The car is a 1983 280SL, long-neglected, and with a lot of needs. One is the throttle action.

With the engine off, the throttle moves easily. Start the engine and it takes a huge amount of force to move the accelerator pedal or the linkage from the engine compartment. There are no restrictions in movement and all the pivot points have been cleaned and oiled.

I disconnected the linkage at the throttle valve so that all that had to move was the butterfly, and observed a small amount of in-out play with the engine off. But start the engine, and the throttle lever appears to get pulled in hard against the housing, making it very hard to move.

I think that either the butterfly shaft or the hole in the housing housing which is passes through is worn, allowing vacuum to escape and pull the mechanism up against the housing.

Anyone seen this or have other suggestions as to what the problem could be?

TIA

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Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe