Hardly technical...
As it was on my old Mini 850. But this was about 25 years ago.

Steaming up a (slight) hill, I obviously had my foot flat on the floor to make anything nearing forward velocity. Once over the peak, it was nice to have some illusion of acceleration as I headed to a large roundabout.

being a Mini, I'd starting pumping the brakes pretty early on, but I wasn't slowing down nearly as "quickly" as usual. And strangely enough, the revs just kept climbing.

Yup, the throttle cable has frayed and gotten stuck in the sheath. Wide open. Approaching a roundabout.

Popping it out of gear, I was presented with "BOLLOCKS, BOLLOCKS, BOLLOCKS" coming from the engine bay, where pistons were hammering the bonnet in an attempt to get out.

Back into gear then, not wanting to turn the ignition off (steering lock) I just made it around the roundabout, doing a good 65.

Stopping the other side, I waited for the engine to cool and my pulse to go below 200 then had a look. Eventually I managed to change the choke cable with the throttle cable, and get home that way. It's challenging accelerating, lifting off, changing gear and back on the throttle, all with the same hand!

After a week I decided it was too much effort though, and did a proper job. No doubt using sellotape.
(Kliper Filllets Getting noticed by twats on the internet since, Mon 24 Aug 2009, 15:57, 1 reply)

I had a Fiesta on which the throttle cable melted onto the engine
and stuck so the car revved uncontrollably on my way home from a night shift. Noisy.

The speedo clock also came loose and the pointer edged higher and higher, insisteng that the ancient vehicle was doing over 100mph and eventually breaking loose and spinning round like a propellor.

Happy days.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Mon 24 Aug 2009, 23:10, closed)