Heres my problem.

**before the problem started I had the car stall once or twice shortly after starting and the car seems a bit underpower. The power range is now equal across the RPM range. Seems kinda weak around the low and mid RPM range.


1983 380SL (43,000 miles) suddenly developed a high idle condition. It now idles at approx 1,500 rpms hot or cold. I checked the idle speed valve and it functions (applied voltage to it and engine RPM dropped and stalled). Car restarted fine after test but went to high idle again.

I checked the fuse on the over voltage relay and its fine. I disconnected the idle speed computer - no difference. I also disconnected the Lambda control module - no difference in starting and idling.

I reconnected all modules and no difference. I tapped on over voltage relay and the idle jumped up a bit then slowed down to approx 900 rpms. Tap on the relay again, and RPMS go up to 1,500 again. Tap some more, RPMS start to "hunt" around. When the car settles down to about 900 rpms, and I remove the plug on the idle air valve, RPMS jump to 1,500 - reconnect the plug and they drop.

Since both the idle and lambda control get thier power feed from the over voltage relay, could the relay be my problem (this explains the high idle and lack of performance) OR is my over voltage relay, idle control computer and lambda control have gone south?

The previous owners hardly used the car and installed one of the battery cut off switches to keep the battery from running down when it was stored in the garage for long periods. The car did have many jumpings in the past due to dead batteries.

Thanks in advance!!!

-Kevin



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1990 300CE-24
1995 Jeep Wrangler
1995 Ford Thunderbird