Grasping At Straws - Praying for a Miracle
 

Thanks to RPM and others for the good advice. I may have found the reason for the gasoline odor on my, rough running, very sick C280. However, while checking the fuel system tonight, I happened to remove the front engine cowling (Cover) and noticed that the electrical connection to the Cam Magnet was broken, and that the wires/plug was just barely hanging on.

There was a coat of old, dried oil and what looked like heat discoloration around the connection area. I used electrical tape to reattach the pieces of the connector and then taped the entire plug in assembly to the fixed plug.

Ran out of time and could not put everything back together. Will have to wait til tomorrow night. BUT, can anyone tell me if this faulty connection may be at least partially responsible for the rough engine I'm experiencing? Am I going to be a happy camper tomorrow night?

Thanks for your help!

sounds like you need a wiring harness but, I might be wrong. If you car has blue sticker coils, they have been known to fail as well.





Joe

If just the plastic housing for the wires is broken that part is avaiable seperately from the wiring harness. You need to closely inspect the wires at the plug to see if the insulation is cracking and coming off of the wires.If the insulation is craking then its time for a new harness. A faullty harness could be causing your problems. Its unlikely that the plug being loose would cause an idle problem since the cam magnet is not energised at idle. Plus if the plug was not connected it should set a fault code and turn on the check engine light as well. You mentioned that you found the cause of your fuel smell, what did you find?

Blue sticker coils?
 

Hey Joe: By "Blue sticker coils" are you referring to a brand name or to a sticker on the coils?
Thanks

To RPM 55: I think (although I won't know for sure til I finish) that the gas odor is coming from a leaking fuel pressure regulator, which you suggested as the possible culprit. I may be too optimistic - will know by Monday - I hope.
Thanks!

To sort of answer the question, if the camshaft adjustment system were inoperative, no it won't make the engine run rough. It were stuck "on", yes then it would. But if it never advances, it'll be lacking a little midrange power and that's it. Engine harness sounds plausible to me.

Gilly