'87 w124 codes? acceleration problem
 

I'm having an acceleration problem and occasional rough idle in my 87 300E. The car will go totally listless with little to no power at all under normal acceleration. If I totally step on the gas and open the throttle all the way, it will take off like it should but for 2-3 seconds, it acts like it just isn't going to go.

I've checked the plugs, distributor and rotor, wires, etc. and nothing has changed. I've seen several threads about air flow sensor problems, O2 sensor, throttle actuators, etc. Which all seem to be possibilities.

What I'm trying to do before I throw parts at this thing is to check the codes. I can't figure this out. I see Arthur Dalton's homemade tool to check the flashes, but where are the pins on my car??? The only thing I can find is on the drivers side fender, a small round deal with 9 pins. Is this it? The banana plugs indicated from Arthur don't fit in this thing (too big) so I'm thinking this isn't it?

Any help would really be appreciated.

No, there was a squarish bock on the passenger side, but I think it was only for the later W124 models that have Bosch HFM injection. Yours has the K-jetronic with the airflow sensing plate and fuel distributor.

EHA
 

Thanks. I'm going to check out the info on the mechanical injection.

I just talked to a local MB guy who said my problem is almost certainly a bad EHA valve. After reading up on it, it does make sense. We'll see...

I fixed the link to the HFM document where you can see the square diagnosis port with the LED (page 11/7).

<< I see Arthur Dalton's homemade tool to check the flashes, but where are the pins on my car??? The only thing I can find is on the drivers side fender, a small round deal with 9 pins>>>

Your chassis does not have Led Flash Format code retrieve or Led DM .
It has Duty Cycle and requires a DMM capable of reading Duty cycle %.
That is where you use the 9 pin Diagnostic port.

Search "Duty Cycle"

Page 13: 9 pin.

http://www.autolib.diakom.ru/CARS2/pribor/cs1000/manual/cs1000_mb.pdf

Ok. Thanks for the info. Hopefully the EHA fixes the problem. It's a pricey little part...

i just purchased a working used one for $60.00 due to its extremely high cost,but i found out as easy as it is to replace,the air/fuel ratio and idle speed need to be altered to calibrate the new eha valve to your computer,its not easy.

$60 is a bargain based on what I've seen. Was that on ebay?

So I stumbled on a good eha valve from a junk yard for $20 bucks. The employee behind the counter had no idea of the value of the part. The owner was ticked when he overheard the final sale but let it go since his guy had already made the deal!

But...it didn't solve my problem... Over the last few months, the intermittent rough idle has become more consistent. Not sure where to go next... Plugs, wires, cap and rotor are all fine. I did take the idle valve off and clean it, but not totally thoroughly. Not sure if it should be replaced or what.

Your 87 does not have a diagnostic, only an O2 sensor light.

Check all your idle air hoses for cracks. If they are hard or have not been replaced by you since owning the car, replace them. Get them from the dealer, not online. Trust me. I replaced all mine with URO aftermarket and they cracked within a year. I had a thread about why my 260E was not starting.

Last time fuel filter was replaced?

Pull back the passenger carpet and probe the O2 sensor connector to see what you are 'really' running for duty cycle. If you receive a slow output, or none at all your O2 sensor could be toast.

FWIW, early W124s with KE-Jetronic had the 8-pin square diagnostic connector block beginning in 1988 on California version cars (federal versions may have started at the same time), but only the California versions came with the pushbutton and red LED to check for flashes without requiring the homemade reader.

Correct. My 88 300TE California has the diagnostic connector while my 87 California does not. 88 Was the year which gave the codes.

OP: Have you replaced the OVP yet?

im having a similiar issue with my 89 300ce,i had to replace the eha, fuel pumps and the o2 sensor,i also had to replace the fuel filter,check your ovp also

Update: so I did replace the EHA. I do not have any problem with acceleration after doing that. However, I still have a rough idle.

I haven't done anything with the OVP.

I've also heard there is some adjustment that can be made to the EHA? I haven't done anything with that. Could have that anything to do with the idle?

BTW, after new plugs, wires, fuel filter and O2 sensor I'm getting noticeably better mileage.

You can adjust the EHA via a small screw in the rear. MARK THE ORIGINAL POSITION.
Without use of a fuel pressure gauge you have no way to correctly adjust it. Mark the original position and give it turns in 1/8th's.
FYI Though: I HIGHLY doubt that is the cause of the rough idle though. Look at vacuum leaks at the idle control valve.

What does your economy gauge show at idle? Where is it at? Does it fluctuate at all?

Does the engine smooth out in neutral? Condition of motor mounts?
Is your ABS light illuminated? (OVP failure symptom)