French Driver

I have suffered two throttle jams. One in a Ford Sierra and one in my Mondeo.

Many years ago I was driving a back road in sussex when I happened upon 3 Ladies in fairly short skirts all clustered round a moggy minor in the middle of the road.
I stopped to see if I could help,they said that the engine went to full throttle but they managed to stop (just before I arrived).
I had a quick shufti at the engine and soon spotted that the throttle return spring had snapped at the lower attachment point,I bent the remaining end into a hook and reattached it…hey presto (temp) fixed…they were friendly and grateful…

If only my GF had not been in the car with me LOL :rolleyes:

I suspect jamming throttles must be quite common on lorries, judging by the numbers of them you find 5cm from your rear bumper in driving rain on the motorway.

Yes…some truck drivers are appalling,in the really snowy friday we had a few weeks ago,I was reduced to using the M27 as all my other routes were closed,there was some clown behind me in a truck trying to ‘Push me along’ in the middle lane at about 50mph…I had nowhere to go as the traffic ahead was solid (fast lane unusable with heavy slush)…eventually this Dipstick in the truck just pulled out into the fast lane and ploughed past everybody showering us all with dark brown slush ( a very effective blackout :rolleyes:) TWA Tea !!

I have suffered two throttle jams. One in a Ford Sierra and one in my Mondeo.
I had an alarm fitted to the Sierra and part of the alarm, a small box, was shuved up into the bodywork near the throttle. When I had the throttle down it came adrift and jammed the throttle on max.
I suffered a throttle jam in my 2.0 Ford Mondeo. Garage had done some work on the carb. I raced over a hump back bridge and the negative G jammed the throttle open when I had the throttle pedal opened fully.
It was the least alarming thing that can happen. I just placed the gear stick in nuetral. Was handy for the Sierra though. I popped the bonnet and found a fuel leak!
It was an interesting experience trying to drive the mondy home on full throttle. Didn’t half smoke the clutch! Clutch still going strong after 143k 😀

I remember the lorry incident. It was an Iveco lorry, wasn’t it?

I suspect jamming throttles must be quite common on lorries, judging by the numbers of them you find 5cm from your rear bumper in driving rain on the motorway.

Perhaps it’s because they can’t slow down to the speed limit.:mad:

If the car was adapted then it does add a complication to the story – but surely selecting neutral would still be possible ?

This is the story about the UK Truck driver that I alluded to earlier…gosh was it really 1998 ?? 😀
This guy claimed he had a stuck throttle on the motorway but he was later taken to court about it…
I am always very sceptical about these incidents,it should always be possible to select neutral and accept a blown engine as being the lesser of 2 evils (if indeed the engine revs uncontrollably) :rolleyes:

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=michael%20rayner%2C%2026%2C%20from%20potters%20bar%2C&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&sqi=2&ved=0CEgQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbc.co.uk%2F2%2Fhi%2Fuk_news%2F364260.stm&ei=GzUfUbafE8f_4QTNwYBQ&usg=AFQjCNFk76hC_Tm5wD2on6VqXVsEWHjCTA

some reports state “The vehicle was specially adapted for disabled drivers” so I would tend to think that his problems lie with the adaption, whether officially done by Renault, or by another company. Probably Renault as Mr Lecerf said it was not his first speed jamming incident but that Renault had looked at the car and said they had fixed the problem.

With regard to going through several peage booths – in France they often have a separate area for HGV’s to go through and I would tend to think that the Police escorted him through these, rather than have him try to queue up with the normal booth!!

Allan

I.M.H.O. I think it’s a load of French B/S. Had it been for real, then Renault would have had a re call of that model. Like the Fords 4x4s in the States, when the brakes kept failing, they failed to admit there was anything wrong, until a woman was killed because the brakes failed.

Not so long ago, BMW recalled over 50,000 Coopers “S” models, because of a potential Turbo failure fault, now that’s what I call “Looking after your Customers”.

Jim.

Lincoln .7

After reading the various posts here I need a bit more convincing that this is “for real”. If he does sue Renault, as reported, the judgement will be instructive!

I had a Renault Clio 172 Sports not all that long ago, K&N filters twin exhausts,etc, and very fast.(Renault then took that idea up) and one of the spot lights blew, cost of bulb, about a fiver. As the car was still under warranty, I took it back to the main dealer I got it from. I left the car at the garage, and went shopping “For an hour”. When I went to collect the car, I was taken into the workshop, and was gobsmacked to see all the front end, inner wing, on the side the bulb had blown, even the hooter had to have been removed to get access to the bulb. I asked the mechanic,”If I had to pay for this, had it been out of warranty, what would it have cost me” He went into the Accounts dept, came back, and stated, “Just over £700.00” 😮
The car had 6 months warranty left, and I got rid, the last month prior to it running out.
Renault?.
Never again.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

My disqualification came courtesy of a Renault (21 2.0 Turbo) back in the late 1980s. 😮

They make some gurt fast cars.

Moggy

I guess that just shows how little you know?

2.0 (140) Top speed 130 mph
2.0 Turbo (170) Top speed 137 mph
2.0: Turbo (205) Top speed 144 mph
2.0 dci (150) Top speed 127 mph
2.0 dci (175) Top speed 137 mph
2.0 dci (180) Top speed 138 mph
3.0 24V dci (235) Top speed 150 mph
3.5 V6 (238) Top speed 152 mph

Moggy

Obviously, I stand corrected.

And, I drive a Renault as well (though not a Laguna).:rolleyes:

What I never understand about these cases is why the engine management system allows the engine to be fuelled when the brake-pedal is depressed; in any modern car the moment you brake the fuel injectors are cut and zero fuel enters the cylinders. This is designed as a fuel-saving measure.

If your car is less than ten years old and you are a confident driver you can prove this yourself. Select a very quiet stretch of straight-road and make sure there is nothing following you. Press the accelerator to the floor with your right foot and at the same time (gently) press the brake-pedal with your left foot; remember your left foot is not on the clutch-pedal! What happens?

The driver is suing Renault…..I wonder why? :rolleyes:

Accidentally threw a 6 cylinder, 3.3litre, Cortina TD into park one day. 60klm/hr to zero in a cloud of smoke. Gearbox, undamaged.

That’s the first thing that came to mind with me, why didn’t he just knock it out of gear, then brake/coast to a halt?.
Oh, Just had a thought, he was FRENCH 😀 (And yes, I have driven in France, blood* maniacs, especially in Paris )
Jim.
Lincoln .7

Hence my suggestion…neutral (engine ‘bang’:D ) brake …1 mile max 😀
Quel ne problem pas 😉

At the risk of forum catcalls can’t the ignition be turned off?

The suggestions I have heard is that it was a fairly modern Renault with keyless entry.

Hence just a transponder key, so nothing to turn to ‘off’ and even throwing it out of the vehicle will have no effect since once started they continue, even with no key present.

Moggy

I would not be questioning the rated top speed of the car…as much as the story the driver is telling :D…who knows – it could even be true…
but it would (presumably) mean a failure of the throttle posn Txmitter/ECU/brake microswitch/clutch microswitch/being able to select the gearbox into neutral…
or any other plausible means of bringing the car to a halt !!!!

At the risk of forum catcalls can’t the ignition be turned off?

Firstly, I can think of few Renault Lagunas capable of 125 mph.

You’d be surprised just how fast the average modern day family car can go when pushed to the limiter.

Firstly, I can think of few Renault Lagunas capable of 125 mph.

I guess that just shows how little you know?

2.0 (140) Top speed 130 mph
2.0 Turbo (170) Top speed 137 mph
2.0: Turbo (205) Top speed 144 mph
2.0 dci (150) Top speed 127 mph
2.0 dci (175) Top speed 137 mph
2.0 dci (180) Top speed 138 mph
3.0 24V dci (235) Top speed 150 mph
3.5 V6 (238) Top speed 152 mph

Moggy