Stuck at WOT

[backslash18]

I haven't been driving the Ranger much this winter, preferring instead to drive my second vehicle. I take the Ranger out now and again just to keep everything moving and I start it every other day. Last night I decided to drive the Ranger down to meet with my friends (about a 10 mile drive). We had a nice snowstorm going so I thought twice about it but decided it wouldn't be a big deal and went ahead. I just made it out to the main road and the truck was feeling real sluggish so I goosed the throttle. Obviously the throttle got stuck and I had some real trouble on my hands. I hadn't made it real far from home so I tried to get back on the back roads but the snow on the ground made that impossible.

Anyway, long story short, after abusing the hell out of my engine, transmission, and brakes I managed to get it stopped close enough to push in to a parking lot. I went back today and took it apart (it's a lovely 7 degrees below zero out) and found that the springs that link the accelerator cable to the throttle body are badly rusted and don't release when they should. I sprayed them down with WD-40 as a band-aid to get back to my place before I got myself towed.

So, this story is in the engine forum for a reason. Do I need to get a new throttle body to correct this problem or do they sell all these parts separately? Is it possible to just buy the springs or are they an integral part of the throttle body or accelerator cable? I went to a parts store earlier and the guy at the counter told me I need a new throttle body. However, it took him about 5 minutes and a whole bunch of Hmmmm's just to find FORD RANGER in his computer so I'm not real confident with his assessment of the situation.

Thanks for the help in advance guys.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

as far as i know, most parts stores probably wont have a listing for throttle return springs...but you certainly dont need to replace the entire TB. i would stop by a tractor supply store or home depot or the like and look through their spring assortments to find an appropriate replacement spring and slide it on there. the springs should be easy enough to replace without removing/replacing the TB itself.

 

[backslash18]

Alright, will do. Thanks Wicked

 

[Big Jim M]

Yep! Me too.

as far as i know, most parts stores probably wont have a listing for throttle return springs...but you certainly dont need to replace the entire TB. i would stop by a tractor supply store or home depot or the like and look through their spring assortments to find an appropriate replacement spring and slide it on there. the springs should be easy enough to replace without removing/replacing the TB itself.

In fact if I had to drill a hole or two and install ANY spring to get it to come back to idle...I'd do it in a hartbeat. Looks don't mean much when the rust is that great.
Big JIm

 

[Guy]

I had the same problem with my '96. The wife and I got in a fight, so when I stormed out of the house, jumped in the truck and floorboarded it, imagine my suprise when the sunofabitch got stuck- seems the troubles with the wife were the least of my concerns! I cleaned everything, replaced the spring with a little heftier one and lubed everything. No problems after that.

 

[jmg8550]

I would also check the cable itself for rust. While your cable is disconnected check to see if it sticks at all. I've had cables bind up on me.

 

[Stranger ranger]

go to a yard and pull off a new (used) one.

 

[cr_the_machinist]

Try your local stealership. They may sell just the return spring or atleast be able to order it in.