1993 190e - Idling Issue
 

Idling Issue.

Car:1993 190e
Engine:2.3 (Supposedly - Is there a way to tell by vin?)

Ok, here is the problematic situation in a nutshell. This is my girlfriend's car, and last week it died on her. I was gone so she took it to a mechanic. When it was dead, the starter would turn and you could hear the cylinders hit but the engine would not start.

Mechanic's Diagnoses:It had been running for 15k+ miles with the wrong spark plugs, the plug wires were a little burnt up and looked like a rodent had chesed threw them, and the ignition coil was bad.

Mechanic's Efforts:New and correct spark plugs were put in, brand new plug wires were installed and a new ignition coil was added.

Now about 100 miles, and $560 U.S. later... the car is having an idling issue. When she comes to a light and stops it cuts out on her like it wants to die. When she picked the car up, the mechanic said the motor mounts were lose and would need to be replaced. I located the motormounts and one of them is completely lose not offering any support whatsoever. Could the vibrations from the motormounts cause the problems we are having? Or could it be something like a clogged fuel filter? Or maybe a timing issue? I wouldn't know how to resolve it if it was a timing issue, the distributor connects right to the cam. Any help or advice offered here would be great. Thanks in advance, I hope my post was imformative enough to help you help me. If any other information is needed please let me know and I will reply as promptly as I can.

What do you mean by ' loose motormount'? is an attachment bolt missing? How did you determine it is loose?

Mounts usually fail by leaking damping fluid until they are too compressed to function properly (but not 'loose') - or a bolt comes out and can be replaced.

If a U.S. model, the 4-cyl is a 2.3.

Check the plug make/model, because if Bosch Platinums, they are incorrect.

Idle issues can be researched here, and in this older model, have many possible causes.

Steve

I mean there is no attachment bolt at the top it's just flopping around there. I really think it has something to do with the motormounts, it feels like it shaking badly when we aren't moving.

its the mounts!
Stop driving it! You are putting stress on the tranny mount also.

By all means, replace that bolt immediately before performing further diagnosis. If on the passenger side, you are likely missing other mounting hardware too.

Steve