throttle cable slack - BMW Forum

chrisNX2000 · 07-22-2004, 01:39 PM

so i dont own a BMW but i have abuddy that does and he has a slow internet so here i am trying to find out what's up with his car. well i've ridden in it a few times and we notice that he really needs to step on the accelo to get the car up to speed, keep in mind it's an auto. so i dont know that much about cars especially about BMW. so i was curious to see if it could be the throttle cable and i went to check it out and to my surprise there was a considerable about of slack campared to my little nissan. i had to really try and lift it just to get the throttle plate open. so do you guys think this is what's causing my buddy's acceleration problems?

Kevin325i · 07-22-2004, 01:45 PM

Check to see that when he's stepping on the gas that the linkage is moving the same amount on the throttle body. Sorry to say that sounds like a bad torque converter though. Have him slowly accelerate and if the car shifts at lower rpms like 2 or 3k then it's fine, but if it waits till redline to shift on only partial throttle there's a good chance it's going bad.

Kevin

chrisNX2000 · 07-22-2004, 01:52 PM

i haven't checked it out yet but while we were driving i did tell him to ease up on the gas and see what RPM it changes, and sho enough it changed at 3k, you see i dont thinks thats right either but if you say so i guess it's ok, i dont know about bimmers. so how do i check the linkage and the trottle body at the same time?

Kevin325i · 07-22-2004, 01:55 PM

Have him slowly press the gas down and see if the throttle cable on the throttle body is moving at the same time. If there's slack there will be a little bit that he's pushing down and the cable on the throttle body won't move.

3k sounds a bit high, it could just be the torque converter starting to go.

chrisNX2000 · 07-22-2004, 02:04 PM

i'm kinda dumb on cars still, i'm sorry if i'm being an annoying noob. what does a torque converter look like and what does it do exaclty? i'm gonna be on howstuffworks.com while i'm waiting for a reply.

Kevin325i · 07-22-2004, 02:17 PM

Torque converter should be on howstuffworks, and will explain it way better than I ever will. As for checking it, you really can't, that's one of the things I'd take to the shop unless you've got a couple friends who are good with cars, or atleast very patient. I don't know much about them however, cause I don't have an automatic.

chrisNX2000 · 07-22-2004, 02:20 PM

well i'll bring it to his attention, i'm just trying to be a good friend and help him identify his cars problems before he takes it to a shop. i dotn kow much about torque converters either i also drive a manual. thanks for the input.