DO adjust throttle linkage - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

roundout · #1 07-04-2009, 06:52 PM

I was about at my wit's end with my 84 300D having lousy pedal response and feeling gutless at best (especially with A/C on), so I did an afternoon's worth of research and decided to try adjusting the throttle linkage before messing with my ALDA. About 3 months ago I already did filters, valves, replace some vac fittings, disable EGR, all the normal stuff.

I did download the 5 page .jpg taken from the service manual but could barely read it. What I ended up doing was having my wife push the go pedal to the floor while I verified that the linkage was indeed not moving far enough to hit the limiter on the IP. I had her keep her foot on the floor while I loosened the 10mm set screw (which was all the way at one end of its limit, which I estimate gave me about 70% or so fuel) which holds the throttle linkage to the connecting rod nearest the firewall. When it was loose, I adjusted the linkage side to where it hit the limiter and tightened the screw back down. Now everything works perfect. No adjustment to ALDA needed.

One item of note is that I had my Bowden cable adjusted to EXACTLY where I wanted it for good shift points. Now that I have changed the geometry of the throttle linkage, I have to once again start adjusting the Bowden 1/8 turn at a time to get it right where I want it.

Time = 2 minutes + Bowden cable adjustment
Tool = 1 x 10mm socket or wrench
People = 2. One under hood and one on diesel pedal. You could make it work with 1 person if you could rig a way to keep the pedal on the floor while you were under the hood, but she was home and made things much easier.

Shawn T. W. · #2 07-04-2009, 07:01 PM

Yeah . . . Wifes are handy to keep around!

I get mine to help out when I need some help!

snookwhaler · #3 07-04-2009, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn T. W.

Yeah . . . Wifes are handy to keep around!

I get mine to help out when I need some help!

Ha, Ha.... Yea. Like that one specialty tool that just sits in your tool box. It sure comes in handy when you really need it!

Seriously though... That is one of the first things I did when I picked up my car. I was only getting about 60% throttle with the wife holding the pedal down. Sometimes the simplest things make the biggest difference.

Glad you got it worked out!

JimmyL · #4 07-05-2009, 12:25 AM

I need to check that on Smash, but I can tell you, the wife ain't gonna be helping. But I have my little brake bleeding helper to fall back on.....

Shawn T. W. · #5 07-05-2009, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyL

I need to check that on Smash, but I can tell you, the wife ain't gonna be helping. But I have my little brake bleeding helper to fall back on.....

She looks like you forgot the ICE CREAM!

You need to take care of your helpers!

cewyattjr · #6 07-05-2009, 09:06 AM

She looks as thrilled as either of my daughters would be. They also think my 300D is the ugliest thing on the road.

snookwhaler · #7 07-05-2009, 09:08 AM

ROFL!

She looks thrilled!

JimmyL · #8 07-05-2009, 10:11 AM

She actually posed for that.

Mom, on the other hand, would have looked like that times 10.......

roundout · #9 07-05-2009, 11:06 AM

My wife was on the phone at the time and partially distracted so she didn't notice it was 110F in the garage!

This fix has also cleared up another issue for me. I thought my kickdown 2/3 switches were worn out because I had to floor it and use that switch to get the tranny to downshift. It turns out that the cam wasn't rotating far enough to contact the 3/2 switches because the linkage was so sloppy. Now both of those work, too! BONUS.

LUVMBDiesels · #10 07-05-2009, 11:47 AM

Good for you! They (wives and daughters ) are handy to keep around for use on the car

Why just last weekend my wife actually connected the wires to the replacement starter motor on the SDL while I was under the car holding the motor up. It is so much easier to wire it with the motor held vertically and then rotate it into position and install it that it was worth the pleading to get her out of the house! She actually enjoyed it and when I let her tuen the key the for the first time said she got a ton of satisfaction when 'her' starter kicked over! This is after a moment of panic before rememering the disconnected battery cable

My daughter is a 'girlie gear head' and loves working on the fleet. She has even swapped out the front drums for discs with me on the '57 Chevy!
Since she was three she has known the #1 Tenant of mechanical engineering
"Righty Tighty, Lefty Loosy" Once she learned that, everything else was cake!

300dturbodiesel · #11 08-23-2009, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roundout

What I ended up doing was having my wife push the go pedal to the floor while I verified that the linkage was indeed not moving far enough to hit the limiter on the IP.

Sorry for the newbie question but I am having trouble finding this stop on the injector pump. I have the same problem but I don't know which piece of linkage to adjust first. Where is it that you adjusted in relation to the IP, top, behind, underneath, ?

Thank you!

marybeth · #12 08-23-2009, 09:54 PM

X 2 of pics of linkage in question

Also where is the Bowden cable (pics PLEASE PLEASE!)

I have a 300D & 300SD with same issues

toomany MBZ · #13 08-23-2009, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 300dturbodiesel

Sorry for the newbie question but I am having trouble finding this stop on the injector pump. I have the same problem but I don't know which piece of linkage to adjust first. Where is it that you adjusted in relation to the IP, top, behind, underneath, ?

Thank you!

What car?