Yes, Bob that is the flap... You can see 2 of the bolts & the OTHER 2 are under those rubber plugs at the top.

Jim, Thanks for the reply

I've visted your very informative site many times.

Wiring harness appears to have been replaced. I stripped away insulation at thermostat housing and under black plastic cover above fuel rail.

I'd love to do a reman, but my budget's too tight.

I know the connector to the wiring harness has a clip that swings up. But is it threaded or just pull? I don't want to break this one, like I've done to so many other connectors.

Bob

I was able to disconnect everything from the throttle body. However, another question...

In attachec pik, is the vacuum (regulator) removed to allow space to remove the throtle body? If so, is the small plastic arm (in small red square) disconnected first? If not, how do you remove the throttle body? Front first, back first, up through intake runners?

Bob

Weird. My car was a 94 e320 from California and I didnt have that vacuum part on my manifold and pulled it up right through that hole. Just for FYI I got a rebuilt one from www.4mercedes.com and it worked great and was only 400 with a 1 year warranty.
Chris

Last week 4mercedes.com quoted me $600 with core.

Bob

PS So what do you think about removing vacuum (regulator?)

Yeah I think that 600 is with a 200 core charge if I remember correctly. but anyway...I would def. removing the arm from the attachment point, as I dont think the bellow would be damaged by doing so. The only thing I had to replace after pulling evrything apart was the gasket under the TBA and the hose that is on top of the TBA(it pulled apart from age heat I guess). Give it a try I dont think even if you break it will be that expensive. The hose was 13 and the gasket a buck. Let us know what happens.
Chris

Ps Looking at the photo, are you sure that whole piece is part of the manifold or can it be removed in one piece?

Vacuum unit appears to be moulded part of "rectangular" bracket. However, there's a very thin seam line where bracket meets manifold. I'm going to check with dealer and review illustrations of parts before I break it.

Bob

Also, check out my DIY article I wrote up a couple of years ago. You can click the tab at the top of the page that says DIY. I wish the reman unit was available when did this. I think I paid close to $2K for the parts. Car is long gone now...

Listen to JimF, he knows what he is talking about.

I bought one of his Coolant Harnesses and it did wonders bringing down the operating temps of my previously hot running 420SEL. I have since sold the 420SEL, but while I owned it, it ran just fine using JImF's "invention."

Check out his website, lots of good info.

Thanks to all for your suggestions. The throttle body was easy to remove with your suggestions. Maniac at dealer told me the vacuum regulator usually comes off with the flap. Gentle prying and it poped right out. Parts illustration shows a rubber "o" ring gasket between it and intake manifold.

Per many suggestions, I'm seriously considering reman for both parts. Please don't tell my wife! $600 to 4Mercedes for the throttle body and $1150 to Beckman is $1000 more than salvage yard parts.

Attached is pik of flap housing and vacuum with flap. Hopefully this thread and piks will help the next DYI'er.

Bob

Ahhh I know why I didnt recognize that modulator, mine came off with the black housing, im an idiot!! lol :)
Chris

PS Good Job btw!!!!

A month later, my foggy 59 yr old memory, parts remaned by 4Mercedes.com and much appreciated help from the list members enabled me to get my Benz running again.

The hardest part of the job was getting the thottle body out and back in. I put the rear portion in first and kept wiggling until it went into place. Damn egr pipe was getting in the way. Remembering all the hassle feeding a spedo cable from the egr valve through the pipe to clean it, I took the opportunity to clean it again at the manifold.

So my 94 e320 Wagon is back on the road. I no sooner washed off a month of pollen and youngest daughter asked if she could use it to help a friend move furniture. You gotta love 6+ feet of cargo space.

Brakes are thumping a little, but I guess that's from sitting for a month.

Bob
PS 4Mercedes took care of me. However, as with any remanufacturer, it's good to get their turn around schedule in advance.

Glad it's fixed . . as I'm sure you are too!

Why did you use their services?? Also, how much did they charge??? Not interested in the 'exact' amount but ballpark??

I see that they give a 1 year warranty.

Why did you use their services?? Also, how much did they charge??? Not interested in the 'exact' amount but ballpark??

About $425 + S+H for throttle body. Control module checked out OK by their tests. Beckman Technologies wanted much more $. Best to get estimate and turn around time from 4Mercedes because prices may vary depending on specific item.

Bob

Problem Solved...

Thanks to all who took the time to think and contribute their thoughts to a long saga. And special thanks to Arthur Dalton, Jim F and M. B. Doc ... I can't even imagine what we'd do without you and other gracious contributors.

4Mercedes did correctly rebuild my actuator and tested it (as well as ASR & EC control modules) for 3 days on one of their cars to insure proper operation.

After reinstalling these items my 94 e320, it had a very rough idle and inadequate power. Completely frustrated, I took the car to Star Service Center in Allentown PA. In a short time, Neil realized #4 exhaust valve wasn't operating correctly. He applied some magic and my e320 is running better than ever!!! That's what a good maniac get's paid for... knowledge & skill ...

I probably spent more money "doing it myself" than having Neil doing it all. But the challenge of tearing apart a "MERCEDES BENZ" (much to my family's fear and friends saying "you're crazy") experiencing the friendship and understanding of other MercedesShop listers was well worth the "learning curve." Hopefully I can contribute is some way to "pay back" all of you who have helped and others.

Thanks
Bob

PS Neil 's computer generated an awsome array of codes. "Take it for a ride, hopefully they're all old codes and you've since remiedied their causes." Let's hope so...