"Stumbling" issues with 93 400E - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ItalianBenz · #16 08-30-2004, 01:30 AM

MB Frau. Its a solid state you with its own microprocessor. There is really now way to test it. I suppose when the problem is occuring to put it on a das machine and read acutal values. I am sure it is happening to you. Intermittenlt isn't it>?

There pretty expensive. Its not a DIY. Its kinda tricky to remove and install,you have to support the throttle return spring,as not to let it slip away from you, if you do its a nightmare to retrieve the throttle return spring.
Also. You will have to instsll new breather hose that goes from the right side v/c to the actuator its self. Thats it gauranteed to break everytime. Just a few pointer to look out for if you attemp to install this yourself.

Guido

MB FRAU · #17 08-30-2004, 09:55 PM

Update: The mechanic did a little cleaning on the throttle actuator today and then took it for a test drive. It never acted up...so he is going to see if he can clean it up some more and check the condition of the wires on harness of the actuator. But so far, thanks to everyone's help it appears that we might be getting this thing figured out or at least headed in the right direction. We'll keep you updated.

For any other 93 400E owners, Phil @ Fastlane can get you a new actuator for approx. $1050 and for some of the M119 engines (depending on manufacturing date) there is a rebuilt actuator for around $850. He said that MB's price is over $1200.

MB FRAU

grateful36 · #18 08-31-2004, 12:48 AM

i have a 1988 300E that had those same symptoms and i didn't know how to fix the problem,i started throwing parts at it at first until i discovered this fantastic web site......after reading all the threads on this issue i went by process of illimination ,the part that solved the problem the most was the overload protection relay,so i went and replaced the one that happened to be the original in my car (the stamped date on it)and bingoooooo,the car started running like a dream,like nothing happened,thanks to all of you and i would like to pass this on to the next guy with the same problem,and i hope MBFRAU that this is the culprit in your car and that it would stop your nightmare like it did mine.......benzes are great when they run like they should..........but when they have a problem,you either throw a lot of money at it or just come to this site and do a lot of reading and do the work yourself.......thanks again, it was worth my time reading here.
ps:it cost me $60 to fix the problem

MB FRAU · #19 08-31-2004, 08:34 AM

FYI: The 400E does not have an OVP like the 300 model does. In the 400 model the OVP (amongst other functions) has been incorporated into the base module that sits in the back left corner of the engine compartment next to the firewall (where the battery would normally be...almost looks like a battery). The battery on a 400E is actually in the trunk of the car.

Stevebfl decribes the 400E as having,

Quote:

A whole new electrical center is setting where the battery used to and all the controllers including the base module which is an even more sophisticated OVR/Klima/FPR/air pump relay/etc

But trust me...if our 93 300CE Cabriolet ever starts having the same kind of issues as the 400E is having...the first thing to be looked at will be the OVP!

MB FRAU

MB FRAU · #20 09-17-2004, 08:43 AM

It has been a couple of weeks since we got the car back and my husband has used it daily, even taking it on a 300 mile business trip this week just to see if things were really fixed. I'm happy to report that we've not had anymore problems. Here's what our mechanic did:

1.Replaced the crankshaft position sensor - the result was improvement (ever so slight hesitation). Not sure it this would have been one of those situations where the car needed to be restarted a certain number of times for the computer to reset or not. If so, it was only restarted 1-2 times before he began to look at the ETA

2.Cleaned Electronic Throttle Actuator - problem disappeared during this process. Because he was working on it as he had time over a couple day period, it was continually being moved in and out of the garage (multiple restarts)

Hope this info can be helpful to someone else! Thanks to all who provided input!

MB FRAU

ItalianBenz · #21 09-17-2004, 10:08 AM

MB I just worked on a friends car this week. with similiar complaints/. her car is a 1993 with 35K. Soon as it started warming up. did all kiinds of different engine running complaints. i went right to the distributor cap and rotors. I bet if you never changed these.this might be a major culprit. Pls remove and inspected left and right banks distributor cap's If you see alot of oxidation and greeninsh powder,also a transfer of metal onto the rotors. repl both cap and rotor. I bet this could be your problem if there original and never be replace.

Good Luck