NHTSA Complaint #734473 — 1993 FORD THUNDERBIRD

THROTTLE STUCK IN WIDE OPEN OR NEAR WIDE OPEN POSITION - DETAILS FOLLOW. I HAD EXPERIENCE DOWNSHIFT PROBLEMS BEFORE AND WHEN I NOTICED MY MOST RECENT DOWNSHIFT EVENT, IT WAS AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS. ON MERGING, THE CAR FAILED TO DROP OUT OF PASSING GEAR. I PULLED OVER AND INVESTIGATED TO FIND THE "THROTTLE VALVE CABLE" WAS LOOSE FROM THE THROTTLE BRACKET. I TRIED TO FIND REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE WORN GROMMET WHICH HAD ALLOWED IT TO DEPART THE BRACKET AND FOUND IT TO BE A "DEALER-ONLY" PART. DEALER WAS CLOSED. TV CABLE WAS RE-INSERTED AND CAR RECOVERED TO HOME. ON MONDAY, WHILE ENROUTE TO THE DEALER TO GET THE PART, THE THROTTLE STUCK BECAUSE THE TV CABLE BECAME WEDGED UNDER THE THROTTLE BRACKET. I APPLIED BRAKES BUT WAS UNABLE TO SLOW THE CAR ADEQUATELY BEFORE STOPPED TRAFFIC AHEAD. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND STOPPED IN TIME TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT.