Engine self accelerating problem!

1. wigman Newbie Joined: Jul 2010 West Sussex Posts: 4

   #1 26th July 2010, 17:25

   My daughter bought a w-reg (year 2000) 954cc Citroen Saxo first about one month ago which has now developed a problem.When starting the car it will tick over nicely then the accelerator will go down without touching and then rev anything up to 5000 revs for 20 seconds or so and then go back to normal.
   You can pop the bonnet up and see the throttle cable moving like it has a mind of its own,it doesn't always do this but she gets very frightened as she say approaches a roundabout in second gear then all of a sudden it revs up to 5000rpm.
   Has any one experienced this before,is it a common problem or will i have to put the car on a diagnostic machine.Any advice is appreciated.
2. nappert Frequent Poster Joined: Jan 2010 Dundee Posts: 586 VTR also used to have Saxo 1.1i and Datsun cherr

   #2 26th July 2010, 17:47

   happened with my 1.1.didnt find out why though,although i've heard that it should do that on cold starts etc.
3. wigman Newbie Joined: Jul 2010 West Sussex Posts: 4

   #3 26th July 2010, 18:06

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by nappert happened with my 1.1.didnt find out why though,although i've heard that it should do that on cold starts etc.

   It still goes frantic after its been warmed up.
4. jonezy Established Member Joined: Jul 2007 Carnforth (lancaster) Posts: 1617 55 CTR premier '97 posi vts

   #4 26th July 2010, 18:11

   my vtr used to do this, disconnect the battery for an hour then put it back on and see if it help,
   
   then check all vacuum and breather hoses for blockages, after that i dont have much of clue how the col start thing works
   
   also give any sensors on the inlet system a clean,
5. wigman Newbie Joined: Jul 2010 West Sussex Posts: 4

   #5 26th July 2010, 18:26

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by jonezy my vtr used to do this, disconnect the battery for an hour then put it back on and see if it help, then check all vacuum and breather hoses for blockages, after that i dont have much of clue how the col start thing works also give any sensors on the inlet system a clean,

   Thanks for that Jonezy,we will give that a try,i will pm you in a few days to let you know the results!
6. Furioman Frequent Poster Joined: Jan 2004 Denny United Kingdom (Scotland) Posts: 666 Ford focus 2.0 Saxo VTS

   #6 27th July 2010, 00:53

   try lubing the throttle cable, carb clean the idle control valve
7. hallett L-plater Joined: Jul 2010 Bognor Regis, West Sussex Posts: 30 Black Mk1 Saxo VTR

   #7 27th July 2010, 01:49

   my friends 106 quicksilver did this, turned out to be the coolant sensor
8. exfiestagirl Infrequent Poster Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 234 Saxo

   #8 28th July 2010, 10:11

   Mines revved itself nothing like what you are saying turned out exhaust was loose with rust and eventually fell off, when soldered back on it stopped. If none of the other tips worth maybe take a glance.
9. JAM Established Member Joined: Jul 2008 A19 Posts: 1818 ClioSport 197

   #9 28th July 2010, 12:16

   Check all your breather pipes are connected securely with no splits or blockages.
10. Alexp Central South Joined: Jun 2006 East Sussex Posts: 3105 VTS :)

    #10 28th July 2010, 13:26

    Was the coolant temp sensor on my old 1.4 (sure it was that).
    The engine would think it's still cold and rev more to warm it up.
11. ReCoNoR Regular Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Greenock Posts: 376 Citroen Saxo First.

    #11 28th July 2010, 13:35

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by wigman My daughter bought a w-reg (year 2000) 954cc Citroen Saxo first about one month ago which has now developed a problem.When starting the car it will tick over nicely then the accelerator will go down without touching and then rev anything up to 5000 revs for 20 seconds or so and then go back to normal. You can pop the bonnet up and see the throttle cable moving like it has a mind of its own,it doesn't always do this but she gets very frightened as she say approaches a roundabout in second gear then all of a sudden it revs up to 5000rpm. Has any one experienced this before,is it a common problem or will i have to put the car on a diagnostic machine.Any advice is appreciated.

    Ive got the same car mate and it happened to me on my first drive too. You gotta put some WD-40 on the throttle cable, car has been working perfect since.
12. nappert Frequent Poster Joined: Jan 2010 Dundee Posts: 586 VTR also used to have Saxo 1.1i and Datsun cherr

    #12 28th July 2010, 14:37

    let us know what it was/is mate? I'm curious now
13. wigman Newbie Joined: Jul 2010 West Sussex Posts: 4

    #13 28th July 2010, 19:43

    Had a diagnostic check done today and the fault is the stepper motor.I have just purchased one which will be fitted tomorrow,apparently it is a common fault.
    Thank you all very much for your advice.
14. Lawz Infrequent Poster Joined: Mar 2008 Newcastle Posts: 212 1.1 Mk1

    #14 29th July 2010, 11:07

    Mine used to overrev very very occasinly, but now under idles instead, I think it my stepper motor as well
15. MattWild L-plater Joined: May 2010 Posts: 69

    #15 29th July 2010, 12:09

    My old one did this when the oil breather pipe disconnected itself.
16. user_35312 Established Member Joined: Jun 2009 Coventry CV6 Posts: 2477 Slowda Octavia vRS SOLD - Cam'd Chip'd VTR

    #16 29th July 2010, 14:29

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by wigman Had a diagnostic check done today and the fault is the stepper motor.I have just purchased one which will be fitted tomorrow,apparently it is a common fault. Thank you all very much for your advice.

    Not sure if you are getting the garage to do it (if not) for cheaper parts places or just for your information the stepper motor is better know as the idle control valve on here, probably pick one up in the for sales off here for cheap enough or a motorfactors!