hey.

i just bought a 1984 w126 chassis 500sel euro market car. i love it, its so pretty. but i hate the way it runs...

starts right up, but immeadietly dies. used to only do this while warming up, but now does it through all temp ranges. feels like misfire or fuel delivery problem maybe ( runs as long as i keep it over 1000rpm, otherwise it just wont do it, hesitates when i slam it, coughs and sputters, etc.)

i work at an m-b dealer, so ive had a few techs check er out, but we cant seem to find it. so far ive done:

new bosch distributor cap, spark plugs, plug wires, and rotor, fuel filter.

there is no vacuum leak and the fuel pressure is good so far as i can tell. (i cranked it with the filter out, and that pump was puitting gasoline all over the place)

so anyhow, tell me if you have any suggestions of what to try. m-b parts, especially for euro madels, will put you in the poor house, even with the employee discount... i cant keep throwing money at the thing, but i so desperately want to keep it!!

 

Did you check the idle control valve? I took mine (380 SEC)apart and soaked in solvent. No longer dies on me

 

thanks, ill try that this weekend. also, one of my benz tech friends said possible valve job... what do others think of this?

 

I'd have a look at the over-voltage relay. I had a problem where the relay was corroded inside and the engine would sometimes die as if there was no fuel getting through. Bought a second hand relay and tried that and problem went away. Worth checking. Is a grey box the size of a cigarette box up on top of the fire wall - to the right of the fuzes.