vdo cruise control module

W123 VDO Cruise control repair Saga

The VDO Cruise control unit used on the w123, w126, w124 and likely many other mercedes models was also used on a pile of other cars, including Porsche, BMW, even some Rolls Royce I’m told.

They worked good… in 1982. Not so much nowadays, many have died slow deaths, starting out surging and not always engaging, until one day they stopped working entirely.

Let’s change that. I’ve created videos showing the troubleshooting steps for each component. I’ve also made models for replacement gears that can be 3d printed, these can be found here:

Here is the playlist with each component testing and repair of the amp:

You can buy a kit of the capacitors needed to repair your amp from me directly:

Here is the link to the current document:

https://trythistv.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/VDOCruiseJuly2023.pdf

July 2023 Added some photos contributed of an older style amp that uses slightly different capacitors.

August 2022 Added wire color codes for amp connector in case it pops apart on you.

Related Posts

Bosch Temperaturregler Repair

February 25, 2024 February 26, 2024

Marine parts cross reference

October 27, 2023 January 11, 2024

W123 Resources

August 19, 2023 August 19, 2023

18 Comments on “W123 VDO Cruise control repair Saga”

Great vid, but i was unable to download the pdf document, i think you want to double check your hyperlink. cheers, bill

Hi Bill! You’re absolutely right, Turns out there was an update for the software I use for the website, and apparently it broke the button links. I’ve fixed them now, or at least they work on my end now, hopefully you can get the pdf now! Thanks, Tom

Thank you so much for this awesome resource! This document + the video really makes troubleshooting so easy. I am going to start testing today. Thank you!

Glad to be of assistance, Having the cruise working makes the cars a dream for long road trips!

Thank you very much for generously sharing your time and knowledge. I had all but given up on the cruise control in my 240D. I have since made multiple trips to the salvage yard. and I am excited to expose where the angry little monster has been hiding all this time. This repair escapade has become a war of the wits that I have unfortunately been losing. You have put me back in the game!

Glad to help! It is certainly a finicky, sometimes maddening system to figure out, but when it works it adds so much to the comfort these cars are so famous for. Long trips are a dream in one of these machines!

Jarod, I am just ordered my fourth cruise control actuator….I gave up on ebay (a relatively cheap waste of time, but a still waste of time if defective parts are all that is out there) and have commited to a much more expensive OEM part. My original, and each of the ebay three all had functional motors, but non-functioning “engage solonoids” (pin 7 neg, touch pin 6 pos). My data is telling me that the failed “engage solonoid” is a fatal flaw in the vintage MB design. Once I get the OEM actuator (hopefully it will pass the tests), I’ll be able to determine if I need to advance myself to your repair of the cruise control amplifier. I would have been at a total standstill if not for your instruction. If there was a technique for repairing solonoids, I bet there would be a sustainable market.

I’ve got a couple spare actuators, I started taking one apart to see the viability of replacing the solenoid, or repairing the positional feedback stuff, I haven’t done nearly as much as I wanted to with it, Its certainly on the list though! I’m just hoping I can cut my work back a bit soon to give me more time to explore some of these things that I greatly enjoy doing.

I am confused. Can you help me understand.

The video on testing the actuator does not match the August documentation specifically on tests 2 and 3. On the video, test 2 is pin #6 is 12v+ and #7 is ground. On the August documentation it is the reverse with pin #6 is ground and #7 is 12v+.

On test 3 the video shows #5 and #7 ground with #4 & #6 12v+. In the August documentation it shows #5 and #6 ground with #4 and #7 12v+.

I have the same year 300TD as you if that helps.

I updated the documentation, but cannot update the video as it is already published, A viewer pointed out that I had the polarity backwards for the solenoid energize connections, now it doesn’t really make a difference on most actuators because a solenoid should energize regardless of how you hook it up, but evidently some of the later model actuators have a diode or something internally that will cause them to not work if hooked up backwards, and during my initial testing I was unaware of this and my actuator does not care which direction power is applied. A technical oversight on my part due to lack of existing documentation, I was writing it as I went lol

yes it does have a diode.

I have two actuators that I have had open.

one from an 82 300SD and one from an 85 300D.

the one from the 300SD has pins 6&7 running straight to the solenoid and the one from the 300D has a diode in series with pin 7 running to the solenoid.

hi Jarod, thank you for your work, I have been working on repairing my cruise control for too long now. I have just carried out all your tests from the PDF, and everything is fine apart from 1 thing…

you say, 9 Gnd (12) Between 2.8K and 4K ohms Actuator potentiometer, but I’m getting 2.42k ohms

The inside of my actuator and circuit board is immaculate. looks like it was never used so, what problems could this possibly cause?

also, I have the official VDO wiring diagrams on paper and there is some variation with the colour of wires in the amplifier plug, some do not match your picture, and number 14 pin is empty, can I get your email so I can send you some photos and info please?

Hey, just checked the comments here, sorry I didn’t see it earlier. My email is: tom at trythistv dot com The info in the pdf and such about colors is just my observations of the actuators I have, and what I have been able to glean online, I’d love to take a look at any info you have.

There may be variances from year to year, or even model to model. 2.4k may be perfectly OK for the actuator, you could try moving the arm by hand to see that it has a nice clean sweep up and down as you move it from end to end, the most common issue with the actuators is the trace gets a spot worn through at around the throttle needed for 55-65mph where they got a lot of use.

I’ll have to do better about checking if comments are getting stuck.

Just found your info. I have to look at it again, but my car is a 126 model (1989 300SE). Will the tests you show for the 123 models hold true for the 126’s? Appreciate any insight you can provide.

They should be similar if not the same. Does your car use the same looking actuator? I know some later W124s use a slightly different amp that might have a different pinout but the basic functionality is the same so eventually if I can get ahold of one of those cars for a while I will add in that info. I think the W126 cars should be the same as the W123 cars like mine.

Great stuff I m just trying to retrofit cruise in my w201 got wiring loom from w124 actuator from w123 cruise stalk from w126 when all installed together the cruise works but the speed increases to 80kmph although I try to activate it at 60 kmph then it speed goes up and down in a jerky manner

what can be the cause of these: why there is mismatch of speed jerky behavior of actuator.

Speed going up and down is usually either the amp, or the traces inside the actuator have worn down at the most common speed to use cruise at.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Truck and Bus

Vdo cruise control modules all types.

• Скидки дня
• Справка и помощь
• Адрес доставки Идет загрузка... Ошибка: повторите попытку ОК
• Продажи
• Список отслеживания Развернуть список отслеживаемых товаров Идет загрузка... Войдите в систему , чтобы просмотреть свои сведения о пользователе
• Краткий обзор
• Недавно просмотренные
• Ставки/предложения
• Список отслеживания
• История покупок
• Купить опять
• Объявления о товарах
• Сохраненные запросы поиска
• Сохраненные продавцы
• Сообщения
• Уведомление
• Развернуть корзину Идет загрузка... Произошла ошибка. Чтобы узнать подробнее, посмотрите корзину.

Product Key Features

• Performance Part No
• Vintage Part No
• Universal Fitment No
• Features Easy Installation
• Superseded Part Number 408201012001
• Type Cruise Control Unit

Cruise Control Units for BMW M3

Emission modules & control units for bmw m3, vdo car & truck cruise control units, bmw 3-series 1999 cars and trucks, bmw 3-series cars, cruise control units for bmw x5.

• Contact Form
• Privacy Policy Agreement
• Terms of service

Recent Posts

• Range Rover Sport L320 Adaptive Cruise Control Radar Module 2005
• Genuine Mercedes-Benz Control Unit Complete Distronic Plus Modules A2239007228
• Here S Why Police Buy These Cars And You Can Too
• Understanding Powertrain Control Modules
• OEM 5K0953569BF Steering Wheel Cruise Control Component Electronic Module For VW
• February 2024
• January 2024
• December 2023
• November 2023
• October 2023
• September 2023
• August 2023
• February 2023
• January 2023
• December 2022
• November 2022
• October 2022
• September 2022
• August 2022
• February 2022
• January 2022
• December 2021
• November 2021
• October 2021
• September 2021
• August 2021
• February 2021
• January 2021
• December 2020
• November 2020
• October 2020
• September 2020
• August 2020
• February 2020
• January 2020
• December 2019
• November 2019
• October 2019
• September 2019
• August 2019
• February 2019
• January 2019
• December 2018
• November 2018
• October 2018
• September 2018
• August 2018
• February 2018
• January 2018
• December 2017
• November 2017
• October 2017
• September 2017
• August 2017
• 0581mercedes-benz
• 1k0953549bk
• 1k0953549cp
• 2014-18ford
• 28438-5ud0a
• 5k0953569ag
• 5k0953569ah
• 5k0953569al
• 5k0953569as
• 5k0953569bd
• 5k0953569bf
• 5k0953569bg
• 61317849393-02
• 7l6953507aq
• 7l6953507ar
• 88210-02040
• 88210-07010
• 88210-48080
• 96400-2w000
• 99110-k0100
• a0005408817
• a0075457624
• a0085452624
• a0335456332
• a1695450004
• a1715402445
• a1729001906
• a2044401002
• a2059005918
• a2139005727
• a9068203526
• aftermarket
• ba1t-9g768-ak
• cameracruise
• cancellation
• disassemble
• dodge-chrylser
• drive-by-wire
• electronics
• elektronikmodul
• f01060710111213f30f31f34
• freightliner
• frustration
• genuine'03
• harley-davidson
• interceptorking
• international
• jaguarlandrover
• kombischalter
• lenksäulender
• lenkstockmodul
• lenkstockschalter
• lenkwinkelsensor
• m-lederlenkrad
• mercedes-benz
• mercedes-benz-w205-x253-stgt-radar2059005918205
• mercedesbenz
• multifunction
• new88210-040
• outdoorsman
• pedalcruise
• performance
• peugeotcitran
• programming
• radarsensor
• re-conditioned
• re-manufactured
• reconditioned
• riparazione
• rolls-royce
• schaltzentrum
• sensor-adaptive
• sportlenkrad
• steuergerät
• technologies
• touchscreen
• transmission
• transporter
• troubleshooting
• Uncategorized
• understanding
• unterdruckdose
• xk8x350s-typexf

Moscow Metro Font

Moscow Metro is a multi-line display typeface inspired by the Moscow underground map. It comes in Regular and Color versions.

Moscow Metro is ideal for posters and headlines, neon signage and other artworks.

• Share by email

Designed by: Nadira Filatova Website

License: free for commercial use.