Good Evening,

I recently turned my 1986 190E 2.3-16 over to my son, with 206,000 miles on it. He was washing the car today after school, and I heard the car running as he moved it into position to be reached with the hose. It sounded like it was running on 3 cylinders, so I took it out with him and drove up and down the local sections of I-95.

Once it showed over 80 degrees C on the oil temperature guage, I let it run to redline in second and third gear. While it will rev, it has no real pop. The gas pedal feels soft and mushy, not sharp and responsive. After some full throttle, high rpm runs it seemed to be a little better but not much. When you start from a stop it still acts like it is not running on all four cylinders, really rough and lots of shaking. The first tip in of the pedal nearly stalls the engine, then it picks up and starts to follow the pedal movement. But not like it usually does.

I checked the distributor cap and rotor, which seemed to be pretty heavily tracked with carbon and other burned metal deposits along the rotor conductor and the distributor cap conductors. This rotor and cap have been in there for at least 100,000 miles. I cleaned them carefully, and cleaned out the cap aferward. I did notice a pool of oil in the depression in the distributor, under the little black plastic shield, and I cleaned that up with a paper towel.

The car starts, idles at the correct speed (1,000 rpm +/- 100 rpm or so, but it is steady), but also suddenly gets really poor mileage. I put in some fuel system cleaner, but that takes a while to work. Should I check the injectors? They are the same as came with the car, and have never been out of the little bosses they fit into. How do they come out? Can I just start the car with one out at a time and check the spray pattern? Any suggestions and tips on doing this would be appreciated.

I figure it is time for a cap, rotor, new plugs, K&N air cleaner (has a stock unit in there now that is due to be changed) anyway. Are there any other tune up things to address with this car? Should I use Platinum plugs or Copper?

Thanks in advance for the time to read and respond. Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

I would have the ignition system checked to see if you lost a resistor tip. They are under the plastic cover.

__________________
Benzmac:
Donnie Drummonds
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 11 YRS

Benzmac,

When you say they are under the plastic cover do you mean they are under the plastic cover that the spark plugs and wires are hidden by? Are the resistor tips in the connectors to the plugs?

I hate to sound so ignorant, but I figure it is better to ask then start taking things apart without a clue what I am really looking for.

Thanks again, Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)