running on 3 cylinders

[essexceltic]

hi newbie here needing some help please.

i have a merc 190e 1800. my wife was driving back home and said that the car was running rough with hardly any power. i went down to meet her and took the car for a short drive and it felt and sounded like it was not firing on all cylinders very rough running and no power struggle to get up hills unless i put the foot to the floor and still it takes a bit of time to get a bit of speed. bythe time i got to look under the bonnet it was dark. and i could see a spark comming from the first plug lead it was comming out of the side of the lead near the plug. i have pushed the plug all the way into the spark plug but it still sparks out the side of the lead.

is this just a lead that i need to replace. and if so does it matter if it comes from a bigger engine car or not.

a car shop is quoting me £39.00 for a set of leads if i only need 1 lead then i dont want to pay that amount of money to find its not the problem after all.

the merc hads a little tapping noise only very little noise dont know if this might be the prob and somethings on the way out.

any help please i love this car to much to sell or give the the car cemetry

please excuse the spelling its been a long day.

 

[Xtractorfan]

Yes by all means a plug lead is basically a plug lead and will work, the tapping noise u heard may be the sound of the spark jumping or tracking to the engine block..ie earth... if this doesnt work change the No1 spark plug as well, it could be cracked . and shop around for new leads. some of the lads on here will keep u right. and may even have a spare set.. someone once called them gentlemen.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

If the leads are all the same age, change them all, including the king lead.

 

[Bolide]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ What he said

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[essexceltic]

thanks for all the help.

have changed 1 lead only cost me £3.00. car is again running like a dream.

i will now change all the other leads and plugs.

thanks again.

regards chris

 

[Ron Palfrey]

Why change the others if the car is now running like a dream? You've cured the fault !!
If it ain't broke don't fix it!
Ron

 

[mister_cee333]

Why change the others if the car is now running like a dream? You've cured the fault !!
If it ain't broke don't fix it!
Ron

My mate's father had a great deal of knowledge (and a good sense of humour).

He said that when he was young they used to go about on bicycles, there was always something for him to fix and he was learning all the time.

Then they went about the fields on motorbikes, there was always something for him to fix and he was learning all the time.

Then they got cars, there was always something for him to fix and he was learning all the time.

The story could go on forever with lawn mowers/home electrics/boilers etc but you get my drift - learning all the time.

Then he would ask "and do you know what I was learning all that time son?" - "Learning to leave the ******* thing alone!"

 

[essexceltic]

My mate's father had a great deal of knowledge (and a good sense of humour).

He said that when he was young they used to go about on bicycles, there was always something for him to fix and he was learning all the time.

Then they went about the fields on motorbikes, there was always something for him to fix and he was learning all the time.

Then they got cars, there was always something for him to fix and he was learning all the time.

The story could go on forever with lawn mowers/home electrics/boilers etc but you get my drift - learning all the time.

Then he would ask "and do you know what I was learning all that time son?" - "Learning to leave the ******* thing alone!"

lol mister i get the drift. thanks for the punt. will leave it along i think.

 

[Ron Palfrey]

Good man. Well done for getting it sorted by the way - and for just 3 quid.