it actually was described as a 380 w/ a 280 engine, special ordered that way. the guy i bought it from was less knowledgeable than i and was not sure, just said it was a special order. he said that the original owner wanted a 380, but with the 6 rather than the 8. but isn't that what a 280 is?

anyway, it is running poorly and just looking for help in what to check without spending big bucks. i am becoming disillusioned, should have gotten a toyota... ha, don't really believe that one.

What did this "tune-up" entail? Plugs*? Cap? Rotor? Ign.Timing? Fuel filter? (the wires could be fine - test them at night, with a spraybottle of water...spray it on the wires w/ engine running...if you see sparks/arcs you need to replace)

*what kind of plugs? resistor/non-resistor? platinum?

Why dontcha pull each plug one at a time, and see what it looks like - take a pic and post if you have to.

Lotsa questions, I know, but how else to diagnose a car unseen and unheard?

__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

thanks for the reply, been real busy, will get back tomorrow, haven't tried the water trick, will do it...

There was a lot of vanity rebadging in the 80's and 90's. A 126 is a 126 and there is little difference between a 380 and or a 280 other than the drive trains. I would check the title and see what the car is registered as. Although the gray market brought a lot of unusual cars. I have seen 126's with the 2.8L engine and manual transmissions. My 300SD has original and quite unusual European lamps when the diesel 126's were US only vehicles. You may never know. Which in some ways is the fun part

As for your Toyota comment. Toyota's are great cars but the Japanese have a different philosophy than the Germans. The Germans build a car to last forever where the Japanese build a car to be trouble free and to die a lonely death at about 200K miles. The Japanese turn their backs on their cars after 10 years for parts where the Germans still make parts for most Post WWII Cars. So you have to ask yourself. Do you like shopping for a new car every 5 years or so?