1992 500E - misses badly after warm-up/DM codes

[500Espeed]

PLEASE HELP

I have a 1992 500E that was running perfectly and then one day it started to miss at idle after the engine warmed-up. When cold it does not miss. It only happened once or twice in a day then became progressively worse over the next few weeks. As the engine gets warmer, it misses more consistently and will miss all the way to 2000 rpm, over 2000 it goes away, but the car is not driveable with this condition.

I have replaced the caps, rotors, plug wires, plugs, air filters, fuel filter etc.

I intitally pulled the following codes from the Diagnostic Module LED.

Code 3 - Lamda control out of range - Bank 1- Air, fuel metering or ignition problem.

Code 6 - Idle speed faulty.

I reset the codes and I installed a new O2 sensor. The problems did not go away and now I get Codes 3 and 6, and
Code 18 - Adjustable camshaft timeing solenoid circuit open or circuit short - Bank 1.

Also, when checking the codes, (via the DM module), when I get Code 6 the Electronic Throttle Actuator will start buzzing and seeking, it sounds as though it is trying to re-learn and you can hear it buzz, click, change tone the go back to the original buzzing. It goes through one cycle, and then continues to buzz with the ignition on and does not stop from this steady state buzz.

I have not checked the wiring harness yet, the car has 130K miles, although the ground wires coming out of the harness look fine. I did smell recently a smell like hot wiring though.

As far as the Lamda, O2 sensor goes, the chart I have for Code 3 says to check the LH-SFI module, and I do not have an adaptor to use my homemade code reader with the 38 pin connector.

Any logical diagnostic steps and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Obviously I will check the wiring harness.

I was thinking O2 sensor from the beginning as the idle miss starts as the engine warms up and gets worse as it is at full operation temp. Although the new sensor did not eliminate the problem and the it seems to center around the camshaft timing solenoid circuit and Bank 1. Is Bank 1 the left cylinder bank?

Thank any and all of you for suggestions and help.

500Espeed

[deanyel]

The code 6 is pointing towards a bad ETA (which could be just bad wiring for that harness). The bad news is ETAs are of course very expensive. The good news is it may just be a bad potentiometer on the ETA and the potentiometer for your ETA is replaceable for about $50. The bad news is the replacement potentiometers seem to be getting scarce - possibly a conspiracy to sell more ETAs. Are you getting any ASR lights?

[500Espeed]

Hi deanyl,

Thanks for your input. As far as the ASR is concerned. Yes, before these problems, (misfire when warmed-up at idle), started, the ASR when into a limp-home mode twice within 2 months time when I was under full throttle acceleration, going from 2nd to 3rd manually at redline onto the freeway. Both times I pulled over turned the car off, restarted and the car ran fine.

As far as the misfire when the car is warmed-up I would swear it is ignition related, it is not a stumble like there is improper fuel delivery, it is a mis-fire, and when the car is fully warmed, it does not go away on acceleration until you hit about 2000 rpm, actually the longer you drive it when it is missing badly under. 2000 rpm, it acts as though it is loaded up.

I didn't know the pot could be replaced on the ETA, where could you find one.
I found a place on the East Coast that rebuilds them with a 2-3 day turn around, and gives a lifetime guarantee all for only $400, seems like a great deal and they have been in business for quite some time.

Thanks,

Bill

[deanyel]

More info on potentiometers:

http://www.europartsdirect.com , then model / fuel injection / fuel injection

http://www.sg-motorsports.com/AFS%20Pot%20write-up.htm

Also try a search - there are several good threads.

[500Espeed]

Oh, you are talking about the airflow meter potentiometer. I thought you were speaking of the pot inside the ETA, which is not replaceable. Do you have any info. only the adjustable camshaft timing solenoid circuit being open, of course I realize any or all of these problems could be related to something small that is seemingly unrelated. I hope to get to the bottom of this soon, as I miss driving the car.

I will post pictures later for all you 500E fans.

Thanks,

Bill

[deanyel]

Originally Posted by 500Espeed

Oh, you are talking about the airflow meter potentiometer. I thought you were speaking of the pot inside the ETA, which is not replaceable.

Same thing.