Need help with stalling 1989 300TE - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BENZ-LGB · #1 01-19-2005, 10:10 AM

Good morning fellow brothers and sisters of the BENZ

My college-age daughter has a 1989 300TE that we bought for her a couple of years ago. The car has 180K miles on it and, except for the problem detailed below, it is in primo condition.

The problem? An intermittent stalling condition that has me very worried about her safety while driving on the freeways (and makes me want to dump the car). I am hoping to get some answers here because my mechanic seems unable to diagnose and fix the problem. Here is a chronology of events:

1. 10.30.04. I take the car to the mechanic because of a rough idle condition, because the engine idles too high (and for regular service). The mechanic replaces the motor mounts and replaces a “close position switch.” Cost of repairs $384.00. The engine’s rough idles has improved and the high idle condition is gone. Now the car begins to intermittently stall. (More details regarding the stalling below).

2. 01.04.05. I take the car back to the mechanic. He replaces the fuel pump relay and adjusts the throttle linkage. Cost of repairs $190.00. My daughter picks up the car and before she gets home, the car stalls again. Back to the mechanic.

3. 01.07.05. The car is back at the shop. Mechanic the oxygen sensor, cleans the fuel injectors and replaces the electro-hydraulic actuator (EHA). He writes on the service notes that the “condition (stall) cannot be replicated during operating conditions. Cost of repairs this time: $523.00 (running tab since 10.30.04 = over $1,000.00 !!! and the car still stalls).

The car stalls when it is cold or when it is warm (doesn’t matter).

The car starts fine.

The idle is smooth.

The car stalls when it is either slowing down to a stop or when it comes to a stop. My daughter says she can feel the “car dying.” She also says it happens more often when coming downhill.

The car stalls during initial trip (after warm-up) or after it has been stopped for a while and then re-started (it doesn’t seem to matter).

After the car stalls, my daughter puts it in PARK and the car fires back up again with no problem.

Sometimes she can go for days without stalling. Other times it will stall once or twice during a single trip.

I am at my wit’s end (and apparently so is my mechanic).

I need help because I am concerned about my daughter’s safety and I can’t keep throwing parts and money at this car (I am ready to buy her a Honda!).

1. What are some of the trued and tried cures that have actually worked over the long haul? (I did a search here and there were a lot of fixes, but I couldn’t figure out which were the permanent fixes because there is usually no longer term feedback from happy owners).

2. Is there any significance to the fact that the car starts back up again after it stalls?

3. Is there any significance that the stall sometimes happens while stopping/coasting going downhill?

4. Should I be concerned about a mechanic who can’t diagnose and fix a problem like this? Should I ask for partial reimbursement of the money spent on fixes that don’t work? This mechanic has worked on my 1991 420SEL and has done a good job with it and I generally trust him. He is willing to keep trying to look for a fix, but I am worried because it is my daughter's car and I am very concerned for her safety.

This concerned Dad will appreciate any and all suggestions. Thanks in advanced.

PS. By the way, I wish to thank all of the users here, who have written to me asking about my medical condition. Back in 2003 I was diagnosed with a non-cancerous brain tumor (see my thread “How Sex Saved My Life.”) I had gamma knife “surgery” on November 2003. Last May I had an MRI and everything looks fine and I have not had negative side effects from the gamma knife (I am still as cranky as ever). Thank God for modem medical technology and thanks God for friends who keep tabs on me. Now if I could only get the stall in my daughter’s car fixed I will be a very happy and content camper.

THANKS!!!