a friend of mine just picked up a 1988 190E 2.3 with the M102 engine. the car was driving funny at first, throttle was sticking at random places and sometimes wasnt even working. after mashing the pedal a few times to try to get it to move, i guess I made it stuck at WOT. now whenever you start the car, it revs all the way up and further play with the gas pedal achieves nothing.

should I just spray carb cleaner on all the moving parts I see under the air cleaner box that are related to the throttle? everything seems to move correctly with the gas pedal, the lever on the side of the fuel distributor moves properly with the gas pedal when I step on it. or is something broken?

pictures would be helpful as well. thanks!

I'm not exactly familiar with your car, but what harm can come about by cleaning all the linkage joints. Remove themone at a time, clean each in hand, and reinstall. I would be careful around any of the electrical contacts etc.

__________________
....just drive'em!
'89 300TE White w/Blue, 152K SOLD!
'93 300E Blue w/Tan, 154K SOLD!
'01 E-320 4-Matic wagon, 130K
'67 Vette Conv. White w/Blue, 217,421K

if the 190E is like a 500SEL it might have a linkage that mounts to a bushing on the firewall... the 500SEL I played with had an issue where it would fall out or wedge it self at WOT

The throttle linkage on the 2.3 consist of several joints, two springs and an acceleration cut off switch.
What were you trying to do, beat it until it worked again? Its not an old TV

The first thing I would check are the springs, I bet you've lost one or both. The first one is visible right next to the air cleaner and connects two parts of the linkage. The second spring is hidden behind the throttle body and goes underneath it from the back part of the linkage.
I would then check the throttle cable, its possible you over extended it and its wedged.
Then I would check the linkages itself maybe something is broken, make sure its contacting the roller switch when you release the cable.
Good luck

Here is an exploded diagram of the visible part....note there is another part of the linkage that sits on the back side of the throttle body and works its way down to the bottom with another spring. If you follow item 47 downward on your car you'll see what I mean.

Attached Thumbnails

 

ill check it again when I get access to the car.

i didn't know there was two springs, I only saw the one spring that was most obvious when u remove the air box. ill look for the other spring

the thing is, the throttle lever looks like its at idle, it makes contact with some switch when the pedal is not pressed. but even in this condition, the car roars up to WOT every time it is started which is what I dont understand

Yes there are two and it took me for ever to realize it when I had a high idle problem. The second one is the one that brings the engine down to idle, if its not there the idle stays up.

There is also a third spring but this one is inside the cabin right at the top of the accelerator pedal. There is also has an adjustment knob for it there I believe.

Check the hoses going to and from the Idle Control Valve too. The ICV is a cylindrical T-shaped object, about the size of a Red Bull can, wedged between the 3rd and 4th intake runners. Maybe a hose popped off.

It would make life a lot easier for you if you took off the air cleaner, that way you can get a good look at everything and watch the throttle plate too.

i had this problem just last monday on the way back from school. The throttle body is gummed up and needs to be cleaned. Take the throttle body out carefully take the screws out of the flap(they are flared out on the other side to keep them from coming out but will come out and go in fine, its kinda wierd but you will know what im talking about when you see it), next take off the c clip under the throttle postion sensor.Next slide the shaft out. Now just clean it all real good with some carb cleaner , and just put a little lithium grease on the bushings when you put it back together.