Stuck wide open throttle

[EskimoEddie]

I have an 94' Ex with 168,000 miles on it. Tonight, I started it and let it warm up, it's 15ºF outside.....anyways, I got in it, shifted to reverse, and noticed it took more force on the gas peddle than usual to get moving. To my surprise, the gas peddle wasn't returning to a normal idle. She climbed close to the redline, thinking quickly, put her in Neutral, and shut the key off. Checked the cables going through the firewall, no visible issue there. Took off the plastic shroud over the throttle body and linkage and tried fiddling with the cables, but she still is stuck wide open (the cables are moving freely), and there's lots of extra gas peddle cable slack in side the cab.

I know what most of you will say, "do a search." I've done that, and have got lots of great ideas......throttle body cleaner spray, vacuum leak, crappy throttle cable.....but I am between a rock and a hard place....it's 10pm and I have to work @ 6a tomorrow.

My main question is, there are 2 cables attached to the gas peddle, one goes right to the throttle body, and the other goes to a mysterious looking device on the driver's side fender, then a 3rd cable comes out of the "mysterious" looking device and back to the throttle body. Anyone know what the mysterious thing is on the fender? IAC?

I think my best first try is throttle body cleaner. Is there anything that I can hurt by spraying TB cleaner where it's not supposed to go? Would a dirty mass airflow sensor also cause my problems?

Thanks to all who can give me the slightest insight to my solution.

Greg

 

[Willard]

That "mysterious" device is the cruise control.

 

[EskimoEddie]

Thanks for the quick reply Jesse. I never use cruise control, would pulling the fuse for the cruise help at all with my issue?

 

[Willard]

Probably not, the big thing you're seeing is vacuum powered, and doesn't get activated unless it's on.

Sounds like you may have issues with a stretched out cable. However, the butterfly should still close just fine.

Check out the TPS, IAC, and MAF first. If you're not sure what any of that is just do a search and you should get the info you need.