Volvo 480 Club Europe

I have one of the few 480ES in the US, so finding parts and help is not so easy. 1989 non turbo, manual. My accelerator cable assembly broke at the firewall plastic retainer and I can't figure how to remove it. It fits in a square hole and has what looks like a square retaining piece turned 45 degrees on the inside. Of course this is very difficult to reach, way above the pedals inside. Since the original cable is nla, I have sourced an aftermarket replacement cable after some searching, and hope it will fit. How can I remove the old cable assy without destroying it? Any help is very welcome. Thanks.

Could you point where did you find the cable?

Tell us more about your USA 480!

P.S. You need 10 posts to post pictures.

I got the cable from Skandix in Germany. Their part number 10500000, Volvo #3459140. They made a small run on my request. Not cheap. Be aware there are numerous different cables based on your engine, etc.
My 480ES is black, manual trans, no AC, complete unmodified, no rust. Works well except the power windows which are non op. Need to solve that problem too. A black car without opening windows is a bit of an issue in sunny California!

Welcome...

When my cable snapped I learned the hard way..
Its easy enough to take out its getting it back in.. I found a piece of string pulled the new one through...
Anyway that piece needs a little turn to come off and that releases the hole to the firewall... The cable itself it attached to the pedal by a little plastic clip which pops in and out...
I attached the cable to the throttle body first then the pedal..

By the way I had to do it upside down... Head where the pedals are and feet near the roof..
It was a fun day

Thanks for the info. I am used to working in the footwell upside down as I work a lot on vintage Volvo 1800's, still not fun as noted. So what tool did you use to turn the square to unlock it? I have tried a large screwdriver to pry on the corner, but it seems stuck. Maybe now that I know it is the way, I will apply more pressure. BTW, my interest in the 480ES is because I have an 1800ES, glass tailgates alike. My 2 ES's were pictured in Hemmings Sports and Exotics magazine last year, back to back with tailgates open.

Jesus ! 170 eur for the cable !

http://www.skandix.de/en/spare-parts/en ... k/1050000/

I took one from a scrappy 1990 turbo a while ago looking to replace mine as the plastic body part is also waving goodbye. But then i found the cable end at the throttle valve was different. How can this be so?

The scrapyard fellow took the cable out for me undamaged in less than 5 minutes. Not saying this will be easy to refit. At least not in my useless hands.

Not spending 170 eur on the cable for now....

I do also also want some pics of the american ES. A way to reach 10 posts and be allowed to post pics is this. http://www.volvo-480-europe.org/forum/v ... 23&t=34848

Perhaps a simple solution is to take a photograph of each end + one of the entire cable and post up or email me them as I have spare accelerator cables and can compare them with mine.

170 euro wow I have bought a complete 480 for less

Yes, I said it was expensive, but when the car is dead without it, and no known source, you bite and don't look back. BTW, it is not exactly like the original but looks like it should connect up ok. One concern is the square firewall mounting as it does not have a built in retainer like the original. But until I can get the old one out, I don't know how I will proceed.

Mike

All I had on me was a flat headed screwdriver.. I am sure I just prised it off.. I may have turned it half an inch I am not to sure....

Im sure I thought to myself I could bodge the whole thing again with a piece of wire or string..

Its good you have a 480 in America as it was intended for that market originally..

Ok, having digested all the inputs I went out and changed the cable. Turns out the Skandix cable does have the same turn to lock mechanism on the firewall fitting. Thanks for the tip to turn it from the engine side. Other than being a bit awkward to get the tool on it, it did turn and when aligned with the square hole, I was able to pry it off with a strong thin scraper. Reinstall in reverse order was pretty easy once the square is pressed into the hole, it was a tight fit, then a 45 degree turn to lock it.

The Skandix cable is a bit different in a few ways.

It is better in that the firewall fitting is now metal and won't break like the original plastic one.

The pedal end hook is a metal piece instead of the original plastic snap in, but it doesn't have a retainer. It does have a groove that comes with a rubber ring in it, but I couldn't figure what it was for. I found a pin clip that would hold the J hook on the pedal rod. Not super secure, I would like a firmer lock, but will do for now until I find a better one.

It seems a bit short. Either the cable needs to be 10mm longer, or the sheath a bit shorter. With it adjusted to the longest position, it still holds the throttle 2 mm off the stop. Possibly the holding bracket is bent a bit, not sure.

It seems to work, but the battery had gone down, so I am charging it. Will then know how well it works and I can drive the car again! I took some pics of the new cable details and will post once I am enabled.

Mike D.
'73ES, '61P, '89ES + others

Oh, one more difference in the new Skandix cable. It does not have the 2 electrical contacts which open with WOT (pedal to the floor), so I assume those 2 wires need to be connected together and that function is lost. Not sure what it does, maybe to disable AC with WOT??

Mike D.
'73ES, '61P, '89ES + others

Correct, it switches the A/C off at full throttle and changes the wipers from intermittent to constant, if selected intermittent

irollerdudek wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 04, 2016 5:18 am

BTW, my interest in the 480ES is because I have an 1800ES, glass tailgates alike. My 2 ES's were pictured in Hemmings Sports and Exotics magazine last year, back to back with tailgates open.

Found your cars! From here: https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/hsx/2 ... 47801.html