Yet another intermittent stallling problem 190E 2.6
 

Wife is complaining about intermittent instant stalling on the 92 190E 2.6, usually when slowing down and making a left turn. Has only done it once for me, but I don't drive it too much. The car had been slow cranking, so I replaced the battery (it was due). Cranks fine now (three weeks later) and battery voltage w/o engine running reads 12.6V, w. engine running charging voltage w. full load applied (lights, A/C, high blower, etc.) is around 13.6V. So it appears the battery and charging is okay. Replaced the OVP with a known good one (not new) from my other 190E, no help. Cleaned all ground and hot terminals I could find w. contact cleaner, no help. Pretty sure this is electrical since the stall is instant. Stalling is worse in warmer weather. Always starts back up instantly. I'm thinking possibly cleaning the Idle Control valve and checking the operating voltage next, then checking for a vacuum leak (hope not). Am I on the right track or missing something obvious? Thanks for your help as always.

There's a good write-up in the "DIY Article" section that discusses locating vacuum leaks. Cars this age are likely to have old, hardened hoses that can easily cause this problem

The Idle Control Valve, also referred to here as IACV would also be worth exploring. The SEARCH facility has a lot of history on this device.

Probably not your problem but ...
 

your alternator brushes (part odf the voltage regulator) could be due. They last about 120,000 miles.

Tom

Btw ...
 

what part of 'Bama are you in? I'm in Hoover now but moving away soon.
Tom

Thanks for the replies
 

I'm from Arab, just south of Huntsville. Have had this 92 since new, and it only has 70K miles. This stalling problem just started about two weeks ago and seems to be getting worse. Has been running great all these years. I'll try the IDS cleaning and check for the ~4V while running, then dig into the vacuum system. Just wanted to make sure I was not missing a common electrical failure that could cause the stalling. I know the causes can be endless.

Typo, meant clean the IACV. Going to have the new battery tested also to be sure. It's the big 49-series Duralast battery from AutoZone. Doubt if it's an alternator regulator or brushes problem - not enought mileage (70K), but will check those also thie weekend.

Tom brought up an interesting point about alternator brushes.

When mine were worn to a nub, some of the dash lights came on and the car stalled. I want to say the SRS & ABS came on, but I don't really remember.

When this happened on one occasion, the car was idling poorly. Seeing the dash lights on, I decided to read the open circuit voltage with a VOM and saw something like 9v - 10v. Anyway, digging thru this sites archives, I found some hits on the alt. brushes or volt. reg. as some call it and decided to have a look.

I put the front of the car on ramps and pulled the encapsulation panel from underneath. On the backside of the alternator are 2 phillips screws holding the volt. reg. in place. Remove the screws and out comes the VR. Brushes on a new one are 1/2" long. It's been said here that the commutator ring wear inside the alt. can be so much. I cannot say what that limit is. After the 1st set of brushes I replaced wore down, I just decided to pop for a reman Bosch alt. and installed it.

If your brushes are worn, you may very well be able to get away with just replacing them. There are basically 2 kinds listed here at this sites parts facility. One is OEM Bosch; the other listed as "German". A lot of folks here have indicated that the lesser expensive German brushes did the trick.

Here's a link to what the volt. reg. looks like:

http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=1EQ0PTV2S1RV0MQ82Y&year=1992&make=MB&model=190-E-005&category=F&part=Voltage+Regulator

Thanks for the excellent post Mike - have not worked on Benz alternators before. Unique brush holders. Will check this out next, although I have no dash lights illuminated.

Removed and cleaned the Idle Control valve w. carb cleaner - problem solved. Wanted to wait awhile to be sure, but it hasn't stalled since 'bout two months now. Idle remains constant at all times. Thanks again for the input.

Same Issue
 

Hornbrod, presently looking at an 89 190E 2.6 with high idle. Just pulled the service record from local shop and apparently had stalling problem. Shop was nice enought to fax me records but did not get a chance to talk to them yet whether they resolved t or not. I've test driven vehicle a few times already an only thing I noticed is high idle - no stalling. I did wonder if theres a choke plate thats stuck hence the stalling but per your post sounds like its the ICAV? Where is this device??

The Idle Control Valve is under the air filter, drivers side, forward. Many posts in this forum regarding location and descriptions. Easy to pull out, test with a 12V input, and clean. They get gummed up with age, and cleaning with a carbon buster like carb cleaner helps. The in/out vacuum hoses can get brittle over time, and they should be replaced if cleaning doesn't help. Luckily all I had to do was clean the valve out. Still working fine - no stalling.