It's curious to me that idle is at 800 rpm with effectively no ELR influence. Base idle without ELR should be closer to 500 rpm with the engine bordering on cutting out. I don't recall that there's any external idle speed setting in a 603 IP. I wonder if someone got creative to get it to idle at 800 rpm which in turn compromised off-the-line performance.

Maybe the ALDA is adjusted to compensate for low idle speed and that's throwing off performance. Can you borrow a known good ALDA to check?

Sixto

I removed the plug, and no noticable difference with the exception of the fact you can hear more pronounced, what sounds a "puff" of compressed air escaping and at the same time the engine shudders or misses at the same time, not sure what this is indicating.

I don't have any extra parts, and I don't really know anyone "personally" who has any, you guys here are my only connection to advice etc.

Also, would it be safe to drive this car, at least 30 miles or so, to a mechanic, as that the closest one is going to be to me?

__________________
Mercedes Fleet:
2004 CL600 Designo Espresso SPORT
2004 S600 Designo Espresso SPORT/Lorinser Pkg.
1999 S320
1988 300TE
1972 280SEL 4.5
Diesel Fleet:
2014 GL350 Blutec
1987 300SDL Blk/Blk 4 place seating #18 head
1987 300SDL Smk Slv/Burgangy #17 head
1986 300SDL Blk Pearl/Palomino #14 head w/ 280K
1984 Lincoln Mark VII Fact BMW Turbo Diesel

I'm sure this sounds silly, but have you checked the fuse in the OVP relay? Or any of the other fuses?

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Hmm, I don't recall the exact sound mine made when I pulled that plug (and that led to the verification that the Nasty Trap was plugged!) but it was loud! If it doesn't run or idle any smoother with the plug out then your Cat or Trap whichever is there may not be the problem. I would think if the car runs allright but it just doesn't idle properly then a 30 mile trip may not be a bad idea, but some of that will be stop and go, depending on the time of day and whether or not it is in a Metroplex area like DFW etc. If that was the case I would want to move it by night, just hope it doesn't give out on you!

__________________
'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

Since the qualifications of the shop are continuously in question, have you checked that the injector heat shields are in place and correctly oriented? Do you know if the heat shields were replaced during all this diagnosis? Might be worth ordering a set and fitting them yourself.

Sixto
... stay tuned

Now that you mention it, I don't remember purchasing any, and I dont think I was charged for any from the last mechanic, so I doubt they were replaced. Would that or could that be causing this rough idle problem?

__________________
Mercedes Fleet:
2004 CL600 Designo Espresso SPORT
2004 S600 Designo Espresso SPORT/Lorinser Pkg.
1999 S320
1988 300TE
1972 280SEL 4.5
Diesel Fleet:
2014 GL350 Blutec
1987 300SDL Blk/Blk 4 place seating #18 head
1987 300SDL Smk Slv/Burgangy #17 head
1986 300SDL Blk Pearl/Palomino #14 head w/ 280K
1984 Lincoln Mark VII Fact BMW Turbo Diesel

Purchased what?

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Injector heat shields.

Sixto
... stay tuned