melararealtor

I am getting a little tired of this car, driven it 4k miles and two back to back problems. This time it is the idle. When I am at a stoplight and the car is in drive it does not idle normally, it tends to accelerate by itself. Also when it is in park it also gives itself gas and the tachometer needle goes up and down. Furthermore, this evening I turned the car on after stopping at the store and as I put it in drive and tried to accelerate the car acted like it was about to die (but did not). I notice that the acceleration is a little sluggish when I hit the gas. I am praying it is NOT a fuel distributor problem. My mechanic said it might by the idle control relay (or something like that). Any ideas? (before I sell this lemon!!)

mbtech208

Mass-airflow sensor, or leaky fuel pressure regulator.

JLLG

More than likely it is the Flap Exhaust Menifol (from MB box), part number A000-140-04-31. Also referred to resonance flap too I think. The part is roughly 200. I had very similar symptoms with the 97 E320. Although I did not change myself, I think I could have. If it was the mass airflow sensor, the CEL light would probably be on.

Good Luck.

melararealtor

The check engine light came on last night. Does this mean it IS the mass air flow sensor? is this hard to replace? Does a computer have to be hooked up to reprogram it?

JLLG

Good chance it is the mass air flow sensor but you can not be sure unless you can pull the codes from the onboard diagnostics. I have read in here that it can be done for free at places like Autozone but I am not positive. The dealer (stealer) would probably charge you 1 hour labor to do this.

Althought I have never changed a mass air flow sensor, it looks extremely easy. Probably a 5 minute job and I am pretty sure you would not need to reprogram anything. The computer should sense a new one and clear out the CEL.

A potential source for parts (cheaper than dealer) is www.buymbparts.com.

Good Luck

melararealtor

that website was non workie..BTW I called the stealer and got a SIX HUNDRED dollar quote for the sensor! I was like WTF? any ideas on where to get it cheaper?

JLLG

Try again, www.buymbparts.com

There was an extra period on the end.

zam2000

Cal Phil at mercedesshop.com, I bought EVERYTHING for my car from him (part, that is).

aTOMic

I second that, my 96 had the same surging accel/idle, MAS fixed it. See more info and a picture of the offending part atMercedesshop.com post about it

Click on fastlane to buy it or call Phil, like he said.
-Tom

P.S. Take it to Autozone or Advance auto parts they'll do the trouble code reset free. The connector is under the steering wheel look in the footwell and tell them it's OBD-2 they'll know what to do. The code will prolly be p0170 fuel trim malfunction.

rp718

I've had the same surging problem on my '96 for a few months now - but no check engine message.

I took it to the dealer, and of course they said they couldn't reproduce the surge, although i offered to drive it around for them while one of their goons sat in the passenger seat. They ended up replacing something they called a purge valve, and of course the problem was not fixed. I'm reluctant to take it back.

If there is no check engine message, is it likely to still be the MAS?
If it's do-able by a DIY'er, I'll do it myself.

JLLG

Refer to my posts above... Could be the resonance flap, could be a do it yourself fix.