How to Change the 2000 Explorer Throttle Cable

The accelerator cable has remained one of the most enduring of automotive components. With all cars heading towards full electronic controls as they progress through the 2000s, only a handful of cars, at the time of publication, have converted to electronically controlled throttle bodies. The 2000 Explorer is one example that still uses an accelerator cable. All three of the available engines for the 2000 Explorer have different processes for replacing the accelerator cable, but the 4.0-liter OHV engine and the 5.0-Liter engines do share a majority of their steps.

Instructions

Move the drivers seat as far back as it will go and position yourself so you can see the top of the accelerator pedal stalk.

Find the end of the accelerator cable on the top of the stalk. Grab the metal end of the cable with needle-nose pliers and pull it outward, so it clears its bed in the accelerator pedal stalk. Guide the accelerator cable off the stalk through the slot in the pedal stalk.

Trace the accelerator cable toward the firewall until you find the plastic clips securing its seal to the firewall. Press and hold the clips, and press the seal toward the front of the Explorer to remove it from the firewall.

Look on the front of the engine and find the small splash guard on the throttle body. Remove the two bolts securing the splash guard, using a ratchet and socket, and pull the splash guard off the throttle body, exposing the other end of the accelerator cable.

Pivot the throttle bodys throttle lever upward and hold it to relieve tension from the accelerator cable. Pull the cable from the bracket on the throttle body. Grab the cable by its metal end and slide it out of the throttle lever through the slot in the lever.

Pull the accelerator cable from the cruise control actuator cables bracket.

Remove the cable from the throttle bodys bracket by pulling it upward.

Trace the accelerator cable back toward the firewall until you reach its guide clip. Pull the cable from the guide clip.

Guide the engine end of the new accelerator cable into the throttle lever on the throttle body, by sliding the cable through the slot in the lever and seating the metal end in its bed on the lever. Press the cable back into the bracket on the throttle body.

Press the throttle cable into the bracket on the cruise control actuator cable.

Route the cable back toward the firewall with it going over top of the air-conditioning lines and under the vacuum lines for the power brakes and speed control. Press the cable into its routing clip on the engine.

Guide the cable through its hole in the firewall and press the seal into the hole in the firewall until its clips snap into place.

Position yourself so you can see the top of the accelerator pedal stalk. Grab the metal end of the cable and pull it outward. Slide the cable through the slot in the pedals stalk and seat the metal end in its bed on the pedal stalk.

Remove the four bolts securing the engine cover to the engine, using a ratchet and socket. Pull the engine cover off the engine.

Pivot the throttle level on the throttle body upward and hold it in place to release the tension on the accelerator cable. Pull the cable from the groove in the throttle lever, align the cable with the slot in the lever and slide the cable toward the throttle body to slide the cables metal end from its cutout in the lever. Release the throttle lever.

Trace the cable toward the firewall until you reach its mounting bracket. Remove the bolt securing its mounting bracket to the engine, using a ratchet and socket, and pull the cable and bracket from the engine.

Repeat steps 1 through 3 in the previous section titled Accelerator Cable on a 4.0-Liter OHV Engine.

Use steps 12 and 13 in the section titled Accelerator Cable on a 4.0-Liter OHV Engine to install the cable on the accelerator pedal.

Route the cable to where its bracket mounts to the engine and align the bolt hole in the cables bracket with the mount on the engine. Thread the brackets bolt by hand, then tighten it with a ratchet and socket.

Pivot the throttle lever upward and hold it. Align the metal end of the cable with its bed in the throttle lever and line the accelerator cable up with the slot in the lever. Slide the metal end of the cable into its bed in the throttle lever. Release the throttle lever slowly as you guide the accelerator cable into the groove in the lever.

Set the engine cover back onto the engine. Thread the four bolts into the cover by hand, and tighten them with a ratchet and socket.

Remove the bolt securing the splash guard to the throttle body, using a ratchet and socket. Pull the splash guard off the throttle body.

Remove the accelerator cable from the throttle body and cruise control actuator cable bracket, by following steps 5 and 6 in the section titled Accelerator Cable on a 4.0-Liter OHV Engine.

Disengage the accelerator cable from the accelerator pedal and firewall, using steps 1 through 3 in the section titled Accelerator Cable on a 4.0-Liter OHV Engine.

Install the cable on the accelerator pedal following steps 12 and 13 in the section titled Accelerator Cable on a 4.0-Liter OHV Engine.

Install the cable onto the throttle lever and cruise control actuator cable bracket following steps 9 and 10 in the section titled Accelerator Cable on a 4.0-Liter OHV Engine.

Set the splash guard back onto the throttle body and hand-thread its retaining bolt. Tighten the retaining bolt to 6 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.