NHTSA Complaint #10307137 — 1986 TOYOTA MR2

I OWN AN 1986 TOYOTA MR2 WITH A 4 AGE ENGINE AND MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I WAS DRIVING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN I APPROACHED A NEIGHBORHOOD INTERSECTION. THE ENGINE STARTED TO "REV" REALLY HIGH AND I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. I SAT AT THE INTERSECTION FOR A WHILE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THIS WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME. SO I STARTED TO JIGGLE THE LIMP GAS PEDAL. SOON AFTER I LOOKED IN THE ENGINE BAY AND HAD SEEN THAT A RUBBER PIECE WAS JAMMED UNDER THE THROTTLE LINKAGE. THE PIECE OF RUBBER WAS A CAP TO PREVENT WATER FROM GOING INTO AND RUINING THE THROTTLE LINKAGE. I DROVE HOME AND LATER ON WENT TO A SPECIALIST THAT TOLD ME TO REMOVE THE RUBBER PIECE FROM LETTING THAT HAPPEN TO ME. I HOPE THIS INFORMATION CAN HELP, MAYBE THE NEWER TOYOTAS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. ANOTHER INCIDENT WAS WHEN I BROUGHT THE SAME VEHICLE TO GET IT SMOGED. ME AND MY MOM FINISHED AND LEFT TO GO HOME. WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF INTERSECTIONS I LOOKED BACK AND NOTICED SPARKS SHOOTING UP FROM THE ENGINE BAY. I TOLD MY MOTHER WHOM DIDN'T BELIEVE ME TO STOP. THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION, THEN MY MOTHER AND I EVACUATED THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE BAY BURST INTO FLAMES AND LUCKY THERE WAS A FIRE DEPARTMENT NEAR BY. WE FOUND OUT THAT THE HOOD PROP HAD FALLEN ONTO THE BATTERY WHICH SHORTED OUT THE ELECTRICS AND CAUSED NEAR BY PLASTIC TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE REAR HOOD WAS RUINED, PAINT, WINDOW, WIREHARNESS, AND OTHER PIECES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID WE WERE LUCKY THAT THE FLAME DIDN'T RUPTURE THE FUEL IN THE CAR. HE SHOWED THAT THE FLAME WAS RIGHT NEXT TO THE PLACE YOU FILL YOUR CAR WITH GAS. THE CAR WAS TOWED AWAY AND AN OFFICER WROTE UP A REPORT. *TW