Texas993

Hi Folks,

I am loving my C43 and am still sorting it out. I'm getting very close to perfection. I have not properly introduced myself yet, but I recently purchased a 1998 C43 with 44k miles. I knew the previous owner and am lucky to be the new owner!

My issue: When driving the car hard - and pressing the accelerator to activate the kick-down - the car goes into a limp mode. Prior to that, it runs well and is very responsive and fast. If you hit the kick-down, it just quits. Restarting the car returns it to normal.

Once, it threw the CEL code 1542.

The few things that I have found on various forums point to the need to replace the Throttle Position Sensor located near the firewall. That is a $475 part! I hate to do trial and error for that kind of $$.

Clearly, the kick-down pedal sends a signal to something electronic that causes the error.

Any thoughts? Help!

impballr

That is definitely the Throttle Position Sensor, the exact same thing happened to me a few months ago with my e55. I paid about $160 or so for mine, and its very simple to install. I don't know where you saw it for $475, but I would def double check that.

KJI3jflarryfe93

is it throttle actuator going bad?
I think they went bad on several w210 E55's

Texas993

Thanks guys for the responses. It is a very strange problem.

For some reason, the TPS for the C43 is very expensive. All of the on-line places sell them for $500+. Dealer list is $700, my discounted price is $475.

Kawloski - I searched and found a few other MB models with similar issues. Some went into the throttle body and that didn't fix it. And those are very, very expensive.

I am looking to verify if anyone has had the issue with a C43. I found a couple of posts where someone asked the question, but never re-posted a solution. So I am not alone!

Thanks and keep the responses coming.

nd4spd13

I have what I believe is the problem you speak of. Luckily (for me, not you though) it seemed to resolve itself. It only started when I removed the two nuts holding the tps to the body, so I'd start if I were you just making sure the wiring to the tps and the plug itself was all sound and in good shape. I had never heard of it being so expensive though

AMGC43

Hope this is not OT but since I was reading something related to the TPS figured I could ask here and not open a new thread, maybe I'm having kinda the same issue as the OP.

My C43 recently had a replacement of the electronic plate in the transmissinon along with the filter/oil etc because it went bad. It was running perfect until someday I noticed that when I tried to "kick down" to downshift and pass a car the trans won't downshift and be lazy. Shortly I knew my trans was in limp mode, stuck in 2 or 3th gear and wont move from there. To resolve this issue I only cycle the IGN key and restart it and looks like the problem get reseted by tiself and works normally downshifting when the kick down is pressed.

I have been experiencing this issue few times but I don't have any CEL. Could be this a TPS issues as well? ANy of you have experienced this?

Thanks,

-Diego

Texas993

Diego,

You are having the exact same problem as a couple of us. Another member is taking his car to the dealer for repair and has agreed to report back.

A few theories are a bad Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) and a good price on that simple part is $475. Some say MAF and others say throttle body. My hunch is TPS.

My car drives great as long as I don't hit the kickdown pedal.

Sulaco

Old thread, needs resolution, because I'm having the EXACT same problem on my 99 C43. Exactly. It's flawless until I hit kickdown.

Has anyone thought to replace the kickdown switch?

I have 2 C43's, and I'm going to be swapping parts between them this weekend until the problem goes away.

cm60k

TPS is the most common with 1542 code, prefer to replace that first, then see....

ZAYED,,

Sulaco

Yep. Swapped around the TPS on both my cars this weekend and the problem moved from my 99 to my 98, so definitely TPS issue.

The big question is where to find a TPS that isn't FIVE HUNDRED US DOLLARS

Sulaco

Man. Websites that carry the 99 C43 tps price it at 500. The exact same year E55 tps is around 120. What the hell? Aren't they exactly the same?

cm60k

Many of them flows in E-bay #: "012 542 33 17",

just take a word from the seller its working..

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trks...at=0&_from=R40

ZAYED,,

Sulaco

Thank you, Zayed! Would you take a chance on a used one for $50?

cm60k

Sure i will, if seller guarantee to return it if it not working..

ZAYED,,

Sulaco

Ugh. Tps I got on ebay has a different plate mounted to it and won't hook up to my throttle cable or spring.

Possible to switch plates with my old one?

cm60k

Can you send some photo's..??

ZAYED,

Sulaco

Never mind. It had n extra plate from previous car. Removed it. Car accelerates normally now.

But it has a whine sound I need to track down soon.