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Topic: Questions... (Read 2884 times) previous topic - next topic

Questions...

Hey everyone! 

I don't know if I'm posting this in the right place, so if I'm not, please feel free to move it mods.

Is the gas pedal in an four-eyes Cougar supposed to be fairly easy to push like for instance, a Grand Marquis from that era?  We had an '89 Grand Marquis bought new with the same 5.0 L V8 as the Cougar has as well as the same AOD transmission.  You barely touch it and it would fly. The Cougar's gas pedal doesn't respond the way the Grand Marquis' did.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my gas pedal felt hard to push (although I've never driven a Cougar to know how hard you usually push the gas pedal).  I read the article on Cool Cats about the Hard Gas Pedal.  I took it to a very reliable mechanic who's always been truthful with me and my Dad when he was alive.  He inspected the throttle cable and throttle body.  There was some gunk in there, but no stretched or thinning cable.  Linkage looked good.  He cleaned the cable and throttle body.  It feels like the pedal is freed up a tiny bit.  He also found that the car still had the original spark plug wires and the original plugs!  He said he's never seen a car have the original plugs on anything that old.  He's seen some rare instances of the original wires, but not the plugs. 

Could the plugs and/or plug wires be causing the gas pedal to be harder to push than the Grand Marquis' or am I just making an apples to oranges comparison between the Cougar and GM despite them having the same motor and transmission.  Please help!  Everyone here has been awesome in helping me!  Thanks in advance everyone!

Tommy

Questions...

Reply #1
Plugs won't effect the pedal stiffness. You can disconnect the TV cable just to rule it out. It just pops off the throttle body. Don't drive it at all while this is disconnected. But you should be able to feel if the pedal loosens up.
CoogarXR : 1985 Cougar XR-7

Questions...

Reply #2
Could be that the throttle cable is binding in the sheathing. Things go poppie after time...
41 Dodge Luxury Liner Sedan
78 F-100 2wd flareside
84Turbo Coupe
84 Thunderbird Élan
85 Thunderbird 3.8
88 Turbo Coupe
88 Mustang GT
90 Stang LX 5.0 5spd
93 F-150 4x4 ext cab
96 Mustang GT
98 Mustang GT
99 SVT Cobra
06 Fusion SEL
14 Fusion Sport

Questions...

Reply #3
I always do the zip tie mod.
Current: 1986 Thunderbird, 105k 3.8/C5, 2 tone  Midnight Wine/Medium Taupe, wing windows, wire wheel covers.


Former: 1985 Cougar GS 115k Oxford White/Regatta Blue, 5.0, full console, 14" 8 hole aluminum T-Bird rims, Edelbrock valve covers.

Questions...

Reply #4
So do you guys think there's still a problem that the mechanic didn't catch?  He has an '87 T-bird, so he knows a thing or two about the Fox body's.

Thanks again!

Tommy

Questions...

Reply #5
Likely a binding cable, either throttle, or the TV cable for the transmission. (Not the transmission that displays on your t.v. via the "cable", or satellite, or netflix, or...or..or..) ;)

Do as Coogar suggests, unhook the TV cable at the throttle body and then manipulate the gas pedal with the engine OFF. If it doesn't change, it's the throttle cable, or a sticky throttle body, and if goes away, you need to replace the TV cable.

If it's an older Cougar, it may have a linkage for the AOD rather than a cable, but the principle is the same. Whenever you push on the gas, it all moves, relative to the throttle. One other thing...did someone put a big-assed spring on the throttle body? That will definitely increase the effort needed to push the gas.
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Questions...

Reply #6
Where exactly is the TV cable?  What will it look like?  Do you just lift it up? 

Thanks for dealing with a newbie.  :-P

Tommy

Questions...

Reply #7
follow the cable the goes to the transmission
Current: 1986 Thunderbird, 105k 3.8/C5, 2 tone  Midnight Wine/Medium Taupe, wing windows, wire wheel covers.


Former: 1985 Cougar GS 115k Oxford White/Regatta Blue, 5.0, full console, 14" 8 hole aluminum T-Bird rims, Edelbrock valve covers.


Questions...

Reply #9
Cv/gm cable is quite a bit shorter as the throttle body is on the same side as the driver and a straight shot. Ours curves around the firewall and to the other side.

The tv cables go bad much more then the throttle cables, I've never replaced either, but when i did my t-5 swap, the gas pedal was much easier to press.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Questions...

Reply #10
Quote from: White85GS;440982
I always do the zip tie mod.

What's the zip tie mod?

Questions...

Reply #11
Quote from: thetommyboy2k;441016
What's the zip tie mod?
This: X
Current: 1986 Thunderbird, 105k 3.8/C5, 2 tone  Midnight Wine/Medium Taupe, wing windows, wire wheel covers.


Former: 1985 Cougar GS 115k Oxford White/Regatta Blue, 5.0, full console, 14" 8 hole aluminum T-Bird rims, Edelbrock valve covers.