Urgent safety issue :( w140 500SEL
 

Hello, I'm really hoping somebody can kindly help me with this. I googled and was not able to find anything

Recently, about 1 out of 10 times when the car is started, the throttle seems to stick. When the gas pedal is pressed, the RPM's will stay up for 4-5 seconds after the gas pedal is a released. This happens in park, neutral, drive...

It's really dangerous. Literally the car will continue accelerating in drive at full RPM for 5 seconds if you press the gas for half a second...

If I turn off the car and turn it back on again, the issue seems to go away. 50/50 chance

Any ideas :(

Before getting too technical - floor mat (!)

I've had sticking accelerators because of a poorly positioned floor mat before

Does the pedal move freely? Make sure the linkage/cable is lubricated well!

First check floor mat as Stretch says. Next is as pawoSD says.

The Heim joints (ball and socket) in your throttle linkage are not intended to be maintenance-free. ONE AT A TIME pop each apart using a flat screwdriver. Clean with a rag, smear a little lubricant on them and squeeze back together. FSM says to use tranny fluid but anything slippery will work fine. I use a waterproof white lithium grease. Some will go back together easily and others may need some help from pliers.
Do this at least once/year.

If this does not fix your problem, you have a more complicated fuel management issue.

Please report your results back to us as it helps others with similar problems.

The reason you use tranny fluid is so they do not accumulate dirt like they would with any sort of grease

Thanks. I always wondered about that.

Doesn’t the 92-93 500SEL have an electronic throttle actuator?

The engine harness might be acting up. I know ETAs act up.

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon
02 C320 wagon