The Van, she is borked

Brunhilde is acting up again, so I'll likely have to get her in this week. I'm assuming this is some sort of throttle issue, I'll explain.

I'll be idling with my foot gently pressed on the brake at a traffic light and the engine will start revving, which forces me to hold the brake down at the floorboard so the van doesn't shoot forward. Even in neutral, it continues to rev, even while it automatically changing gears. Scarily, it also does this when I'm driving without my foot on the gas - it will increase in speed uphill all by itself.

Needless to say, I've got the cruise control off.

Here's the trick - it doesn't do this constantly just once in awhile and scares me to death because it's so dangerous when it does. And the mechanic can't seem to figure out what's wrong with it.

*headdesk*

Recipe: Sweet Potato Paties with Honey Cheese Filling

From "Honey: More than 75 Delicious & Healthy Recipes" by Avner Laskin.

Sweet Potato Patties:

1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and finely grated
2 eggs
3 tablespoons cornstarch or potato flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp white pepper

Honey Cheese Filling:
1 cup cream cheese
1/3 cup honey
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt

2 cups vegetable oil for frying
1 tablespoon fresh dill

Preparation:
1. Prepare the patties: combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Refrigerate for a few minutes until chilled.
2. Prepare the filling: combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
3. Place spoonfuls of the sweet potato mixture into the oil 1.2 inch apart, gently flattening each ball with a metal spatula.
5. Fry patties until brown. Transfer to a paper towel to drain.
6. Arrange half of the fried patties on a serving plate. Place a teaspoon of filling in the center of each patty, garnish with dill, and place another patty on top.

Serve immediately. Makes 4 patties.