Accelerator Cable
by Bryan RobertsThe tightness of the accelerator, or throttle, cable on any vehicle is important. If the cable is tightened too much, the car will not idle properly and consume fuel quickly. If the cable is too loose, the car will respond slowly when you press the gas pedal. You can adjust the cable yourself in your driveway or garage with a simple tool.
Step 1
Lift the hood of your vehicle and locate the braided accelerator cable on the right side of the engine compartment. There are two lug nuts on the cable. The nut closest to the front of the car is the lock nut while the nut toward the back is the deflection-adjustment nut.
Step 2
Loosen the lock nut with a wrench.
Step 3
Adjust the accelerator cable by turning the deflection-adjustment nut until the deflection in the middle of the cable is between one and three millimeters; the deflection of the cable is the distance that it bends in response to the tightness of the deflection-adjustment nut.
Step 4
Tighten the lock nut once you are done adjusting and close the hood of the car.
References
Things You'll Need
- Wrench
Writer Bio
Bryan Roberts began his love affair with comedy in 2003 as a writer and performer for Austin's No Shame Theatre. Since then, he has appeared with several different sketch groups (Hoover's Blanket, Ghetto Sketch Warlock). His most recent achievements are the award-winning improv show Guilds Of Steel, which he created and co-directed, and his position of writer/actor in the Coldtowne Theater Mainstage Sketch Show.
