Almost crashed today need some Help Please
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 279
Likes: 4
From: So Cal
2000 S430, 1999 E 320, 2 K5 blazers,
Almost crashed today need some Help Please
I did a search and cant find anything or maybe im looking up the wrong thing but this is what happened:
I was driving down the street a few minutes ago when i was coming to a yellow light i gunned it to make sure i clear the light but when i hit the gas peddle the cars throttle opened up and the next thing i know the car is racing down the road and wont slow down until i shut off the motor. I tried to tap the accelator pedal, and brake no change, i tried to take it in and out of gear no change. I ended up towing the car home and now everytime i start the car it reves all the way up. Anyone have any ideas what this could be or point me in the right search direction?
Thanks for any help you can provide.
I was driving down the street a few minutes ago when i was coming to a yellow light i gunned it to make sure i clear the light but when i hit the gas peddle the cars throttle opened up and the next thing i know the car is racing down the road and wont slow down until i shut off the motor. I tried to tap the accelator pedal, and brake no change, i tried to take it in and out of gear no change. I ended up towing the car home and now everytime i start the car it reves all the way up. Anyone have any ideas what this could be or point me in the right search direction?
Thanks for any help you can provide.
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 138
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From: SF Bay Area
w211, w221, w220, e46
Wow, sounds scary. Glad you were able to at least kill the engine in time. Reminds me of the Toyota "incidents" where they claimed there was a fault with the electronic throttle control (ECT). It could be the throttle linkage, the ECT, etc...
I searched and found this, check it out: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...-bulletin.html
But you said you even tried braking and taking it out of gear.
I know this sounds obvious but the safest thing to do would be to have it towed in to a good indy or the dealer. Call them first and see if they have had a car experiencing similar problems before or whether they can put their finger on a part or two.
I searched and found this, check it out: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...-bulletin.html
But you said you even tried braking and taking it out of gear.
I know this sounds obvious but the safest thing to do would be to have it towed in to a good indy or the dealer. Call them first and see if they have had a car experiencing similar problems before or whether they can put their finger on a part or two.
Last edited by AMG X; Jul 31, 2011 at 03:36 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 809
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From: Dallas, TX
2008 E63 wagon (1 of 62)
make sure your floor mats aren't jammed under the gas pedal.. sounds silly yes, but I've seen this happen to a car that didn't have the floor mats positioned correctly or aftermarket floor mats that didn't fit properly or were trimmed to fit..
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 279
Likes: 4
From: So Cal
2000 S430, 1999 E 320, 2 K5 blazers,
Wow, sounds scary. Glad you were able to at least kill the engine in time. Reminds me of the Toyota "incidents" where they claimed there was a fault with the electronic throttle control (ECT). It could be the throttle linkage, the ECT, etc...
I searched and found this, check it out: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...-bulletin.html
But you said you even tried braking and taking it out of gear.
I know this sounds obvious but the safest thing to do would be to have it towed in to a good indy or the dealer. Call them first and see if they have had a car experiencing similar problems before or whether they can put their finger on a part or two.
I searched and found this, check it out: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...-bulletin.html
But you said you even tried braking and taking it out of gear.
I know this sounds obvious but the safest thing to do would be to have it towed in to a good indy or the dealer. Call them first and see if they have had a car experiencing similar problems before or whether they can put their finger on a part or two.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 279
Likes: 4
From: So Cal
2000 S430, 1999 E 320, 2 K5 blazers,
first thing i checked since i have always had problems with my floor mats but thanks for the feedback.
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2000 S430, 1999 E 320, 2 K5 blazers,
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Mercedes
yes, if your car is still racing to full throttle every time you turn it on, you MUST take your car to Mercedes. Nowhere else. Call MBUSA as mentioned above.
This is a huge liability/safety issue. If its not a simple fix, Mercedes may actually buy the car back from you for testing.
Take a video of it happening before they take the car from you. You also might want to contact an attorney or local news media station to document it.
DO NOT take it to an indy, this is not a DIY repair. You need to DOCUMENT everything. If You think its "fixed" and the problem ever reoccurs and injures or kills you , you need the paper trail.
This is a huge liability/safety issue. If its not a simple fix, Mercedes may actually buy the car back from you for testing.
Take a video of it happening before they take the car from you. You also might want to contact an attorney or local news media station to document it.
DO NOT take it to an indy, this is not a DIY repair. You need to DOCUMENT everything. If You think its "fixed" and the problem ever reoccurs and injures or kills you , you need the paper trail.
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From: UK
S500
I had this a few years ago and it was indeed the floor mat getting stuck and causing the throttle to remain fully open.
I managed to put it into Neutral and pull over, but scared to hell out of me none the less.
I check the mat now, each time I drive it.
I managed to put it into Neutral and pull over, but scared to hell out of me none the less.
I check the mat now, each time I drive it.
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Midwest USA
2004 S500 & 2011 Mini JCW
Have you ever had the actual gas petal replaced? I have seen on this forum that they do go bad, not sure if they would go wide open when malfunctioning or not. Something to check out I would think.
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From: Long Island, NY & SE England
A Mercedes obviously!
Scary for it to happen in an urban area. My father had a situation in the mid-1990s where the throttle got stuck open on a motorway and car kept accelerating up to about 130mph where it held steady. Rather frightening for him, it was a fairly new car (not a Benz) and he just took it back to the dealer after that and swapped it out.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 279
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From: So Cal
2000 S430, 1999 E 320, 2 K5 blazers,
I have never had the gas pedel replaced but it does work because i tried to rev the engine higher just incase maybe it would knock the throttle lose but this did not work.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 279
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From: So Cal
2000 S430, 1999 E 320, 2 K5 blazers,
yes, if your car is still racing to full throttle every time you turn it on, you MUST take your car to Mercedes. Nowhere else. Call MBUSA as mentioned above.
This is a huge liability/safety issue. If its not a simple fix, Mercedes may actually buy the car back from you for testing.
Take a video of it happening before they take the car from you. You also might want to contact an attorney or local news media station to document it.
DO NOT take it to an indy, this is not a DIY repair. You need to DOCUMENT everything. If You think its "fixed" and the problem ever reoccurs and injures or kills you , you need the paper trail.
This is a huge liability/safety issue. If its not a simple fix, Mercedes may actually buy the car back from you for testing.
Take a video of it happening before they take the car from you. You also might want to contact an attorney or local news media station to document it.
DO NOT take it to an indy, this is not a DIY repair. You need to DOCUMENT everything. If You think its "fixed" and the problem ever reoccurs and injures or kills you , you need the paper trail.
I am going to video tape it when i get back tomorrow afternoon and post it on here also so you guys can hear and see what i am talking about.
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Mercedes
The year or mileage has absolutely no bearing for an issue which could lead to a nhtsa recall.
Once the problem is diagnosed, you should report the defect here
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm
Thirty year old cars have Been bought back due to safety issues if the manufacturer needs the vehicle for testing/investigation. Thats not to say they will buy it back, especially if its a simple problem , but you can always ask MB pay for the cost of the repairs in consideration of bringing this issue to their attention.
Once the problem is diagnosed, you should report the defect here
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm
Thirty year old cars have Been bought back due to safety issues if the manufacturer needs the vehicle for testing/investigation. Thats not to say they will buy it back, especially if its a simple problem , but you can always ask MB pay for the cost of the repairs in consideration of bringing this issue to their attention.
Last edited by tusabes; Aug 2, 2011 at 07:15 AM.
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Mercedes
And what is your qualifications to make that statement?
If op fails to document this with Mercedes and just "fixes" this himself or uses a Indy mechanic, and the car subsequently injured or killed someone , do you really think it's unnecessary?
An Indy mechanic or diy would only give Mercedes a claim that repairs were not properly done or that they Caused the problem itself. You need to document as carefully as possible . The fact that it seems to be a repeatable and continuing problem should make it much easier than locating an intermittent problem
If op fails to document this with Mercedes and just "fixes" this himself or uses a Indy mechanic, and the car subsequently injured or killed someone , do you really think it's unnecessary?
An Indy mechanic or diy would only give Mercedes a claim that repairs were not properly done or that they Caused the problem itself. You need to document as carefully as possible . The fact that it seems to be a repeatable and continuing problem should make it much easier than locating an intermittent problem
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Maybe I'm missing something.
You hit the brakes, and it didn't slow?
You put it in neutral, and it still accelerated?
You tried to turn the car off, and it still accelerated?
Either way, if the mats weren't involved, go visit the dealer.
You hit the brakes, and it didn't slow?
You put it in neutral, and it still accelerated?
You tried to turn the car off, and it still accelerated?
Either way, if the mats weren't involved, go visit the dealer.
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CLK63 Black Series
This happened to my first car when I was young, it turned out to be the main return spring in the throttle body broke and the counter balancing spring caused it to stick all the way open. Fortunately I could shift into neutral and turn the engine off.
Have it towed to the dealer and let them figure out what's wrong. Hopefully you'll be able to get it fixed for little or no cost.
Have it towed to the dealer and let them figure out what's wrong. Hopefully you'll be able to get it fixed for little or no cost.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 279
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From: So Cal
2000 S430, 1999 E 320, 2 K5 blazers,
The brakes worked however with the engine at full throttle it was not slowing the car down very much till i turned the car off. When i put the car in netural the engine was still redlining and sounding like the car was going to explode, so then i turned it off. Sorry if i confused anyone
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 279
Likes: 4
From: So Cal
2000 S430, 1999 E 320, 2 K5 blazers,
The year or mileage has absolutely no bearing for an issue which could lead to a nhtsa recall.
Once the problem is diagnosed, you should report the defect here
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm
Thirty year old cars have Been bought back due to safety issues if the manufacturer needs the vehicle for testing/investigation. Thats not to say they will buy it back, especially if its a simple problem , but you can always ask MB pay for the cost of the repairs in consideration of bringing this issue to their attention.
Once the problem is diagnosed, you should report the defect here
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm
Thirty year old cars have Been bought back due to safety issues if the manufacturer needs the vehicle for testing/investigation. Thats not to say they will buy it back, especially if its a simple problem , but you can always ask MB pay for the cost of the repairs in consideration of bringing this issue to their attention.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 279
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From: So Cal
2000 S430, 1999 E 320, 2 K5 blazers,
As promised here is the video of the car and what it does when you start it up. if the car was in drive it will just take off, hints the reason i wont put it in gear.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JATGOTZr4rQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JATGOTZr4rQ
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Mercedes
Introducing a DIY repair attempt, or indy mechanic repair attempt into that chain of events will make things 1000x more complicated , and lead to finger pointing as to fault
Additionally, the electronic gas pedal on w220s is a fairly common failure item, however when they fail they typically result in no/barely any acceleration. Ive never seen one fail by racing to full acceleration.
if it is determined to be the pedal, This could be enough evidence to warrant a NHTSA safety recall for all w220 pedals, which means every w220 owner who has ever paid to replace a pedal can get refunded. And the rest of us will get new pedals.
OP kudos for taking the video and the time to properly document this. It is a bit of a hassle but if the problem is found to be something common to all our cars, this can help save a w220 owner's life
Last edited by tusabes; Aug 3, 2011 at 04:45 AM.
