OH my!! Just what I need!! Help!!!!
 

Hello people,
just when I was really beginnng to enjoy the real smooth ride of my car, after replacing a slighly faulty fuel distributor I get this today after work. I got into the car to try start it up and it doesn't start with the first crank, I try again and nothing I try the third time and give it a little gas, and I hear a small pop, and see a small cloud of smoke coming out of the hood closer to the drivers side. I immediately open the hood notice nothing unusual, I wait a few seconds and try again and sure enough she starts up, but running terrible, ( mean terrible.) the economy gauge is almost at the end on the red side, the oil pressure is all over the place and the car is really shacking at idle. I decided I was going to try and limp home so I do. But what a ride home terrible. Here is what I noticed past about 45mph the car runs fine, anything slower than that I get some major hesitation when I accelerate.

I checked the infamous L vacuum connection close to firewall and it looks good.

The car was running really smooth before, I doubt it is the spark plugs or anything like that. In the recent past the following have been replaced.

Fuel distributor
fuel filter
spark plugs
ignition rotor
distributor cap
ignition wires
Entire intake was R&R'd.

I just don't know what to make out of this. I will point out though that it hadn't started up at the first crank 2-3 times before, it kind of started tach would go up as if it fired then would go down immediately. would start immediately at the second crank.

Help me guys!! When I say it is terrible I mean terrible especially at idle and when accelerating.

Theurig, have you checked the coil?

Not sure if the 380 has the same fitting as the 560, but this thread might help.

Problem fixed
 

Hello folks I drove my car to Royal European Motors, North Miami Beach on Thursday morning on limp mode. It was actually embarrasing to stop at a traffic light chug-chug-chug-chug-chug, the people in the next car could probarbly see me shaking from the chugging action. Anyway as per the recommendation of this site, I met the owner and his son ( Robi) he test drove the car, and said the drivers side camshaft was way off, it needed a chain tensioner. What had happened was when I had tried to start the car, and given it some gas, the chain did something therefore causing the camshaft to do something else!! therefore causing the severe terrible run... technical stuff. Anyway I was very fortunate, the valves didn't get messed up or anything and everything else is intact. He fixed everything changed the tensioner and car is back to smooth!!!! I have to really recommed this shop if anyone lives in the Miami area. Excellenent. Plus get this dropped me off to work and offered to pick me up!!!! Plus my drivers side headlight lens (Euro.) was cracked, he had an extra in storage and gave it to me for a good price!!! So if anyone needs a Euro Headlight that works fine let me know. Keep in mind the lens is cracked and will need to be replaced!!

Theurig, sounds like the timing chain jumped on the camshaft sprocket due to a faulty chain tensioner. You're very fortunate that you avoided extensive engine damage.

Yeah!!!

I know this shop and the owners, father and son, they live and breathe and drive these cars. The son, Robi, has had a succession of 126's which he knows blindfolded.

I won't get ethnic, but these guys came from where people are weaned on these cars.

They're not cheap, but not expensive either. And they get to the heart of a matter quickly.

If you're anywhere near South Florida, go to them!!