Removal of air intake assembly for 99 ml430 - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class

remove big plastic engine cover you should find the map sensor at the front left side of the engine in the intake manifold

Remove wiper arms/ Remove wiper assembly/ Alternator/ Power Block/Remove intake manifold/ get new gaskets for that/ valve covers are now easily accesible . Great time to change the spark plugs and wires now. PCV valve/ Air Filter/The gaskets for my 3.3 '99 caravan were the thick rubber, and cost $120, For Valve cover gaskets, Get "THE RIGHT STUFF" and you can make your own set, black silicon gasket maker. Reassemble

any check engine light? Try cleaning the intake throttle plate with a lightly soaked paper towel, the plate is located in the intake; with throttle cable attached to it at the top of the engine near the bellows boot attached to the air cleaner assembly that comes off the mass airflow to the intake. It looks a 3.5 mm cd. That plate gets dirty and throws off the idle air control.

I had the same problem a few years ago with my '99 ml430. It was my fuel injectors.

YOU HAVE TO REMOVE AIR FLOW SENSOR ASSEMBLY CONNECTOR, REMOVE THE BREATHER HOSE, REMOVE RESONATOR RETAINING NUTS,REMOVE AIR INTAKE HOSE AND RESONATOR ASSEMBLY, REMOVE HEAT SHIELD FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON ENGINE.THEN DISCONNECT THE STARTER MOTOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS, REMOVE THE STARTER MOTOR BOLTS THEN REMOVE THE STARTER.

******* ATTENTION !!! ***** ATTENTION !!! ***** WARNING !!! ******

* DO-NOT ... UN-PLUG or REMOVE ANY ELECTRICAL SENSORS or WIRES FROM ANY PART OF YOUR ENGINE or CAR, WITH-OUT- (FIRST) DISCONECTING THE (-) NEG - CABLE OF THE CAR BATTERY!!!!

IF YOU DO-NOT, YOU RUN A VERY HIGH RISK OF DAMAGING THE SENSOR AND ALSO OTHER ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS ON YOUR CAR.

AFTER, YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THE SENSONS AND OR ELECTRONICS SYSTEMS, THEN & ONLY THEN RECONECT THE (-) NEG - CABLE BACK ON TO THE BATTERY.

***** SAVE YOURSELF --- LOTS OF $$$$$$ & HEADACHES ! *****
GOOD - LUCK!!!

To Remove:

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the Cautions and Warnings in the beginning of this section.
2. Record the Transaxle Fluid and Engine Oil Life Indexes
3. Remove or disconnect the following:
   • The negative battery cable
     
     
   • The screw retaining the intake air duct/resonator (C) to the PCM housing
     
     
   • Air filter housing clamps on top of the air cleaner housing assembly
   • Intake air duct/resonator assembly (B) partially up and remove the air cleaner cover (C) and the PCM
   • Air cleaner element assembly, slide toward the fender to separate the air cleaner element assembly from the air inlet assembly
     
     
   • PCM connector attaching bolts
   • Two PCM connectors
   • PCM (A)

To Install:
NOTE: If the PCM is being programmed using the Off-Board method, perform the programming before continuing with the steps listed below.

1. Install or connect the following:
   • PCM
   • PCM connectors; torque connector screws
     1. Torque to: 71 lb-in. (8 Nm)
   • Air cleaner cover onto the air inlet housing
   • Snap the assembly clamps into place
   • Align the intake air duct/resonator assembly
   • The screw onto the intake air duct/resonator assembly
     1. Torque to: 27 lb-in. (3 Nm)
   • Connect the negative battery cable
2. Program the PCM, if required.

DISCONNECT THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FROM THE INTAKE AIR TEMPERATURE SENSOR.LOOSEN THE HOSE CLAMPS THAT SECURE THE AIR INTAKE DUCT TO THE AIR FILTER HOUSING COVER AND THE THROTTLE BODY,THEN REMOVE THE AIR INTAKE DUCT.REMOVE THE AIR INTAKE DUCT AND REMOVE THE AIR FILTER HOUSING MOUNTING BOLT.DETACH THE AIR FILTER HOUSING ASSEMBLY SIMPLY PULL IT UP AND DISENGAGE THE TWO GROMMETS ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE HOUSING FROM THEIR GUIDE PINS ON THE VECHICLE.PUT EVERY THING BACK VISA VERSA. IF HELPS TAKE NOTES AS YOU DO IT.WHEN FINISH YOUR NOTES WILL GUIDE YOU TO FINISHING YOUR REPAIR.

Remove the upper air intake splash shield.
Remove the headlight retainer nuts (2)
Remove the headlight/blinker assembly
Carefull the blinker has a retainer post with a rubber retainer on the fender
Remove bulb

It could be burning and you don't notice. Remove air filter box assembly from top of intake manifold. Hold throttle wide open (engine off) and look through throttle body (flashlight may be required) and see if oil is puddled up inside manifold. If so then the intake manifold will need to be removed so the lower pan gasket can be replaced.