New member with hopefully an old problem.

[AndyMAcfarlane]

Hello folks! Nice to be here!
I just thought I'd ask a wee technical problem. I recently bought a 190E (1992 model) from a friend of mine. It runs great most of the time, but... now and again the power just drops. As if I'd taken my foot off the accelerator. And I can get it to "reset" so-to-speak by turning the ignition key off and on a click. When it starts happening it usually keeps happening until I stop her and try later on. I once made it 100miles home on the motorway using this trick and swearing. (I HAD to get home)
I have replaced OVP and fuel rump relays, my mechanic has changed the spark-plugs and says the fuel filter is relatively new and clean. Strangely though, that's the 2nd time I've changed the spark-plugs in 6 months and what with Covid restrictions, I haven't been driving much.
Obviously this problem doesn't show up when I take it to my mechanic so he's got no idea where to start.
Any suggestons?

 

[andrew056]

It sounds to me as if it could be the ignition control module breaking down , it can only really be lack of fuel or lack of sparks and as it resets that would indicate an electrical problem.
Good luck Andrew

 

[AndyMAcfarlane]

It sounds to me as if it could be the ignition control module breaking down , it can only really be lack of fuel or lack of sparks and as it resets that would indicate an electrical problem.
Good luck Andrew

Cheers! I'm over in italy so I'll translate that as best I can for my mechanic!

 

[LostKiwi]

Have you checked the ignition switch itself? If you have a bad contact the simple switching off and on may be enough to remake the contact which then eventually unmakes again and so on.
If you have a heavy bunch of keys try removing them just leaving the ignition switch and see if that helps.

 

[AndyMAcfarlane]

Have you checked the ignition switch itself? If you have a bad contact the simple switching off and on may be enough to remake the contact which then eventually unmakes again and so on.
If you have a heavy bunch of keys try removing them just leaving the ignition switch and see if that helps.

Interesting point. The problem surfaced the day after my keys would'nt turn in the ignition and had to do some serious jiggling of keys and locked steering wheel to finally release them. I never thought to link the two events together. And yes, I do have a rather heavy bunch of keys and keyring.
I luckily have a whole new ignition barrel and set of keys too.