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2nd Gen 5-speed -- play in throttle, jerking when accelerating from stop

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Coolant leak

Stuck in Twin Falls, ID P207F

I have a 1996 12valve with the 5-speed transmission and 4x4. I just had the clutch replaced and the transmission rebuilt last month. I also had the throttle cable replaced by the dealer under recall about a year ago due to fraying in the twisted cable. Haven't had any issues until today. I'm driving on the freeway and all of a sudden the throttle pedal depresses toward the floorboard. I get over a lane, slow down, and downshift to fourth gear. I get off the freeway, and feel like the truck is driving fine, except that my right foot feels a lot closer to the floorboard than normal. I have to hit the pedal pretty far to accelerate.

I decide to pull over to a parking lot to check things out under the hood. I come to a stop light, and when I accelerate the truck jerks until I get into third gear. I get to the parking lot, pop the hood, and notice some play in one of the throttle cables. I never paid much attention to it before, so not sure if that's the normal amount of play or something new. I go to leave the parking lot and again jerk around until I get into third gear.

Trying to figure out who I need to take the truck to tomorrow. Is this the throttle cable that the dealer replaced failing? An issue with the new clutch? TPS going out? Thanks.
 
There’s only one throttle cable. The other is the cruise control cable. It doesn’t move unless the cruise is active. It’s probably the one your seeing play in. It sounds more like a linkage rod problem to me, but when they go you generally have no throttle. I would also check the springs as mentioned by GrantP.
 
Yep, that looks like it. Thanks much. I'm looking at the back bottom of the IP and see a busted spring hanging from the IP and a lever with a hook that isn't hooked to anything anymore. Can I just put any old spring there to get back in service for now and replace with the correct one later? Or is it critical that I have the right spring for it to operate? I assume this isn't a spring I can pick up at the neighborhood parts store.
 
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