My wife called me this morning to tell me that her 1999 E300 had some problems. She told me that she set the cruise at 60 and then the car sputtered. The car slowed down to 40 and then took of after it belched a cloud of smoke. What wife described to me would have happened after about 2-3 miles. She said that it has happen a few other times recently in the morning, but she forgot to tell me about it. I confirmed with her that it only happens in the morning on a cold engine, but not on a cold engine in the afternoon.


I drive this car usually once a week for about 30 miles. The last two weekends I have had an unusual experience, but I brushed it off an anomaly with the software that runs the throttle. What happened to me happened only once each time. I was leaving in the morning and after two miles the engine rpm’s ‘dipped’ about 100-200 rpm for a moment and then continued on with no problem. When I left in the morning it was with a cold engine. At two miles the temperature gage was about 82C.

What is weird is that this has happened after about the same distance.

Any thoughts?