Well, I think I have it fixed this time. At least it is starting with no problem and running immediately.


When we checked the ovp relay, we did not get it firmly back into its socket. With this, the ABS light came on and stayed on even when the car was running. It had never done that before. Told me immediately that we had caused a new problem, but it took some reading to find what that was.

This forum has a lot of information to sift through.
For me the bottom line of this exercise has been:

If you have a six cyclinder 190E that is approaching 200k miles and after running great for all of this time and it starts to have idle and starting problems, expect that it is an intermittent coil, and just replace it.

This situation appears to repeat itself over and over in these pages, with a lot of great input and things to check, but the number of times it is the coil at this point in life appears quite high.

I found that a disconnected ovp causes the ABS light to come on, but I would bet that it also causes the wiper to draw enough current to run as well.

The true test if this car is now working will be if it starts in the morning.

I'll be back to eat a little crow if it isn't, or to thank you all again if it is.

Thanks again.

Marsden