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  #1  
Old 11-25-2010, 05:24 PM
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1987 560sl firing order, spark plug wire resistance

I have searched the forums, but have had no luck finding the firing order for my 1987 560sl. I know cyls. 1-4 are on the passenger side, cyls. 5-8 on the driver's side. What I would like to know is the actual firing order, and the spark plug wire resistance. I'm doing some roug idle trouble shooting. Thanks for the help!
-ddaymen

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  #2  
Old 11-25-2010, 06:37 PM
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FIRING ORDER FOUND

Found the correct firing order, which by the was is is on the distributor cap, but I had read that the rotor, when # 1 cyl. is at top dead center, should be pointing more or less to the one o'clock position, looking at the cap from in front of the car, is this correct? still need the plug wire resistance!
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  #3  
Old 11-25-2010, 11:16 PM
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Wire resistance is 2K ohms. A new BERU wire set and and NGK non resistor plugs fixed a similar trouble on my 560 SEL. The resistance can be checked with a good VOM.
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Old 12-01-2010, 01:28 AM
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Okay, spark plug wires checked out okay, but I replaced them anyway, along with a new cap and rotor. This problem started out as a miss while idling, intermittently, and the car would "stumble" when revving up at idle/taking off (new spark plugs also I forgot to add), after replacing all that, now it misses really bad, kept stalling, finally will not start at all. Used a spark tester, no fire from coil! Hopefully just the coil, not the I.C.M. Now, what is a quick way to check the coil! I guess new cap/rotor/wires put too much draw on weak coil, as the components replaced were pretty old, cap/rotor showed wear, plug wires were probably original. New stuff killed coil?

Please let it be just a coil!
Thanks,
-DDaymen
1987 560sl
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  #5  
Old 12-01-2010, 10:44 AM
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For future reference the firing order is on top of the right valve cover in raised numbers.
#1 should be at the 11 o'clock position. There is a mark on the dist. housing that the rotor should point to at TDC on #1.
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Old 12-01-2010, 10:53 AM
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Does your vehicle use thermal paste under the ICM? It may be dried up and turned to powder. ICM over heats and shuts down. Just a long shot.
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Old 12-02-2010, 12:58 AM
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Well I saw the firing order on the valve cover (don't know how I missed it before), and a local independent shop where I know the owners loaned me a "test" coil, and man that car runs like it hadn't in quite a while. Like I figured, the new cap/rotor/plugs/wires allowing full spark totally zapped an already weak coil. No bad I.C.M.! (will be now probably) thanks for all the suggestions, and I think I will inspect the heat sink compound under the I.C.M, re-apply if necessary. Guess the dealer has this stuff?

-DDaymen
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Old 12-02-2010, 11:11 PM
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Heat sink compound readily available at Radio Shack or better computer stores, the ones that sell components such as processors and motherboards.

Apply sparingly, just enough to cover the mating surfaces with a THIN film. Too much will actually prevent good heat transfer and cause electronics to suffer heat damage.

Trust me, I'm a Professional. .......
Scott
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  #9  
Old 12-28-2010, 05:26 AM
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A friend of mine who is a mechanic provided me information regarding the correct firing in 560sl. Right side is 1,2,3,4. Left is 5, 6, 7, 8. The sequence will be like this 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2. Regarding the question of position of #1 cylinder I would like to mention that it will be pointing to the 11 o’clock position rather than 1 o’clock position.
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Old 05-02-2011, 09:41 PM
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Spark plugs and ICM

I know this post that I have found is a year old but it is the exact same problem I am having.
At first my car wouldnt start at all the spark was very weak yellow apark at the plugs.
Changed the plugs cap and rotor car started but runs rough at idle through mid range.
Am planning on changing the wires but have a question about the spark plugs.
What brand is the correct OEM replacements? Whats the correct resistance? whats the correct gap? and what Part # are they?

All the info I have found suggests a platinum plug but I know they didnt have platinum in 87.
Also my ICM has a silver metal cover over the area where the heat paste should be can this be removed to replace the paste or should I not mess with it. dont wanna buy a new ICM there a bit spendy.
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  #11  
Old 05-04-2011, 11:20 AM
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I recently switched to a non-resistor plug (NGK BP5ES). Gap is .032 if I remember correctly. I was having a low speed hesitation which is now gone. Wires are Bosch 09147.
Car runs great with this setup.

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