Before replacing the cable, you might check to see if you have the problem
that I had in my '83 diesel when it had symptoms like you're describing.

I too first suspected the cable but then noticed that the cable was had
slight slack in it when it the engine was racing. It turned out that when
the engine was hot, the pump lever (to which the cable attaches) was sticky
enough to prevent the spring from returning the lever to its stop position.
I put a couple of drops of lubricant directly on the spring and post that
the lever rotates around and that cured my problem.

May your problem be as easily solved.

-Dave O'Shea
 '83 Diesel Westy, San Francisco

-----Original Message-----
From: stephen de la salle [mailto:sdelasal@PEOPLEPC.COM]
Sent: Monday, June 03, 2002 4:13 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: replacing accelerator cable on 82 diesel

Mine now tends to 'stick' - keping the pump lever off of idle and engine rpm
up too high with result that engin espeed flares on gear changes - this all
gets noticebly worse when the engien bay gets hot like after a 'high' speed
run i.e. 65MPH :)

It looks like a long run there under the van - Any tips on changing the
accelerator cable on an 82 Diesel van?

Steve