1984 Mercedes 190E, three questions, please help!

[rbort]

Hey guys:

Question #1:

I got this Mercedes 190E and I am having a hard to start problem with it. Its kinda weird, but it goes as follows.

If the car is COLD (overnight), you click the starter and its running in a second or two.
If you drive the car and its up to operating temp, you stop for a couple of minutes, restart the car and it starts right away as well.
However, if you wait like 10 minutes when its been run, it seems to make the engine hard to start:

When you start hot after a 10 stop, you need to crank the engine for about 10 seconds before it will start to sputter and eventually catch. Once it starts, it runs rough for like 10 to 15 seconds, and then all is smooth again like nothing is wrong. It drives fine all the time, and, if you just started it when hot after sitting, it hesitates as you drive off, but a few seconds later its fine.

It almost seems like there is some fume buildup in the engine or something that prevents it from starting. Once it starts, it has to clear its throat before its running smooth again. If you leave it overnight, the fumes or whatever seem to subside and it starts right away when cold from overnight parking.

What is up with that and how do I fix it?

Question #2:

I was at the junk yard today and I picked up a clock with RPM guage above it from a junked later model I presume 190e. My car had a big clock and no RPM guage. Excited about it, I removed the dash, installed the clock/rpm combo, and soldered a wire to the RPM connector. On the RPM connector, it is labeled + on one pin and TD on the other pin. Dash back in, the clock runs fine, so 1 down, 1 to go.

As far as connecting the RPM guage, where do I connect the wires to make this baby run? I assumed that the + goes to a live wire when the ignition is on only, like the radio power wire that is switched with ignition as I probably don't want live power to the rpm guage all the time. But what about the TD pin? Where do I connect that? Sounds like TD means To Distributer, so I looked at the distributer but I'm not sure where to wire it there. Can someone please tell me how to hook this up? It will be nice to have an RPM guage after 20 years of having this car!!

Lastly, question #3:

I was thinking of buying European Headlights for this car. Where would I get those, anyone know of a good place? I didn't want to spend alot of money, but I would like to change over the current headlights as they don't show alot of light at night unless I drive with the highbeams on.

Thanks guys! I'm anxiously awaiting your responses!!

-=>Raja.

[mike65]

First question sounds like bad fuel-air mixture.

One place for euro-lights -

http://www.bekkers.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=BI&Product_Code=EH190E3&Category_Code=mhlight190

another (note the prices!)

http://www.importvision.com/PickAccessories.php?PartMake=Mercedes (scroll about halfway down)

Mike.

[rbort]

Hey guys:

I read some posts and some people seem to think its a bad idle mixture valve. Like its leaking fuel and flooding the engine hence the long starts when hot after sitting for a few minutes.

Can anyone post a picture to show where this part is?

As far as the rpm guage, I hooked it up + to + on coil and TD to - on coil. It seems to work but the idle speed indicated is too high and jumpy. It indicates about 2100 rpms and jumps around by 200 rpms. When I step on the gas, it jumps around upwardly for a bit and then settles to a solid indication of say 1800 rpms at the minimum steady rate. If I step on the gas further, it goes up smoothly with no jumping and I get it all the way to 4000 rpms with no problems. Looks like it works just fine as it should from 1800 rpms to 4000+. However, when I take my foot off the gas, it drop steadily down to the 1800 mark and then bounces back up to around 2100 rpms and keeps bouncing around. Like it doesn't display idle speeds up to 1800 rpms properly. Is this a faulty unit or am I missing some component for the hookup between the meter and the coil?

If my idle speed is too high, how do I adjust is down? Anyone?

Thanks guys, and please respond if you can!!

-=>Raja.

[mike65]

The fuel-air muxture control is through a hole in the
air-filter box, it needs a 5mm hex key I think. BUT this is a job that needs the be done with an exhuast gas
analyiser. I think to lean the mix turn anti-clockwise.
(do a search on this forum "adjusting mixture" or similair)

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/search.php?action=showresults&searchid=744858&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending&pagenumber=1

The tick over is adjusted by turning the screw control
which is underneath the air-filter box on the passenger side. Its a big screw so easy enough to see. BUT there is little point messing with the idle until the mixture is sorted out (unless its really bad!)

Mike.