My "91" 190E 2.3L is losing power and hard to start. I had it to my local MB dealer and the mechanic regapped the spark plugs and said it should run ok. Since the trip to the garage I have gapped the plugs twice within 6 months. Each time I close the gap a little more (now at .024 ). The car ran fine for a while then after a few thousand miles started to miss and start hard. any ideas? coil? something in the distributor?
any help welcome
Thanks
JC

.024 is too small a gap. The car will not run properly. I would check the coil and spark plug wires. You should be able to open the gap wider than factory specs to get a little more power, not make it smaller.

JDUB
Thanks for your input...I know .024 is too close but the thing will just not run at .032 and above. As I hve decreased the gap the car will smooth out for a while then back to the same old problem. I decreased the opening again and it will smooth out. Thats the reason I am thinking weak coil or something.
JC

JC, Do a search for "hard start" here on the forum top-left. You should find some useful information that will get you checking some things. The OVP relay, Fuel pump relay and/or coolant temperature sensor are common sources of problems on the 2.3 engine.

Had similar problem with my 230 changed the plug leads and it has been perfect ever since-not too bothered as they were the originals and had done130,000!!
HAMISH