Hi:
I have a newly purchased 1998 E300TD with 122K, extremely well-maintained mechanically and runs excellently.
However, often when coming off idle as I step on the accelerator pedal there is quite a 'dead' spot and the car does not
move forward. I then push the pedal to 3/4 or so and it takes off. Sometimes even on the second push nothing
happens, but it always seems to work.
Is this a known problem? Seems pretty goofy for a diesel!!
Need Help!

Check the slack in your throttle cable,

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2005 SL65
1999 E300
1995 E300
1994 SL320
1988 560SL
1987 300TD
1982 300D
1955 300SL

There should be a way to check the voltage of the throttle with the pedal depressed and at rest. Do you get any codes like P1222 or P0220?

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

FYI, you have a 1998 E300. All 1998-1999 E300's are automatically a turbo, adding TD to the name only causes confusion.

This is an excellent suggestion to start with. Under the hood, by the brake booster you will see the terminal point of the throttle cable - where it attaches to the "throttle position sender" (I call it that - I don't know the exact name). With an assistant, observe the movement of the mechanism as the pedal is pressed. If it moves from the start of movement of the pedal then mechanically the cable is adjusted correctly. It could then be the throttle position sender which is attached to the cable at that point which is bad...that would be my guess.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

I think it is called Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor. If it works like the Throttle Position sensor, there should be 1 ground, 1 input and 1 reference voltage. Maybe some poking around will discover which is which. If you can find that, I would look for a smooth increase in voltage from no depression to full depression. If there is a dead spot, you need to replace that sensor.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

I've always heard TPS, but who knows for sure.

The Russian EPC lists it as "Sender Unit". See #104.

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.asp?TP=1&F=210025&M=606%2E962&GA=722%2E608&CT=F&cat=45P&SID=30&SGR=015&SGN=01

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

Is the throttle connection mechanical or electronic on this car? I owuld have thought that by 1998 things like the throttle would be elctronic. I'm unclear as to which it is from the posts above.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

My EPC also calls it Sender unit. 011 542 86 17

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Both. There is a foot pedal that pulls the cable and operates the sensor. From there it is electronic

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow