SL/R230: Throttle Actuator?
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Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 44
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05 Mercedes SL500
Throttle Actuator?
I recently had the valve body replaced on my 05 SL500 7-speed transmission. Ever since, the smooth shifting and acceleration have been replaced by erratic shifting and slow/delayed response. When I slow down for a stoplight or corner and try to accelerate, the car hesitates to engage and has several times led to dangerous situations. After almost a full second of delayed response (feeling like a lifetime), the car finally bolts dangerously ahead. I'm sure that my moment of panic causes me to press the accelerator harder.
In addition, the car shifts harder and the smooth transition between gears has disappeared. Normal shifting use to happen between 2000 and 2700 RPM (for my driving style), but now shifts prematurely into a higher gear, losing the power curve. This is frustrating.
This amazing car has always given me the performance I needed to get out of tight spots and operate with great confidence. The once immediate response is now sluggish. I have taken the car back to the dealer twice to have the speed sensors reprogrammed, assuming that something within the transmission was at fault.
Now I'm wondering if the problem could be the car's throttle actuator. As I think about this, the engine doesn't respond to my foot's position or pressure on the accelerator; the delay to rev up has put me in harms way several times. When I need to shift down to a lower gear, I have to manually do so as the accelerator doesn't respond to my foot the way it use to. Could this be a misbehaving throttle actuator? If so, why hasn't a malfunction shown up on the dash or on my diagnostics meter?
Any help?
In addition, the car shifts harder and the smooth transition between gears has disappeared. Normal shifting use to happen between 2000 and 2700 RPM (for my driving style), but now shifts prematurely into a higher gear, losing the power curve. This is frustrating.
This amazing car has always given me the performance I needed to get out of tight spots and operate with great confidence. The once immediate response is now sluggish. I have taken the car back to the dealer twice to have the speed sensors reprogrammed, assuming that something within the transmission was at fault.
Now I'm wondering if the problem could be the car's throttle actuator. As I think about this, the engine doesn't respond to my foot's position or pressure on the accelerator; the delay to rev up has put me in harms way several times. When I need to shift down to a lower gear, I have to manually do so as the accelerator doesn't respond to my foot the way it use to. Could this be a misbehaving throttle actuator? If so, why hasn't a malfunction shown up on the dash or on my diagnostics meter?
Any help?
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You need to resync the accelerator pedal with the throttle body. You can try the steps below, but I am not sure they work on the R230. If not, it has to be done with SDS.
1. Make sure everything in the car is turned off and closed.
2. Turn the key to position 2 so all the dash lights are illuminated.
3. Press the accelerator fully to the floor, depressing the "kick-down" button.
4. Hold he pedal for 5 seconds and continue to hold it down.
5. Turn the ignition switch back one click to position 1.
6. Release the accelerator pedal, but leave the key in position 1.
7. Sit quietly and wait for about two minutes - do NOT open or turn anything on.
8. Listen for a "click" or "ping" noise form the dash.
9. Start the engine and drive the car for at least five minutes.
1. Make sure everything in the car is turned off and closed.
2. Turn the key to position 2 so all the dash lights are illuminated.
3. Press the accelerator fully to the floor, depressing the "kick-down" button.
4. Hold he pedal for 5 seconds and continue to hold it down.
5. Turn the ignition switch back one click to position 1.
6. Release the accelerator pedal, but leave the key in position 1.
7. Sit quietly and wait for about two minutes - do NOT open or turn anything on.
8. Listen for a "click" or "ping" noise form the dash.
9. Start the engine and drive the car for at least five minutes.
Super Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 606
Likes: 88
From: North Cali
2005 SL500, 2015 CLS400
The reset function works, as I tried myself a while ago, but forgot the step I was missing - leave the key for 2 mins or so.
Didn't know it synchronizes the gas pedal, I used it for erasing the transmission memory, as its function drives me nuts! Nobody drives around town flooring the gas pedal on daily basis, so the transmission learns that, and when you, while driving, floor the pedal - it will not downshift nor raise the rpms above 3k! Imagine that feeling when you need to suddenly accelerate.... Hate it!
Thank you again, Rudeney
Didn't know it synchronizes the gas pedal, I used it for erasing the transmission memory, as its function drives me nuts! Nobody drives around town flooring the gas pedal on daily basis, so the transmission learns that, and when you, while driving, floor the pedal - it will not downshift nor raise the rpms above 3k! Imagine that feeling when you need to suddenly accelerate.... Hate it!
Thank you again, Rudeney
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My understanding is that procedure does nothing for the TCU - it just re-syncs the throttle. But maybe by doing that, it somehow erases the throttle-to-TCU mapping. I tried it on my MY2011 SL550 and got nothing. On the MY2002 C240, it makes it drive better for a while. I never notices any differences on the CLK550. I was poking around in SDS and it has a throttle sync function. I may try that someday as I sometimes experience some oddities accelerating at certain speeds in certain gears. Then again, I am thinking of getting a Sprint Booster because I'm just tired of the whole 2-second delay when pressing the accelerator.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 397
Likes: 11
From: san diego
2001 viper rt-10, 2007 SL65
You need to resync the accelerator pedal with the throttle body. You can try the steps below, but I am not sure they work on the R230. If not, it has to be done with SDS.
1. Make sure everything in the car is turned off and closed.
2. Turn the key to position 2 so all the dash lights are illuminated.
3. Press the accelerator fully to the floor, depressing the "kick-down" button.
4. Hold he pedal for 5 seconds and continue to hold it down.
5. Turn the ignition switch back one click to position 1.
6. Release the accelerator pedal, but leave the key in position 1.
7. Sit quietly and wait for about two minutes - do NOT open or turn anything on.
8. Listen for a "click" or "ping" noise form the dash.
9. Start the engine and drive the car for at least five minutes.
1. Make sure everything in the car is turned off and closed.
2. Turn the key to position 2 so all the dash lights are illuminated.
3. Press the accelerator fully to the floor, depressing the "kick-down" button.
4. Hold he pedal for 5 seconds and continue to hold it down.
5. Turn the ignition switch back one click to position 1.
6. Release the accelerator pedal, but leave the key in position 1.
7. Sit quietly and wait for about two minutes - do NOT open or turn anything on.
8. Listen for a "click" or "ping" noise form the dash.
9. Start the engine and drive the car for at least five minutes.
Super Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 606
Likes: 88
From: North Cali
2005 SL500, 2015 CLS400
I tried it on my MY2011 SL550 and got nothing. On the MY2002 C240, it makes it drive better for a while. I never notices any differences on the CLK550. Then again, I am thinking of getting a Sprint Booster because I'm just tired of the whole 2-second delay when pressing the accelerator.
And for me it does make a difference in driving styles, just like tandan mentioned - comfort vs sport.
Aaaand what is a Sprint Booster?
Regards.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 744
Likes: 73
From: PNW Wa State
R230, C5 Corvette Convertible, Audi Allroad, Lexus RX350, AE86 Hachi Roku
Sprint Booster; Your Car Your Choice You Decide
Before i start I have to say this first;
There are always Alt Right types who will shove their opinion down everyone's throats and shout you down like some guy Alec Baldwin portrays. Unfortunately there is such a person on our forum who vehemently denied any usefulness of any form of signal amplifiers which is what the units function is.
Don't take my word but don't allow someone else to bully you and diminish your right to choose either
Now, that we've cleared the air
I HAVE one. Used it for >6yrs. Caveat being it truly wont "up" the HP/TQ BUT.....
It will access more power, faster the engine and trans has, that the ECU PULLS OUT of the calibrations and allows the throttle to operate pretty much instantaneously.
I love how it makes the car react. It speeds up the initial signal to the DBW throttle but tapers off so as not to cause an overly twitchy feeling higher speeds
Truth; I get instant off line snap and can spin the tires right up to second gear. Without it. I could stab the gas and all I got was a bog; little squeal, that was it. And yes i tried a re set many times to no avail.
I have no affiliation with this manufacturer or receive any compensations i just feel others need to know it works on my car
There are always Alt Right types who will shove their opinion down everyone's throats and shout you down like some guy Alec Baldwin portrays. Unfortunately there is such a person on our forum who vehemently denied any usefulness of any form of signal amplifiers which is what the units function is.
Don't take my word but don't allow someone else to bully you and diminish your right to choose either
Now, that we've cleared the air
I HAVE one. Used it for >6yrs. Caveat being it truly wont "up" the HP/TQ BUT.....
It will access more power, faster the engine and trans has, that the ECU PULLS OUT of the calibrations and allows the throttle to operate pretty much instantaneously.
I love how it makes the car react. It speeds up the initial signal to the DBW throttle but tapers off so as not to cause an overly twitchy feeling higher speeds
Truth; I get instant off line snap and can spin the tires right up to second gear. Without it. I could stab the gas and all I got was a bog; little squeal, that was it. And yes i tried a re set many times to no avail.
I have no affiliation with this manufacturer or receive any compensations i just feel others need to know it works on my car
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The C240 has the 722.6 (5-speed), the CLK550 had the 722.9 (7-speed), the SL550 has pretty much the same 722.9 as the CLK550, except that it has the "sport shift" option with manual mode.
Hary's post explains the Sprint Booster. I have not tried it yet, but I think I might. I get really annoyed with the throttle delays, even in sport mode. My friend Yidney over on the W209 forum puts it this way:
Like Hary said, the Sprint Booster doesn't increase HP. It simply improves throttle response by remapping the signals from the accelerator pedal to the throttle body. If you read the information on the Sprint Booster website, it seems that this problem is not specific to MBZ - many other makes with throttle-by-wire systems would seem to be affected.
Hary's post explains the Sprint Booster. I have not tried it yet, but I think I might. I get really annoyed with the throttle delays, even in sport mode. My friend Yidney over on the W209 forum puts it this way:
When cruising steady at say 35 mph, so that the revs have dropped to only 1,200 or so, then I punch it, it's as if the throttle (1) calls the post office; (2) negotiates the price of a stamp; (3) orders said stamp online; (4) mails a letter to the tranny and ECU; (5) tranny and ECU meet over lunch to decide whether to honor the request for more speed, and (6) I go faster. Starting from a stop or before the tranny shifts so the revs are still at at least 2,500 and it goes like crazy, but once shifted to the higher gears it seems like forever. Now, if I used a stopwatch, I'm sure it's not really a full 2-3 seconds, but it seems very long.
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Super Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 606
Likes: 88
From: North Cali
2005 SL500, 2015 CLS400
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 744
Likes: 73
From: PNW Wa State
R230, C5 Corvette Convertible, Audi Allroad, Lexus RX350, AE86 Hachi Roku
I know; to someone who hasn't used one $240 sounds like a lot but after you buy one, nobody could offer you enough cash to part with it. It makes a good car an awesome car.
HKS also makes an adjustable unit for 3SG"s Evo's & STI's but not sure if they do German
MBworld Guru
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,782
Likes: 1,011
NO LONGER ACTIVE
https://www.sprintboostersales.com/S...r_V3--SPRME033
Super Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 606
Likes: 88
From: North Cali
2005 SL500, 2015 CLS400
ordered. Paid. $240 ��
P.S.
I'll spend the extra $60 for a tank of gas to go somewhere
Last edited by Ghostty; Jul 5, 2017 at 12:13 AM.
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