Engine Cuts Out.

[Two Eight Steve]

Hi,

Can anyone help ? I am having problems with my wife's 1990 300TE. When the engine is cold it starts up fine and drives fine, as soon as the engine is up to temprature, it starts missing, if you stop at a junction or lights the whole car shakes, and sometimes cuts out completely. It is then quite dificault to re start. If you are on an open road doing speed it seems to run ok, but when you slow down it starts to miss again. I have had it sat on the drive tonight, started it from cold, let it warm up, and it starts missing, as soon as you touch the throttle it cuts out. Anyone got any ideas ?

 

[supercharger]

hi steve my first thought is the coil could be breaking down i have had this on a few 300 103 engine models as well as v8,s. also when it starts to miss and behave badly try unplugging the idle control valve whilst its running to see if that makes a difference.

supercharger

 

[supercharger]

if you like i could let you try a second hand coil but dont have an ICV at the minute spare.

ps whereabouts are you
supercharger

 

[Two Eight Steve]

Thanks supercharger,
I live in Dorset. I have tried unplugging the idle control valve, and it made no difference, I have swapped the coil with the one from my 230E, and it still does the same, so that rules out the coil. I had no problem starting the car this morning, and it ran smoothly until it got up to temp. Then it started missing and cutting out again, it seems that it is fine until it warms up, any other ideas please !!.

 

[Two Eight Steve]

I have now run out of ideas, and decided to bite the bullett and have limped the car to the mechanic.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

It's the distributor cap and rotor arm, replace them and everything will be OK.
I had exactly the symtoms you describe and solved the problem in this way, accordingly the engine will run but as soon as the revs drop off the car would stall after 5 mins running. The car wouldn't start again until the distributor cap dried out which usually takes about 20 mins.

Hope this helps!

 

[Xtractorfan]

Dizzy cap and rotor arm should always be the first things replaced on an ill motor, and if nothing else replacement gives peace of mind