1985 380sl issue

[jamie]

Hi Everyone, Im new and I hope someone can help with an ongoing issue Im having with my 85 380sl! I'll explain the best I can, Im not too technical.

Ok the car is driving fine and then out of now where it seems like it is struggling to get gas, too get air or to get power to move. I put the gas pedal to the floor and I can feel the car as if it is being held back on power some how! The tacdometer is rising but the speedometer is not. Then its like something clears, or catches up and the car will go properly. The tachometer and the speedometer now work together properly. There is the gas gauge that tells if the gas is using economy or not. When the car runs normally the guage is always on the far left for economy. When the issue takes place the gas guage is all the way to the right and the car isnt going properly. When the issue clears the guage drops back to economy. (I do have the gas pedAL PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AT THIS POINT,TRYING TO GO) During this time I can actually tell that something is holding back. Ive tested the fuel line, the oyxgen /fuel mixture. Now the other day I noticed a hose has come off of the air flow round thing on top of engine. All of a sudden my car is once again running like the dream I know it to be!!! I have had a few lil instances of the ongoing issue but it is small in comparison to the normal instances. I think Im getting more air to the engine or something. The speedometer and tacometer are working in perfect unison again and the car looks and runs great 99 percent of the time.. I need to make the repair to that hose but want to see if it is indeed fixing my issue first. Does anyone have any idea on what is going on here?
HELP it has been going on forever!!!
Thanks again,
J.

[ctaylor738]

Can you post a picture of the hose you are talking about?

[jamie]

Thanks for the fast reply! Here is a photo, the hose is on the left side!
THANK U
Jamie

[ctaylor738]

Hmm. That's the hose that feeds the air injection pump. It is routed through the air cleaner (the big silver piece) so the pump will get filtered air.

The function of the air pump is to add extra air only while the engine is warming up. It really doesn't matter one way or the other if the hose is connected to the air cleaner or not. It's not like it's a vacuum connection.

So (a) the hose and pump are relevant only during warm-up and (b) it really doesn't matter if the hose is connected, except for filtration.

I am glad your problem has gotten better, but I don't think connecting the hose had any effect. I suspect your problem will occur again.

I suggest that you remove the air cleaner and take a close look at all of the vacuum connectors and hoses.

Good luck.

[meltedpanda]

These are common issues for low power in K jet systems

Low Power:
1. Fuel Pressure Incorrect:
Check for pressure to be at least 66 PSI.
If too low, test the fuel pump and the warm up regulator.
2. O2 Sensor defective:
Replace as needed.
3. Fuel injector clogged:
Test the fuel injectors for equal quantities at a given time. Jump the fuel pump relay #30
and 87a. Run the pump with the injectors in a container. Look for problems.
4. Fuel distributor binding:
Check the plate for free movement. Remove the air cleaner and the air intake and gently
move the plate. It must move freely, if not look for the problem.
If it is not easy to repair replace the distributor.
5. Idle speed, Ignition timing or bad Ignition system:
Check the timing. Check the points
6. Full Throttle switch faulty or not adjusted correctly:

[cclake]

Sounds like you have a transmission problem if the Rpm is going up but the speed is not. I don't know if the transmission has a sprague or not but if it does that may be your problem.