Skip to content
Aussieveedubbers

Weird accelerator issue... in case it happens to you

0 likes
Share Share on Facebook Share on X Share on Reddit
Log in to reply

bluebus Seriously Crusin Dubber

150 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#829233
Thought I'd post this since my beetle was behaving like it was demon possessed, and nothing I found online described the problem. Just in case your dub gets possessed by the same demon...

The last couple of days, every time I'd change into first it was like someone else had control of the accelerator. Let the clutch out and she'd surge forwards with really high revs and keep accelerating even after I had my foot off the pedal.

Pedal wasn't sticking, the accelerator cable wasn't binding, and the return spring on the throttle lever was working fine. But it was like I was flooring it. Quite frightening. Really noticable in first, to the point that I'd only spend a split second in gear before changing up. Second was bad, but nowhere near as much. Third was back to normal.

Anyhow, I'd reached the end of my diagnostic skills, so she went to the mechanic. Took him a while, but he sorted it. Turns out the gearbox mount was invisibly cracked. You couldn't see it until you let the clutch out, then the gearbox would move up and push on the accelerator cable for a while (so I'm told) and become the demon taking control of the accelerator.

So I thought that was bizarre as hell and wanted to share it with someone. My friends aren't interested in cars, so I'm telling the forum instead. In case one day some other poor bugger tries googling for an answer to this problem 🙂
66 Beetle & 66 Austin 1800... makes for a very stylish footpath 🙂

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#829336
this is the same principal that does not allow me to do hill start or park on really steep hill with the front pointing up hill in my VP.

Basically the rubbers on the rear end is so sloppy that the whole rear axle and diff ramp up and down and push/pull back and forth. This causes the handbrake to work way too easy when pointing down hill (like 1 click is full lock)
and pointing up hill requires 8 clicks and still slips. Basically same thing happens, the diff/axles moving back and forth pull/loosen the handbrake cable. Hill starts are impossible, unless I hill starting in reverse 😂

Took me ages to find this problem, so i can relate😀 Also explains my monstrous wheel hop on the slightest wheel slip in wet conditions.

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#829367
bluebus wrote:Thought I'd post this since my beetle was behaving like it was demon possessed, and nothing I found online described the problem. Just in case your dub gets possessed by the same demon...

The last couple of days, every time I'd change into first it was like someone else had control of the accelerator. Let the clutch out and she'd surge forwards with really high revs and keep accelerating even after I had my foot off the pedal.

Pedal wasn't sticking, the accelerator cable wasn't binding, and the return spring on the throttle lever was working fine. But it was like I was flooring it. Quite frightening. Really noticable in first, to the point that I'd only spend a split second in gear before changing up. Second was bad, but nowhere near as much. Third was back to normal.

Anyhow, I'd reached the end of my diagnostic skills, so she went to the mechanic. Took him a while, but he sorted it. Turns out the gearbox mount was invisibly cracked. You couldn't see it until you let the clutch out, then the gearbox would move up and push on the accelerator cable for a while (so I'm told) and become the demon taking control of the accelerator.

So I thought that was bizarre as hell and wanted to share it with someone. My friends aren't interested in cars, so I'm telling the forum instead. In case one day some other poor bugger tries googling for an answer to this problem 🙂


Yes,
quite an odd one that...

Lee
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

bluebus Seriously Crusin Dubber

150 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#829376
I picked up the car today and saw the mount in question... looked like rubber to me, but then, I've never seen a urethane mount. Apparently when he had the car up he saw a tiny groove in the top of the mount where the cable had rubbed, and that was the give-away. Drives like a dream now 🙂
66 Beetle & 66 Austin 1800... makes for a very stylish footpath 🙂

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#829386
Rubber for sure, urethane and the tranny nearly ends up on the ground if it wasn't fot the shift rod, no saftey tongue inside.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#829424
Hi

The car should have also had excessive gear stick movement.

Steve