NHTSA Complaint #10452041 — 2005 FORD TAURUS

THE ISSUE STARTED AS A THROTTLE STICKING CLOSED. THIS REQUIRED A HARDER THAN NORMAL PUSH TO GET THE THROTTLE TO OPEN AND INCREASE ENGINE SPEED. THIS EVENTUALLY TURNED INTO THE THROTTLE STICKING OPEN AND NOT RETURNING TO IDLE. THE ON THE ROAD FIX WAS TO PUSH QUICKLY ON THE THROTTLE PEDAL A COUPLE TIMES TO GET THE THROTTLE TO RELEASE TO IDLE. THIS ALSO NECESSITATED RIDING THE BRAKES TO KEEP THE CARS SPEED UNDER CONTROL. OVER TIME THE ISSUE BECAME WORSE, WITH THE THROTTLE STICKING OPEN MORE OFTEN. WHAT I FOUND WHEN INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE WAS THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FITTING AT THE THROTTLE LINKAGE WAS DISCONNECTED. THE FITTING WOULD SNAP BACK ONTO THE PROPER PLACE BUT WAS VERY LOOSE AND WOULD POP BACK OFF EASILY WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS ACTUATED. I USED A PLASTIC TIE-WRAP TO TIGHTEN THE LOCKING MECHANISM IN PLACE. ANOTHER ITEM THAT I FOUND WAS A LOT OF VARNISH WHERE THE THROTTLE BUTTERFLY MET THE THROTTLE BODY (INSIDE THE THROTTLE BODY) AT/NEAR IDLE. THIS CONTRIBUTED TO THE STICKING CLOSED/OPEN ISSUE. I USED CARB CLEANER WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING TO CLEAN THE THROTTLE BODY AROUND THE BUTTERFLY, AND OUTSIDE THE THROTTLE BODY ON THE LINKAGE. THE ISSUE AT THIS POINT HAS NOT RETURNED. I DO FEEL THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE CONNECTOR AT THE END OF THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE. SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE AFFECTING OTHERS ABOUT THE SAME MILEAGE, IT SEEMS TO BE A WEAR ISSUE OF AN UNDER DESIGNED CONNECTOR. I DON'T KNOW IF THE VARNISH BUILD UP (AMOUNT) IS OUT OF THE ORDINARY, BUT HAVE NOT HAD THE STICKING THROTTLE ISSUE ON ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED. I COULD SEE THIS CAUSING AN ACCIDENT FOR OTHERS THAT MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THE MECHANICS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING. *TR