85 300SD throttle cable/ pedal No power
 

Okay, Yesterday as I drove home the car felt sluggish. Got home did my to do list and forgot about it. This a.m. leaving for work it was very noticeable and worse than before. I could not stop and the wife had the only other car I could use so I drove to work.
The pedal appears to only have 1/2 -1 inch of travel inside. The car shifts between downshift and upshifting if you give it too much throttle.
I do not believe it is a tranny problem rather throttle cable and or throttle cable adjustment. I looked at the linkage closest to the firewall and it looks like the bolt may have slipped. Does anyone have a good pic of the engine top ( showing throttle linkage) and linkage at firewall. It was a pain to drive it this way and I have a 1 hour drive home when I get out of work at 6:00 tonight
( east coast )
Thanks
Alan

If your 300SD is like my 85 300D, there is no throttle cable. Instead, the pedal rotates a rod in the engine bay, which controls the fuel injection pump (diesels have no throttle). Where the rod bolts to the firewall, there is a rubber isolator. It tends to split and new ones cost >$50. I just tied across mine with several wraps of stainless wire. Have someone press the pedal while you watch under the hood. I bet you will see the rubber open up.

Thanks I will check it out. I saw the rod action and the flat plate that attaches
it to another rod that goes towards the IP. It has a nut and bolt in it that looks like the fastener has slipped or moved from one end to the other. I will give it a look after work. Thanks Bill. I will let you know how it turns out.
Alan

It was too dark before I was able to leave work so I limped home. Had to milk it the whole 30 miles. I will update in the a.m.

Running late this a.m. and the wife was off so I used the Suburban. I know what I am doing Easter morning ( and it ain't hiding eggs )