do i just take the spark plug out of the cylinder socket...and put it in the wire, fire the engine to check for spark?

trying to isolate a miss on the CE. Don't know if its fuel injector related...spark ..or vacuum.

seems like cylinder 3 is the culprit...but i want to confirm that the plug is ok before exchanging fuel injectors.

__________________
1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

YOu can take the plug out and with the wire attached, lay the plug so that it is touching a metal part of the engine so it is grounded. Then crank and watch for the spark. It should be nice and blue, not yellow.

Good luck

Tom

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

i dont' think its a spark plug issue...but this will help me troubleshoot.

it's been too cold to do too much here...

__________________
1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

These are nice: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=4424 presently on sale. I like them so much I bought eight of them.

can't you just buy one? they are right around the corner from me...so i could pick it up today..if they have them in stock

__________________
1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

Can they remain permanently connected? Would be a nice light show under the hood and help of checking spark at any time.

__________________
1996 E320 since 1/16/08, 171K miles as of Feb 2011

---------------------------------------------------------
1989 300CE - R.I.P. Dec 29 2007
Other MBs (sold): 1992 300E-24 - 1979 350SLC - 1984 230E - 1990 300CE

You can buy them individually - not sure if they are on sale in the store right now - that was the internet price. They come both straight and with a 90 degree bend in the connector. 119 motor spark plugs are so deep I have to tape a popsicle stick on to the wire. I'm sure they are meant for temporary service, not for driving around. One thing I've noticed is that they don't all have the same brightness, and it doesn't necessarily reflect differences in voltage. In other words one would be brighter than the one next too, and I would try to read something into to that, but switch them around and the brighter one stays with the tester, not the cylinder. But they work - they tell you if there is a spark. I guess you shouldn't expect too much for $2.

For general non-wrenching troubleshooting, use your inductive timing light to see if the individual wires are triggering the light. In most cases the plug is fine and the wire is bad or has a bad connection.

And if all else fails, you can hold on to the plug and have someone crank the engine.

John

__________________
President Minuteman Section MBCA
www.mbca.org/minuteman

so i guess you have some sort of chart that decides if the spark is good based on how high the person holding the wire jumps?

__________________
David S Poole
European Performance
Dallas, TX
4696880422

"Fortune favors the prepared mind"
1987 Mercedes Benz 420SEL
1988 Mercedes Benz 300TE (With new evaporator)
2000 Mercedes Benz C280
http://www.w108.org/gallery/albums/A...1159.thumb.jpg

You get a more accurate measurement if you touch your tongue to the plug.

jp

__________________
Jeff Pierce

Current Vehicles:
'92 Mercedes 190E/2.3 (247K miles/my daily driver)
'93 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon (263K miles/a family truckster with spunk)
'99 Kawasaki Concours
Gravely 8120
Previous Vehicles:
'85 Jeep CJ-7 w/ Fisher plow (226K miles)'93 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon
'53 Willys-Overland Pickup
'85 Honda 750F Interceptor
'93 Nissan Quest
'89 Toyota Camry Wagon
'89 Dodge Raider
'81 Honda CB 750F Super Sport
'88 Toyota Celica
'95 Toyota Tacoma
'74 Honda CB 550F