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-   -   1994 E420 Help needed with stalling! (http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/155047-1994-e420-help-needed-stalling.html)

lturchin 06-04-2006 10:59 AM

1994 E420 Help needed with stalling!
 
My 1994 E420 with 107K miles stalls when moving from Park to Drive, especially in the morning when first driven. When it does finally
kick in, after about 3 restarts, I can hear the engine just about to
stall again and then it will start to idle correctly and I am driving
with no problems. Just changed the plugs, thinking that it would
help, but the engine is merely quieter and there seems to be more
power available. Any ideas on this?

Thank you.
LTurchin California

Smokiesman 06-04-2006 11:07 AM

If I might make a suggrestion! Replace you cap and rotors if you have not done so for a period of time! I had lot of weird things going on with my 95 E420 and when I changed these items it has purred like a kitten full of cream!:) :) :) Shop the web for prices because I did find big differences in price!!:eek: :eek: It is a easy job to install them just take your time and make sure all the wires get into the right holes!:P :P And let us know how it goes!!:confused:

Smokie

Larry Delor 06-04-2006 11:53 AM

Tis true...these cars do like to have their caps and rotors changed regulary!

Do you have any codes stored? (assuming you know about the little button and the LED, that sit infront of the computer box).

lturchin 06-04-2006 12:03 PM

Will check out the cap and rotors replacement and codes
 
Thanks for the replies. I will try to get cap and rotor replacements asap.

Haven't checked the codes out. What is the process for storing the codes?

I used to own a 300E where I was able to count out the blinks for the problem. Is this the same process?

Thanks.

LTurchin California:)

Larry Delor 06-04-2006 09:21 PM

I think it depends on what month your 420 was built; but, yes, it is the same, count the blinks, process.

lturchin 06-11-2006 06:08 AM

Things worked out, sort of, but not.
 
I installed new rotors, distributor caps and air filters but don't think that the problem was fully solved. I did at first, because the engine started up with no stalling and I drove it a few miles without any problems.

Since I have given the car to my son, I waited until he got home to show him my work and results and we took a drive. I stopped at a local parts store to buy some odds and ends and when we got back into the car only 20 minutes later, and started it up, the following occurred: the RPM in park surged from a normal idle of about 1000 to 1500-2000 and then the engine seemed to slow back down and surge back up between those values for about 30 seconds before dying.

Started it back up and got the same.

Decided to rev the engine a bit and see what would happen. After that, I just put it drive, and kept my foot on the brake so the car wouldn't lurch and waited. The engine stayed alive and we took it on the freeway to see if that might help things. We stopped about 10 miles later, went into another store, came out 10 minutes later. This time, no problems.

If the problem is intermittent, with no predictability, what might it be?

Thanks.

LTurchin California

fz500sel 06-11-2006 10:04 AM

When I first got my '93 400E (same engine as yours), my car would have a wierd idle problem when I first started it up after it had been sitting overnight. It would idle high for awhile and then after a few minutes would drop down to normal. The problem ended up being my ETA.

New ETA cost about $1000 thru FASTLANE. You can get a rebuilt for about $500.

JimF 06-11-2006 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lturchin
. . . . the following occurred: the RPM in park surged from a normal idle of about 1000 to 1500-2000 and then the engine seemed to slow back down and surge back up between those values for about 30 seconds before dying.

Started it back up and got the same.

Decided to rev the engine a bit and see what would happen. After that, I just put it drive, and kept my foot on the brake so the car wouldn't lurch and waited. The engine stayed alive and we took it on the freeway to see if that might help things. We stopped about 10 miles later, went into another store, came out 10 minutes later. This time, no problems.

LTurchin California

Classic sign of a bad ETA as fz500 says.

Read the stored DTCs and see what you get?? Probably DM#6 code: "Idle speed faulty"??

lturchin 06-18-2006 06:54 PM

Possibly solved--
 
I went to a site where the codes were listed: http://pages.prodigy.net/jforgione/MB_S500.html

I followed the procedure for getting the codes to list. The first time I ran it, I was sure I got 16 blinks. Thereafter, I kept counting 17 blinks. I decided to erase the stored codes and then tested to see that they were gone. They were. I took the car for a short ride, about 5 minutes. Turned off and on the engine. It surged once at idle from 500-1000 RPM and then purred normally and went into D perfectly. Did that again and also got one small surge, which now seems normal, and back to 500 rpm or so. Checked the codes while the engine was running and saw no blinks, just the red light.

Am I fixed?

Thanks for your help all.

BTW, also checked the throttle actuator plate, which was not dirty at all.

LTurchin California

deanyel 06-18-2006 11:07 PM

You're fixed until it comes back - which is likely to be soon. I'd check the codes every day or so even if you don't have a problem - nice to know what code comes back first.

JimF 06-19-2006 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lturchin
I went to a site where the codes were listed: http://pages.prodigy.net/jforgione/MB_S500.html

I followed the procedure for getting the codes to list. The first time I ran it, I was sure I got 16 blinks. Thereafter, I kept counting 17 blinks. I decided to erase the stored codes and then tested to see that they were gone. They were. I took the car for a short ride, about 5 minutes. Turned off and on the engine. It surged once at idle from 500-1000 RPM and then purred normally and went into D perfectly. Did that again and also got one small surge, which now seems normal, and back to 500 rpm or so. Checked the codes while the engine was running and saw no blinks, just the red light.

Am I fixed?

Thanks for your help all.

BTW, also checked the throttle actuator plate, which was not dirty at all.

LTurchin California

As deanyel says "until next time!". Mostly likely it will return.

You could have had 16 and 17 blinks since both are 'plausible' with a 'ETA' problem.

It seems that after you read codes using the sw/LED combo, it doesn't read until it 'resets' . . .whatever that means. It could be a few days before you get any codes meaningfully read.

The top of an ETA is usually 'shiny' but when you remove it and look underneath. . you will see a different story.

lturchin 06-29-2006 04:39 AM

No more codes engine still surges at times
 
I have not yet gotten any codes returned, since resetting them, but the stall and surge problem still occurs from time to time.

A mechanic that recently changed the serpentine belt says that he suspects the air mass meter.

Anybody have any ideas on that? That part costs about $750 rebuilt.

Thanks.

DRICHFL 07-12-2006 12:19 AM

Any update on your stalling
 
Iturchin, any headway on solving your stalling problem. Keep us posted on your outcome.

DRICHFL

lturchin 08-07-2007 07:37 PM

2 years later: Problem is less pronounced
 
I don't know who might be left from original thread but I was able to get a greatly reduced in price, Air Mass Meter from Sun Valley Auto (online) for $340 and they gave me back another $30 for core return. My mechanic put it in and the car seemed to be okay. The RPM needle surged only the "normal" amount on restart, anywhere from 500-1000 and not the 1-2K and back. No stalling.

But, even with a reset, the blinks reverted to 16, 17 again and some mornings the car will stall after a clean start up when I turn the wheel too far to the left or right (as in a 1 point U Turn). I have not done any major work to the car since the last post. It now has 126K on it and is in the shop for some other problem (ignition key, change plugs to copper core and possible throttle cable replacement).

Anyhow, that is the latest on this beast. Briefly wanted to sell it but changed my mind. Even when it's not running 100%, or even 90%, I still enjoy it.


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