fuel problems

[LRG]

I have a 1989 190E 2.6 with 250K on it. I have had problems for about a year, been to 2 different MB dealers 3 times they have done everything except fix the problem. The car is hard starting , irratic idle(300-2000-300etc) at times, stalls lots, other times holds idle but at 1400,2000 what ever it feels like. It also has an really bad smell, like its loading up on fuel something serious and fuel consumption is very high. I think its a air flow meter problem but I'm to chicken just to change it on a hunch because of the cost. If anyone has an idea I could sure use some help. Thanx

 

[kiwi_bloke]

heres my advice

hey ya....the erratic idle could be many things. Having a strong smell of fuel and a higher than normal consumption COULD mean its running to rich. To adjust this the hole is in the top of the air filter casing...be warned it can be a real prick to get just right.

That would be my first port of call but heres a few others to check.

erratic idle : check idle control valve, ignition timeing, fuel flow regulator (in front of the air intake...cylinder like with fuel pipes going to it),Vaccum hose (especially the one of the fuel flow regulator (the stealership left it off my car and it caused havoc), also check that all your spark plug gaps are that SAME that can cause fluctuation in idle, although not as big as ur talking.

An easy way to see if your idle control valve is working is to check the idle hot out of gear, then put it into gear, it should idle the same (or close to it) and electrical load on the engine should result in a dip in revs then the engine pulling back upto the normal idle speed.

As for the strong smell of gas, the only wisdom i can offer you is to check the fuel delivery system. Trace from the fuel tank the piping through the pump ect right up to the engine and check for leaks.

have fun

see ya!!

josh

 

[kiwi_bloke]

heres my advice

hey ya....the erratic idle could be many things. Having a strong smell of fuel and a higher than normal consumption COULD mean its running to rich. To adjust this the hole is in the top of the air filter casing...be warned it can be a real prick to get just right. The spark plugs will be black if the car is running rich

That would be my first port of call but heres a few others to check.

erratic idle : check idle control valve, ignition timeing, fuel flow regulator (in front of the air intake...cylinder like with fuel pipes going to it),Vaccum hose (especially the one of the fuel flow regulator (the stealership left it off my car and it caused havoc), also check that all your spark plug gaps are that SAME that can cause fluctuation in idle, although not as big as ur talking.

An easy way to see if your idle control valve is working is to check the idle hot out of gear, then put it into gear, it should idle the same (or close to it) and electrical load on the engine should result in a dip in revs then the engine pulling back upto the normal idle speed.

As for the strong smell of gas, the only wisdom i can offer you is to check the fuel delivery system. Trace from the fuel tank the piping through the pump ect right up to the engine and check for leaks.

have fun

see ya!!

josh