Hi All-
Early this year, I acquired my 1987 300TD wagon and I am slowly making minor progress on a few projects. Right now, I am trying to make sure that all the linkages for the accelerator and injection pump are correctly adjusted. I am trying to follow 30-1010 from the FSM as best I can. I have attached the relevant parts from this section as images to my post.

Basically, I am trying to do the idle adjustment, which on my car is currently not as tight as it needs to be. It says to use adjusting nut 232 inside the car. This nut must be inside the driver's footwell. Can anyone tell me the easiest way to access this nut? There is a small (1.5x3 inch) access panel right above the accelerator pedal, but I was unable to feel the nut up inside there. It also occurred to me that perhaps I need to remove the entire footwell. I have bad luck when removing 25 year old plastic generally, so if it is necessary to remove the footwell covering, could someone advise how much stuff needs to come off?

Does anyone know how best to access the accelerator cable adjustment nut inside the car?

As an aside, the accelerator cable adjusting nut inside the engine compartment (at the IP) is pretty much maxed out, so even if that is a normally viable alternative, it would not work in my case. Thanks.

Attached Thumbnails

     

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1968 220D, w115, /8, OM615, Automatic transmission.
My 1987 300TD wagon was sold and my 2003 W210 E320 wagon was totaled (sheds tear).

The lower sound panel must be removed.

Slide the seat all the way back.

Your head and hands must be near the accelerator pedal.

FYI: I insist upon replacing the cable with factory "NEW" for this much pain, and the old unit is usually damaged/failing.

After replacing twenty or more, it becomes a 15 minute job, beginners should plan an hour +..

Having received many wrong throttle cables from MB, I should note:
MB has difficulty indexing these by VIN#, so plan around the issue.

.

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EPC (if I am using it right) says that the correct throttle cable for my 1987 124 300TD wagon is 1243002830. Mercedes wants $50 for it. Could anyone else weigh in on whether that is a necessary part to replace pre-emptively? I obviously respect whunter's opinion very much, but sometimes those of us on a budget have to make compromises which proper mechanics aren't forced to make.

Also, is removing the plastic above the driver's feet straight forward? I started it the other day, but had trouble finding all the fasteners.

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1968 220D, w115, /8, OM615, Automatic transmission.
My 1987 300TD wagon was sold and my 2003 W210 E320 wagon was totaled (sheds tear).

...oohkay!

Moving on.

Don't forget there's an electronic speed control dial that you set for idle. Underhood, top, driver's side you see it with markings 1 to 7 or something. Pull to turn.

Playing with the cable at either end is just taking up slack. Don't make it so taut that your injector rack moves... that's what the adjust knob is for.

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Cheers!
Scott McPhee

1987 300D