I've just joined the forum due to a startling problem: my 1997 850 wagon is now idling way too high at start up (over 6,000 rpm!). I just replaced the battery after a period of inactivity. It is cold here (mid 30's), so I expect it to rev high upon start up and then settle down, but this is clearly a problem. I shut it down without waiting to see if it would settle down on its own because I didn't want to damage the engine. I also notice that the gas pedal can be depressed with no resistance. Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks much!

 

Please post your questions about your car under your cars sub-forum. I moved it for you.

 

Sounds like your throttle cable is stuck. Check it and make sure it is positioned properly. There is also a possibility that the throttle return spring is broken. Look under the black plastic cover on the top right side of the motor (as you are looking at it rom the front of the car)

Hope this helps.

Glenn

 

Or the linkage at the throttle body fell off and is jammed.

Like Psaboic mentioned, pull the black cover off the throttle body and the air intake hose so you can see if the throttle plate is closing.
Check the cable routing on the black drum and the linkage on the side of the throttle body.

There is a small chance the throttle shaft is seized in the throttle body or something went wrong with the throttle position switch and has the throttle jammed but getting in there and checking things out is the only way to find out.

 

Thank you both, Kiss4aFrog and Psaboic. I will take a look this weekend and report back. the diagram is most helpful!

 

Most helpful advice from Psaboic and Kiss4aFrog. When I removed the black plastic cover I saw that the throttle cable was slack. I manually returned the throttle to its proper idle position and was able to get the car running normally. I will need to get it checked out to see why this happened, but at least I can get it to the shop without a tow. Thanks again!

 

If you pull off the air intake hose from the throttle body you might find it's really nasty in there. I'd swing by the auto parts store and purchase a can of throttle body cleaner (not carb cleaner) and use a rag to spray and wipe out all the crud you can. Make sure you get both sides of the throttle plate and the bore.

Did you notice anything in the linkage binding at all ?

 

Like Kiss4aFrog said, you can most likely fix this yourself. Pull off the air intake hose from the throttle body and open the butterfly valve. Spray some cleaner in there and clean all the crud off the butterfly valve and the inside of the bore. Check to make sure the butterfly operates smoothly with no binding after cleaning and it should be good to go!