95 E320 Eratic Idle - Temp related
 

1995 E320 - 236kmiles w/ASR

Diagnostics
Main LED: No codes
Pin 8: No codes
Pin 14: Code 3 (EA/CC/ISC)
Engine Harness replaced (changed it myself)
ETA is orignal equipment
CE light - off

Symptoms: Car runs great once started. Idle a little low (about 600rpm when in neutral). Cruse control OK - works great.

Case 1 - Intermittent condition when temp is <40F: When cold starting, car engine fires and starts at very low rpm (<500 rpm) and then engine dies and ASR light comes on. When this occurs, I can sometimes keep the engine running by pushing down on the accelerator pedal. If this is successful, the ASR light does not come on. If ASR light comes on, recycling the ignition key to off and then restarting and all is ok - car starts fine and the only symptom is slightly low idle as described above.

Case 2 - cold start. If I cycle the accelerator pedal before attempting to start the car, Case 1 never occurs. Starts fine. And idle is about 1000 rpm. After a brief time, much less than a minute, idle falls to about 600 rpm.

Again, when temp is above 40F, start is normal with only a little low idle.

I can look down thru the intake manifold, the throttle plate has a nice collection of oily grit. If this was an old fashioned car, I would clean it with carb cleaner.

I can clear the pin 14 - code 3 and it will repeat after awhile. I have checked the throttle cable slack, and there is some.

ANy suggestions would be appreciated. If you all think it's the ETA on it's last legs, is there a cleaning proceedure that will help?

Thanks in advace

Although it is immaterial to the cause of your problem, does this act the same way above 40F if the climate control is turned off?

All starts with Climate Control OFF.