hschiff

I just bought an 89 S4. I Sas driving it home last night and stepped on the accelerator and the car kicked down from 2nd to 1st. When I needed to slow down I noticed that the car seemed to still be accelerating. Lifting off the brake it pulled forward at wide open throttle. Surprised, I hit the brake and it slowed down but was still pushing forward. I put the car into neutral and the motor revved to red line. I put it back in gear and turned it off at the ignition. I,ve read a little about sticky throttle cables etc. Does anyone know a good video that explains disassembly and diagnosis of the throttle on an S4?

James Bailey

Check the little plastic scuff panel on the carpet mounted to the tunnel just to the right of the accelerator pedal. They can get loose and catch on the pedal !! The other possibility is the roller under the air cleaner near the firewall on top of the engine, The throttle cable from the side of the intake where all three cables attach runs rearward to this plastic roller then makes a 180 turn to go forward to the butterfly...it can get off the roller and bind.

Ed Scherer

See also Stuck Throttle (in the Mountain Twisties, no less!).