Hello everyone,

got an 1989 300E with 186,700miles and a bad idling problem...

When the engine is cold, I start it and unless I keep the engine at 1000 to 1200 RPM by holding the gas pedal... it will surge between 1200 and 0 RPM until it dies......

If I hold down the accelerator and keep it at 1200 RPM for about 2 minutes straight... I can eventually let go of the gas pedal slowly and it will idle at a low but sustainable 500 - 450 RPM...

HELP!

Also..............................

I would like everyone's opinion on putting metal clamps on the vaccum hoses that connect to the idle control valve...

Do you think it is safe to do that?
There is certainly enough space to do it!
I just though that it would be a good little "upgrade"...

I recently cleaned the ICV and saw some very nasty light brown fluid spill out... (used carb cleaner! )

I replaced it and it still sucks... NO IMPROVEMENT!

anybody have any ideas? I am going to replace the hoses anyways, but since I am going to have it open, why not try to make it better?!!!

These vacuum hoses, when in good condition, DO NOT need to be clamped, nor have they been designed to be clamped. Using a clamp is an overkill, to say the least.

You will also be putting stresses on the vacuum orifices to which these hoses connect. Stresses that they have not been designed to withstand.

Phil

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'95 E300 Diesel, 264,000 Miles. [Sold it]

At least one problem with putting clamps on is that the metal attachment points are ridged, not flat, so there won't be good contact between the hose and the metal (plus there will be stress at the peaks). The hoses are also probably pretty old and dried out, and you may not get a good "squeeze" out of them without cracking. Finally, in order to get the clamps on, you'll have to take the hoses out, so you might as well replace them anyways.

Thanks for the responses.

I will not put any clamps on...

Now I have just got to order those hoses!