1996 e300 acceleration issue - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

turbozeke418 · #1 11-16-2014, 01:25 AM

My 1996 E300 has around 248,000 miles now and runs great. I've recently replaced all of the hard fuel lines and that fixed my rough idle issues. Recently, even before I replaced them my car will only go to around 4,000 rpm when flooring it in first gear. I have to drive it like a "normal" person to have it shift smoothly. Up until recently she would rev up to close to the redline and shift smoothly into second etc. Now it just holds at 4,000 until you ease off the accelerator and let it shift into gear.
I've checked the vacuum lines, changed the fuel filters and I thought that would take care of it, but it's still doing it. It's not a major issue, but sometimes I want that extra off the line speed.

engatwork · #2 11-16-2014, 07:01 AM

When was the last time the fuel filter was changed?

turbozeke418 · #3 11-16-2014, 07:42 AM

Both the filter and pre-filter were changed when I did the lines the other day.

jbach36 · #4 11-16-2014, 09:06 AM

My car had problems going up the steep hills on the highways of VA and W. VA. It was fine here in Atlanta, but steep hills would kill it. I knew my pre-filter and main filter were clean, since I change them at proper intervals.

I had my general mechanic look at the car, he couldn't find anything wrong. Everytone thought it was bad fuel.

Then Kent Bergsma had a nice video on YouTube, and mentioned a TANK filter. I didn't even know this car had such a thing. I had my mechanic take it out and clean it, and that fixed my problem.

BE READY with a new filter and proper tool to get the filter in/out. You don't want to have the filter out and find out it's damaged and you have to order a filter that won't be in for 3 days. I can sell you mine, I had it but didn't need it. Email me directly if you need it.

Good luck!

1991 300d, 191k

jbach36 · #5 11-16-2014, 09:08 AM

My car had problems going up the steep hills on the highways of VA and W. VA. It was fine here in Atlanta, but steep hills would kill it. I knew my pre-filter and main filter were clean, since I change them at proper intervals.

I had my general mechanic look at the car, he couldn't find anything wrong. Everytone thought it was bad fuel.

Then Kent Bergsma had a nice video on YouTube, and mentioned a TANK filter. I didn't even know this car had such a thing. I had my mechanic take it out and clean it, and that fixed my problem.

BE READY with a new filter and proper tool to get the filter in/out. You don't want to have the filter out and find out it's damaged and you have to order a filter that won't be in for 3 days. I can sell you mine, I had it but didn't need it. I think mine will fit yours, not sure. Email me directly if you need it.

Good luck!

1991 300d, 191k

turbozeke418 · #6 11-16-2014, 10:21 AM

Sounds logical since I regularly run vegetable oil in the tank. I'm sure the tank filter/strainer has something in there after 248,000 miles. Is yours for a 1996 e300?

turbozeke418 · #7 11-17-2014, 03:49 AM

I was driving into work tonight and all of a sudden the car accelerated perfectly. After the next traffic light it was limited at 4500 rpm.

turbozeke418 · #8 11-19-2014, 10:03 AM

Just had the in tank screen filter cleaned out and still no change with the power on acceleration. They said the filter was pretty sludgey too.

DieselJim · #9 11-19-2014, 10:53 AM

Is the tank breathing adequately? Don't know if that is really an issue on the 210's but it was definitely a problem on my first MB diesel. If that is the issue I would expect it to work great right after a fill up but get worse as you use up fuel. I would also expect significant vacuum if you open up the cap and then it should be fine once the tank breathes and you put the cap back on

Zulfiqar · #10 11-19-2014, 04:54 PM

there is a dome in which the screen sits in the tank, that dome has small openings which can get packed with junk and cause low fuel flow.

I read a technical article by MB on the W210 for this issue. The old W124 also had that dome - thats why when I removed the screen to find strange looking plasticky bits n pieces I carefuly removed the junk with a bent coat hanger and then removed the tank and sloshed it clean too.

the power output was incredible after the exercise

turbozeke418 · #11 11-22-2014, 12:24 PM

Hmmmm I filled her completely up after the screen filter was changed and it's still doing the same thing. I took it to a reputable indie shop too who has been working on the car whenever I can't handle the job. I'm sure they knew to clean out around it when they changed it for me.

turbozeke418 · #12 11-23-2014, 03:40 AM

I just had another thought? Would the car saying low oil cause this to happen? I think I have a faulty oil level reader because occasionally the light will come on saying it needs oil. I haven't noticed though if this coincides with the power reduction to not letting the car redline?

turbozeke418 · #13 11-23-2014, 11:40 AM

That wasn't a fix either. I have noticed it will Rev high when you first start the car and only once. If you stop and floor it again, it stops revving at 4300 or so rpm and won't shift to the next gear unless you ease off the accelerator.

Chris W. · #14 11-23-2014, 01:58 PM

My first thought was fuel filter, but you have eliminated that. And you had a brief moment of normal acceleration which would not happen if your filters were plugged. Perhaps one of the butterfly valves in the intake manifold is stuck closed or something?

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D, 432K

turbozeke418 · #15 11-23-2014, 11:13 PM

I posted 2 video's on youtube so everyone can get an idea of exactly what I'm talking about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBITBaVN40M&list=UUzQqiCuGA5BLhKxdqTt0tGw
the first one above is what it should rev, accelerate, shift etc. normally. The car will do this after you first start the car and drive. After that first time accelerating it goes to the video below-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzC5pJTUMVY&index=2&list=UUzQqiCuGA5BLhKxdqTt0tGw