Strange, but scary acceleration question
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 453
Likes: 12
C230
Strange, but scary acceleration question
1998 Mercedes C230...This problem has happened several times, and at the worst times as well. This weekend I made little poopies in the pantalonies.
Going up a steep hill, with a slow moving truck in front, I hit the gas and zipped around him in passing gear. Once I got by and slowed to my normal speed, there was no action when I pressed on the accelerator, but it kept going VERY slowly as if in a limp mode. The solution was to stop the car and restart, and then it runs normally. On a steep hill, this was no easy thing to do. It has also happened at intersections when I was stoped and then accelerated easily when the light changed to green. I hardly got across the intersection. Again, turn off the key and restart, and it works fine.
I am a bit worried about this causing an accident, as I can't get out of the way.
Any ideas?
Going up a steep hill, with a slow moving truck in front, I hit the gas and zipped around him in passing gear. Once I got by and slowed to my normal speed, there was no action when I pressed on the accelerator, but it kept going VERY slowly as if in a limp mode. The solution was to stop the car and restart, and then it runs normally. On a steep hill, this was no easy thing to do. It has also happened at intersections when I was stoped and then accelerated easily when the light changed to green. I hardly got across the intersection. Again, turn off the key and restart, and it works fine.
I am a bit worried about this causing an accident, as I can't get out of the way.
Any ideas?
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 431
Likes: 44
From: Portsmouth, VA
2010 E350, Sold 1998 C230
So do you think its the tranny that is causing the issue or the engine not responding to the acceleration from the computer? Either way its electrical. Any codes generated? Other that that I got very else to offer. Sorry...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 29
From: Sydney, Australia
190D 2.5 (x2), 190E 2.6, W202 C240,W202 C43 (C55), W210 E55, W212 E250CDI
Sounds like the accelerator pedal sensor is failing. It's the sensor on the end of the accelerator cable in the engine bay. A simple and not a particularly expensive fix.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 453
Likes: 12
C230
Just got it back from the shop, and it seems it was the sensor, but maybe another sensor than mentioned?
It was a spring loaded unit with a shaft that certainly was part of the accelerator somewhere down the line, and it was replaced. Seems to work fine now and a lot more responsive to acceleration than is was before.
It was not cheap!!!!!
It was a spring loaded unit with a shaft that certainly was part of the accelerator somewhere down the line, and it was replaced. Seems to work fine now and a lot more responsive to acceleration than is was before.
It was not cheap!!!!!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 453
Likes: 12
C230
It was a throttle position sensor. Checked on the web, and the photo was exactly the part that was replaced.
Here is a link photo for those who may be interested.
http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/199...on_sensor.html
Here is a link photo for those who may be interested.
http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/199...on_sensor.html
