W124, couple of questions

[RGubbioli]

Dear All,

I have finally found a decent S124 for sale (long story, am buying on the continent LHD, etc). Its a 320 Sportline with ~100k miles, full SH.

There are a couple of issues I wanted to ask advice on:
- At idle the revs oscillate between 500 and 1000rpm (a blip on throttle can clear it);
- When pressing down the accelerator fully the car takes what feels like a couple of seconds to get going (and then it goes real well and its time to brake);
- The ASR and the brake light are on;
- The driver side front tyre (thats the passenger side equivalent on a RHD) is worn on the very outer edge, the px side is better.

The car is being sold by a garage in Switzerland (this is local to me at the moment) who have promised that all would be sorted before sale. The mechanic's feedback on the above is that, as the car has been standing a while (months) and it needs a good service with new plugs, filters etc. He will also replace front tyres and do an alignment.

In particular, my questions to the forum are:
- Could the fluctuating idle and delayed accelerator response be a dirty throttle body? Or is it the wiring harness?
- Could having reconnected the battery set off the ASR and the other light?

Car seems very genuine, perfect bodywork, aircon blows very cold, no wear in interior apart from a bit on steering wheel (in lign with my other S124 TE).

Thanks!

 

[television]

The Idle could be as you say and dirty throttle body or the change over switch.

The ASR could be expensive to fix and difficult

 

[RGubbioli]

Thanks. Can you remind me what ASR is again? I take it its not the expensive suspension system, right (was that ABD)?

Any chance low or disconnected battery could be tripping the light on the dash? The mechanic said he would read the codes and cancel the light.

 

[jaymanek]

ASR is basically traction control in its early days... its tricky to fix... I have had an intermittent issue with my SEC and havent got to the bottom of it..

 

[jibcl500]

Ricco

What year is the W124, sounds like it could be the air flow meter, Ive seen refitting batteries fail the meters.

jib

 

[RGubbioli]

Jibbo,

Its a Jan 1996 car. It has been standing for a while and is due a service, so could well be what you say.

Am looking at another couple this weekend before I make a decision.

Car is for my parents, we're still unsure whether to buy a 14 yr old W124 or a brand new Honda Accord Tourer... Any points of view on this?

 

[kth286]

ASR is "anti slip regulation" and is early type of traction control which throttles back the engine and/or applies the appropriate brake/s.

It is an electronic throttle therefore no direct cable link from accelerator to throttle, just a potentiometer and wire/s.

Basically uses the ABS system in reverse. The normal ABS of that era used 3 channels (sensor in diff) but ASR was upgraded to 4 channels so rear sensors now in wheel hubs with that option.

It's another layer of complication, and if it works, another layer of safety.

 

[RGubbioli]

David, thanks for that. Am I correct in understanding that there would then be no cable from the pedal to the throttle body either? I didn't think they made electronic accelerators back in 1996?

Also, my initial question still remains (seems to have slipped through the responses). Could the disconnected / low battery cause both the ASR and brake pad lights in the dash to go on? This is what the mechanic said.

Thanks!

 

[television]

Here is some ASR info

http://pages.prodigy.net/jforgione/MB_asr.html

 

[jibcl500]

Id put my money on the MAF, ASR will be on if the maf is faulty as the car would be in limp mode anyway. if the battery was changed or removed reconnected then that can trash a MAF.

jib

 

[RGubbioli]

Thanks for the link. Having read it briefly, I don't think the symptoms are reflected in the S124 I tried. It certainly wasn't in limp home mode.

At any rate, good to know that ASR can be a bit of a pain, will try and avoid cars with it. I wonder if all 320s had it (after the 200 TE thats the only engine I will consider now!).

 

[television]

Thanks for the link. Having read it briefly, I don't think the symptoms are reflected in the S124 I tried. It certainly wasn't in limp home mode.

At any rate, good to know that ASR can be a bit of a pain, will try and avoid cars with it. I wonder if all 320s had it (after the 200 TE thats the only engine I will consider now!).

No very few cars have the ASR,, the worst one is ASR1 as there is no info at all out there, I suppose there is no reason that one cant disconnect it

 

[Bolide]

ASR is pretty rare. ASD is too

I think you'll only find ASR on the late six-cylinder petrol engines. You can find ASD on the strangest cars - like an E300 Diesel

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[jaymanek]

No very few cars have the ASR,, the worst one is ASR1 as there is no info at all out there, I suppose there is no reason that one cant disconnect it

Apart from the fact that cruise no longer works...

If you have dicky battery, the first light to come on will be ASR, so worth checking first...

is the ABS light on too? If so could be a wheel sensor.

 

[RGubbioli]

Thanks again. It was probably a bad battery as the car had been standing for while (months).

At any rate, looks like we will pass on that one for now as the fact that a service cannot be showed as having been carried out since 2003 is just too worrying.

Also, unfortunately my father has intervened (the car is for my parents) and he wants something brand new, so probably no more W124s

Debating between Passat diesel, Honda Accord, Volvo XC90 or Grand Cherokee at the moment. None worth the money, in my opinion!