My 1990 GXL is currently redlining every time that I start it as if the throttle is stuck wide open. The pedal currently has a bit of play in it which wasn't there before and it seems as though where the cable connects to the back of the throttle body has more play than it should. I'm trying to diagnose where the problem is, could the cable simply need adjusting if so how?

 

Your cable more than likely came out've its "guide" and is holding the throttle plates open a wee bit, mine did the exact same thing randomly awhile back

 

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Any advice on how to fix it??

 

No offense but have you looked at it yet?..it's simple.
Follow the Throttle cable to the Throttle body.
It attaches to the throttle body(slips into a horseshoe like clamp on the throttle body).
2 12mm wrenches.. put it back in the slot.Tighten the nuts...Done.

 

I've done this already and adjusted the cable accordingly and it seems like the cable is almost too long? At it's tightest there's still play in the pedal and a decent amount of slack at the throttle body... I pulled the intake off of the throttle body to see if anything is seized and can only see that the top set of butterfly valves are wide open with the car off. (Can't check anything while running because it immediately revs until the warning buzzer screams.)

 

The top set of valves to nothing whenever I press the gas pedal or manually pull the throttle cable from the engine bay, they only move whenever I manually move them from the outside of the thottle body?

 

The top? All 3 are made to move as one, are you by chance talking about the first set of throttle plates in the TB? Or the second set?

Second set all 3 should move at the same time, if not, your linkage is jamb'd or broke

 

Sorry I was talking about the top set in the front. It looks like all three are moving in unison in the back but I think the bottom is perhaps too open? Sorry for the confusion this is first time I've had to deal with any TB issues...

 

get a pic of the side of the throttle body.where the cable meets the Throttle body..
also snap and post a pic of the other side.

 

Definitely not the easiest place to get a picture. Lol... It seems like my goal is to get the lower valve to close the whole way? I'm totally at a loss here.

 

So here's a thought, is it possible that it could be a problem with the cruise control??? It has a second cable running to the TB that has tension on it so I'm thinking that could be the issue... gonna check it out. I'm gonna feel like even more of an idiot if that's the case. -_-

 

Weeeeelp gentlemen I'm an a****le. The cruise control cable was stuck. Loosened the tension bolts on it and started right up idled at 3k and dropped down to normal... Thanks for the help though!

 

Was just gonna suggest that..
I guess you and I both forgot that the cars do come with cruise.
My Cruise control is my foot!