[tw]

When accelerator is pressed, that cable should retract to the right. That is the first thing to inspect (with engine off). When a driver (assistant) releases the accelerator, then that cable must move leftmost. And always be under tension. Movement should always be smooth.

Curved part moved by the accelerator connects to shaft and a plate inside the air duct. As the accelerator is pressed, then the plate opens. More air let into that duct means a computer dumping more gas into the engine - also called acceleration. Computer will dump as much gas as necessary to maintain a vacuum behind that throttle plate.

You must be able to rotate the curved piece counterclockwise with your hand. It must also move smoothly. And the cable should retract accordingly - and smoothly.

Any stickiness is why Toyotas were accused of uncontrolled acceleration. Any stickiness means you must treat it as a loaded gun pointed at someone's head. The motion is so critical that multiple springs exist so that a released accelerator pedal will rotate the curved piece fully clockwise everytime.

Your symptoms do not make sense. If you pressed the accelerator pedal, then the cable must always move right. You should not be able to press the accelerator without moving that cable in the picture. There must be nothing to cause the curved piece to be disconnected from the accelerator pedal. Stated with conviction - if that makes the point.

I am thinking he reconnected a clip that holds the cable to that curved piece. That could only happen if springs that push the curved piece and throttle plate back to idle were somehow missing. And if the clip that holds that cable to the curved piece is worn - must be replaced by a new one from the dealer's parts department. But then that is only speculation, in part, because what Jim may have reconnected is not even shown in any pictures.

BTW, solve it now. Winter gets too cold to fix things right.

Anyone recommending WD-40 should be banned from technical discussions. WD-40 is not and never was a lubricant. With age, it makes accelerator cables sticky (ie Toyota stuck accelerators). WD-40 is a solvent like kerosene, Mr Clean, and Naval Jelly. Except it gets sticky with age. It must be removed after breaking free rust so as to not 'glue' things together. Never use WD-40 on the accelerator cable and related parts. Also stated with same conviction.

Nothing to adjust. If any part is loose, does not move smoothly, or intermittently disconnects, then a cheap solution is obtained in the dealer's parts department. Nothing in that 'throttle plate control system' should need adjustment. If any part disconnected, then it is still defective.