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Originally posted by Randall Grubbs
sb,
The MAF slips into one side of a rubber connector (collar) and the the other side fits over the throttle actuator. Both are held tightly with the large clamps. If you loosen the clamps, you can pull the MAF straight out.
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Your choice of words is superb, Randall -- "if" I loosen the clamps is the question of the moment!
I spent about 45 minutes trying to get an angle on the clamp screws with no success; I tried everything in my box of tricks. Went out to buy an offset screwdriver, and then found that there isn't enough angular room to move it once it's on the first screw.
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Over time the rubber hardens and you will probably rip it apart when you pull the MAF out. The actuator is held down with 4 bolts. After removing the bolts you can work it out of the upper intake by turning it sideways and swearing a lot. To replace you will need the manifold to TA gasket and a new rubber TA to MAF collar.
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Roger wilco. I am prepped with part numbers. And I am well familiarized with swearing a lot after my last bit of 500E wrenching, the change of transmission shifter bushings :-)
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My actuator is fine after 114K miles even after I pulled it out to replace the rubber crankcase ventilation hose that connects to it on the bottom rear. I wouldn't mess with it unless I had to. The more the wires get moved around the more chance for problems. The wire bundle connected to mine was still nice and pliable with no crispy parts.
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I do have to say that perhaps discretion is the better part of valor on this one. The experience of other owners suggests that TBA failure mode is slow and well telegraphed, instead of being an instant vehicle stopper. That is good to know. An instant stop, if it ever happened, could leave us inconveniently stuck in a one-horse town somewhere, as we drive the 500E primarily as a distance runner. (It's much too nice to use as an urban commando. I have other cars for that job.)
And this TBA unit seems to be working brilliantly, plus, all of the wires and hoses under the airbox look to be in fine shape. Very flexible, no discoloration, no cracking. I may put a bit of nonmelting synthetic grease around each hose terminus just to be cautious, but that's all I would think that it needs for now.
The one rationale for having the TBA out is that if it is starting to get sick, this month is my last shot to have it replaced under Starmark. Given that it's a spendy piece of kit, I may be willing to put in the time to remove and open and inspect. My assumption is that if there were severe wire cracking visible inside, MBUSA would ante up for a new unit.
s/b