replacement throttle body cable options for 1994 vintage Mazda B3000

Hi Folks,

New on this forum but i figured you folks could help

i own a 1994 Mazda B3000. Its been extremely reliable and cheap to maintain... however... recently the throttle body accelerator cable started hanging up such that the throttle can stick. Unfortunately i cannot seem to find a replacement (well not reasonably... the places that want it want over $250).

Evidently the Mazda B3000 of this vintage uses a different type of throttle body linkage than the 3.0 Ford Rangers. Instead of the cable coming over the throttle body from behind, it comes up from behind and below... through a metal bracket and with a spring before attaching to a metal swing arm that moves the throttle shaft.

throttle body arm illustration:
https://www.atlantamazdaparts.com/a/Mazda_1994_B-Series/_51426_5671197/1364B----THROTTLE-BODY-3000CC/EZM1661.html

and

https://www.jimellismazdaparts.com/showAssembly.aspx?ukey_assembly=304855&ukey_product=1924115

So does anyone know if the pedal assemblies (where the cable mounts) on the 1994 mazda's are the same as those on the Rangers?

On the throttle body end, it seems that the cable on the 1998-2000 Mazda B4000s as well as the 1998-2000 Ford 4.0 Rangers should work (can anyone verify this?)

This cable:

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MzU5WDEwMDA=/z/l7EAAOxyhXRTMa4~/$_57.JPG?set_id=880000500F

Ford Part YL2Z9A758BA

comes up and through a similar sort of metal bracket:
https://parts.lakelandford.com/a/Ford__/53549391__6473587/CRUISE-CONTROL-SYSTEM-ELECTRICAL/MD98360.html

That would leave the length being the variable.

Anyone know if this cable would work?

It seems very strange that Mazda didn't just use what Ford did.

Thanks for any help.

hi folks,

i'm going to post this just in case someone in future that has a Mazda B3000 of the same vintage (1994-1997) who was in the same situation as i was can be helped. The original OEM accelerator/throttle cable is not available, and in fact there is no aftermarket cable made either that i could find.

After my research i ordered Ford part # YL2Z9A758BA.

This Ford throttle cable has the right ball socket clip type end for the Mazda B3000 on the throttle body end, and on the pedal end is identical to the original Mazda throttle cable. Length is 35.25" (around 31" from the throttle cable end to the grommet that goes through the firewall. The original cable was 27.75" in total length, and 23" to the firewall.

The firewall grommet on the Ford part is circular vs the Mazda part which is rectangular... so i needed to dremmel grind the circular portions of the portions of the grommet flat.

The hole in the firewall is almost a square (slightly rectangular) and was fine aside from a small tab on the upper side (1mm). Dremmeled away that tab and the grommet slid right through and clipped in, working just like stock.

On the throttle body side there is a mounting grommet and with plastic retaining tabs, and this slid into an indent the same metal bracket that mounted the original, but at a different spot.

Since the cable length is a bit longer you have to loop it away from other items in the engine compartment... but its not a big deal (just keep it away from the exhaust manifold).

Other than these slight modifications... this cable works like a charm.

As far as play goes on the pedal side goes... the spring takes up the slack just like it should. So no need for adjustments there.

i must say the truck drives like a completely different animal compared to my old stretched out and rusted Mazda cable. Amazing difference.

Hopefully this helps someone else in the future and it saves them the research.

If anyone would like pics i can take them...

Thanks.