94 E 320 - Problems on Vacation
 

I am posting this question for my brother who is on vaction with the E 320 and does not have computer access.

Under the intake manifold and attached to the manifold, is an aluminim box with VDO stamped on it. It is making a terrible noise. His qestion is three fold:
1. What is the box
2. What does it do
3. Can he allow it to continue to rattle until it he returns and risk it disintigrating.

Thanks

Throttle actuator?

I would also suspect it is the throttle actuator. It is under the intake manifold, and it is made by VDO.

It is also called the EA / CC / ISC module - (electronic accelerator / cruise control / idle speed control). All three functions are combined in one part.

You say it is making noise, but are you exhibiting any drive-ability problems?

The throttle actuator is a part that occasionally does go wrong on these cars. There are two reasons:

1. there are potentiometers that wear out over time.

2. this part has a wiring harness that goes bad. The insulation degrades, and flakes off of the wires. In other words, the insulation is defective, just like the insulation on the engine wiring harness, which is also a notorious failure part on these cars from 1993-1995.