I have an '89 190E w/131,000 miles that stalls intermittenly. It'll run great for a couple days or weeks then stalls in the middle of driving down the road. Took it to my mechanic to drive, left it two weeks, he drove it and it never stalled one time for him. I get it back, drive it for a week or two then, boom, it stalls. It takes 3-4 tries to re-start when it stalls. Mechanic obviously couldn't find what's wrong since it didn't stall with him and doesn't give warning before it stalls, no rough idle, jerking, sputtering, etc. We're going to sell the stupid thing if we can't find SOMEONE that can give us a clue as to what's wrong!! Love the car but can't depend on it in Atlanta traffic.

Do a search on fuel pump relay. Mine started to show signs by rare stalling, then occaisional, thenafter 4 months, every 5 minutes. Good luck.

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Earl McLain
'02 C230 Kompressor
'89 560 SEL "Frau BlueCar" (retired April 2004)

Also check the rotor and distributor cap -- had a similar problem in daughter's 190E that was fixed by R&R of these parts. Easy and relatively inexpensive fix.

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'98 C43 AMG
'88 420SEL
'93 190E Limited Edition (including factory Sportline package)

i have a 87 and whenever the plugs get too fouled i would have the rare stall, not when the car is driving, usually when i am slowing down or when its sitting at the light. everytime i usually just give it a crank and it starts right up. I just make it a habit of having spare plugs in the car and changing the plugs annually. i have been using platium ones and will try the coppers next time.

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Ken
87 190E2.6

My girlfriend and I took ours to a shop who diagnosed the same intermittent stalls as a faliure in the overvoltage protection relay. He changed the part and there is no difference. Part of the problem with their lousy misdiagnosis is that they were following a MB technical bulletin describing "stalls on acceleration". There were three fixes recommended, #1 to check the OVPR. So when the shop tech checked it, he found it failed his test, and he replaced it. But after that, there were no efforts to follow up on items #2 and #3 on the bulletin. They just said, OK its fixed, and gave us back the car, but it kept stalling. Make sure you check all avenues thoroughly.

At the next shop we are awaiting a diagnosis and I'll post when I hear.

Three shops could not diagnose the stalling problem. the fourth shop, Auto Craft in Irvine, CA diagnosed it right away. The owner of the shop went to the Electro Hydraulic Actuator and saw that it was leaking and not performing to specs as tested. Replaced the part... and no stalling.

Well done

Where and what is this Electro Hydraulic Actuator? I may know it at something else..

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99 C230K Sport
87 300SDL
81 300SD

I just had the same problem with my 86 190e 8v.

After scratching our heads for an hour. we pulled out the relays on the right side firewall and put them back in and the car started right up. When we jiggle the relays earlier nothing happened. But if we pull them out and plug them back in. the car runs fine.

Fuel Pump Relay. Had the same thing happen on my '84 190E. The originals are not hemetically sealed and moisture forms corrosion on the contacts. It's about a $125.00 part (easy to install). It may sound like a bunch of money for a relay, but better than stalling in the middle of a busy intersection.

Brian16V

If it does turn out to be the fuelpump relay, be sure to check the fuel pump(s) as well. A failing pump can cause a failed relay, left unrepaired leads to the purchase of an extra relay. Good luck.

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Earl McLain
'02 C230 Kompressor
'89 560 SEL "Frau BlueCar" (retired April 2004)

Browsing old threads...

It's worth noting that you can easily resolder the joints on the fuel pump relay connections instead of buying a new one.

I did and have been fine for 2 years since

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190E's:
2.5-16v 1990 90,000m Astral Silver
2.0E 8v 1986 107,000m Black 2nd owner
http://www.maylane.demon.co.uk/190esmall.jpghttp://www.maylane.demon.co.uk/190esmall2.jpg