Still dealing with this POS.
Ohhh yes, the high idle was solved leaving behind the infamous 'surging idle'

There has to be a very special group of German engineers who gather at least annually to laugh at those they left behind to deal with their incredibly bs style of so called engineering.

Some background.
89 300E, W124, M103 High idle... SOLVED

ALL injector boots replaced. ALL needed it. Been all over the drivers side of the motor with a spray looking for any other vacuum leaks which many of the injector boots had. No additional leaks found anywhere.

Additionally, the OVP relay replaced with a 2 fuse version as was the one I pulled. NO CHANGE.

Distributor cap and rotor were also replaced. Both were needed.

From another site one suggestion I just got thru trying was to replace the AIR FLOW POTENTIOMETER which did not solve the issue. Spec is supposed to be 0.7mvdc +- 0.1mvdc.

At operating temp, voltage ranges from 0.3 to 1.8mvdc. Rpm's range from ~500 to 1100rpm.

Is there anyone here that has solved this issue ? By solve I mean had a M103 with a surging idle that something was done that actually left the M103 with a stable idle.

I have to express that I am not looking for guesses...just resolution.
Thanks

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1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

I did see a video on youtube on this fault .Thinking he changed the fuel relay Is this in a 260e? or 300e ? You wll find it at the rear of battery ,pull away the plastic membrain ,you will see another black box close to the ovp relay.It will be hard to remove as it as lugs on the side of the base that pop in to slots on the holder thats in there.This is if it like my 260e .Just another thing that can make these symptoms, look down on to the engine from the top with air box removed.Loook for this T shaped item with two hoses going to it and electrical connection on the rear. This regulates the air in to engine if its gummed up it will give fluctuation of engine speed.It is held in there with a plastic sadle just 2 bolts to remove it .Get it out and spray inside with carb cleaner ,shake it a little then tip it out. Do this few times.Refit , check for damage on the 2 hoses as you put them back on. Do let us know how it works out for you please..

TnBob this is what your looking for .

This is the item to clean .Sorry pictures not working

optimusprime, the fuel pump relay is one of the few things I havent changed, yet.
Ive not only pulled and cleaned the IAV, but replaced it even after it checked good statically and on the car. Both the large vacuum lines including that absolute POS son of a bitxx one that goes to the block were changed. The one to the block was rock hard with the other one not far behind.

I somehow missed that youtube. Parts ordered

__________________
1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

TnBOB do let us know how you get on please.

I got so sick and tired of trying to get a decent, consistent idle, I removed the IAC valve and replaced it with a plumbing gate valve from home depot, I think it was 3/4" but I cant remember. It fit perfectly inside the hoses and secured with hose clamps. Air cleaner hides it. Set it and forget it. Low tech but works great.

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1988 300E

I too sympathise with the frustration of M102 / M103 idle troubles

Bob - when do you get the surging?

Does it happen immediately from cold?

OR does it happen after you've been driving?

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

But you did adjust it at operating temp didn't you?

I have alternative instructions for the fitting of this potentiometer that do not include the "live" with engine running method.

I'll dig 'em out and post them in a bit.

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

For me, one of the few times it makes sense to send my cars to a pro and pay for one hour of their time, $120, is when I think it's going to cost me 2-3X as much time to figure it out.

Dare I say it...
send it to a pro and have him tell you what's wrong once and for all?

__________________
03 CLK430 Cabrio 211K Pweter Silver/ Oyster Leather
90 300SEL 214k Pearl Black/ Alto Grey/Black Leather

Prior: 85 190E, 88 300TE, 89 300TE, 90 300E 2.6, 90 300TE, 92 300E 2.6, 91 and 93 300SL, 87 Ferrari Mondial Cabrio

Heretic!

Stone him!

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Stretch, surge commences 5/6 secs from startup
Adjustments made at bout 80c

tilac, IAC powered or not seems to make no difference. How bout necking down to 1/'4'' ??

__________________
1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

Vacuum problem my be .

And at the risk of being stoned myself

I hate to suggest it but perhaps you need to reconsider the water sensor and the resistor you installed?

I've got a list of the output values as they should be if you're interested.

My experience has shown that idle (before moving / driving the car) can be nice and smooth by making sure air idle control valve is working (so disconnect plug - idle goes up to about 1200 to 1500 rpm), making sure the air flow sensor is new without worn tracks, and replacing O2 sensor.

I get the impression that the pressure difference in the upper and lower chambers in the fuel distributor also need to be checked but so far I haven't found the correct adapters to allow me to check this measurement and adjust the hydro-electric actuator (back of fuel distributor).

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Are there any fault codes?

__________________
Current: 1975 450SEL, 83 300D, 88 Yugo GVX, 90 300D OM603 swap, 91 F150 4.6 4v swap, 93 190E Sportline LE 3.0L M104 swap, 93 190E Sportline LE Megasquirt, 03 Sprinter, 06 E500 4Matic wagon.