First Side Of the Road Repair In My E320 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Graplr · #1 03-28-2011, 04:36 PM

There were a LOT of repairs on the side of the rode in my 300SDs but now I did the first in my 2000 E320.

Yesterday, the family and I were driving about 45 miles to my parent's house. My wife was driving my parents' car behind me as we kept it at our house over the winter as they were in FL and we are closer to the airport for when they fly home for a few days during the winter and then back to FL.

All of a sudden the pedal just went limp. So I pulled over to the side of the road immediately. It felt like something mechanical just gave way. Being new to this model (I purchased it in January) I was confused because I thought the W210 had an electronic sender at the pedal like my 94 Suburban. So my first thought was something broke on the pedal. So I tore out the panels under the steering wheel for the first time.

After some investigating it dawned on me that it could be a mechanical pedal. So I popped the hood. Immediately my eyes gazed upon the throttle sensor. The cable had come completely loose from the ball.

After taking off the "socket" part that connects the cable to the arm and dropping it down below the lines there and getting some scrapes on my hand and then having my wife with skinnier hands fish it out, I decided there was no way I was getting the cable to stick to the socket part again.

So I told my wife I needed some string. She asked what kind. I said "any." She comes back with shreds from the carpet scrap in the back of my parents' car and a paper clip. I realized the shreds wouldn't work but unraveled the paper clip. I wrapped it around the cable three times as tight as I could get it. I then instructed my wife (who is 28.5 weeks pregnant BTW

) to step on the pedal so I could wrap the other end around the arm on the sensor and get the right tension.

It worked flawlessly (if you don't count the blood stains on my under steering wheel panel from the knuckle scrapes.)

And here I was worried I wouldn't be able to work on my "new" car after I sold my old 84 SD.

jcyuhn · #2 03-29-2011, 10:07 AM

See, the newer cars are easier to fix than the older cars!

Ironically, the om603 had a service campaign for pretty much this same reason. Go figure...

Graplr · #3 03-29-2011, 10:21 AM

The paper clip is still in place. Last night I used some JB Weld on the cable to the "ball" part. It didn't seem dry enough this moring so I left it unhooked using the paper clip still. If the JB Weld holds I'll just keep some paper clips in the glove compartment, if not I priced out a new cable from Fastlane...

greenacres2 · #4 03-29-2011, 01:30 PM

Paper clip replaces baling wire--so THIS is new technology!!

I'm going to carry an old ribbon cable in my '02 since it is a later model...probably wouldn't be able to use the "old skool" paper clip.

Duner · #5 03-29-2011, 02:39 PM

I have heard of dental floss being used for some emergency repairs when string was sought after.

urtruelove78 · #6 03-29-2011, 03:10 PM

Looks like need to order some paper clips just in case...

Graplr · #7 03-30-2011, 11:11 AM

The JB Weld is did not take. I'm not sure if it would not bond to the cable or if it didn't bond because it was too cold (it was about 15F overnight). I let it sit for 10 hours and then drove it with the paper clip still in place and the ball sitting free and the ball fell off. So I'll try one more time since it is warming up here and I can let the car sit longer this weekend.

If that fails I'll get the new cable.