Please Help!
I have an '82 380SEL and all of sudden she started spitting and sputtering(once you get it up to 2-3k+rpm it will maintain)and idles fine. After it warms up for a few minutes you can push on the throttle and it wont spit and sputter(maybe hesitate a little), but has no power and a slow slow increase in speed.
The first thing I did was change the fuel filter because those symptons happen to me a year or so ago and I changed the fuel filter and that took care of it...so that was the first thing I did.
After Talking to Phil and Roy they thought it might be the injector seals so I have done the spray test w/ cleaner and water and no change on idle speed or anything. I also sprayed those rubber hoses that run along both sides of the manifold...once again no change in egine speed or temperment.
The relay seems to be working fine...when you crank you hear the hissing sound of the fuel pump as well as when its running and when the engines dies or key off the pump is off.
I cleaned the ICV about a year ago...just due to all the dirty ones I read about on the forum...the car ran fine before and after the cleaning.
Do I clean the ICV again?
Roy mentioned maybe the coil...
What about the weak fuel pump?
We recently relocated from TX to VA. I was working like crazy just so DAS would ship the car for me, but they had no problem as long as it runs...they just had to let her warm up a bit....LOL
I will be receiving her tomorrow or Tuesday and would really like to have her back to normal. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time,
Bobby

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Bobby
'82 380SEL
'98 E320W<--Rusty

Bobby, the coil is a possibility. When did you last replace the spark plugs, distributor caps, rotors and ignition wires? Check and make sure they are in good condition.

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Fred Hoelzle

Ferdman,

The wires plugs rotor and cap are less than year old.

Just received her from the DAS auto shippers hoping the Car Fairy fixed it, but no such luck.

I am staying at a hotel until we find a more permanent roof over our head. Relocating is hard work. Its going to be hard working on her at this Residence Inn, but I have no choice. She has no power after the spitting and sputtering stage of warm up.

I read a post today on an '83 380sel with issue on their warm up unit (or something similar). I has a bunce of screens that had to be cleaned. I wonder if my '82 has something similar.

Just looking for some more guidance.

Thanks for helping...
Bobby

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Bobby
'82 380SEL
'98 E320W<--Rusty

Try tweaking the fuel mixture 1/4 turn clockwise. Takes 5 seconds and costs nothing. Might make all the difference. If not turn it back.

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Question Authority before it Questions you.

450slcguy,

Where exactly is the fuel mixture screw?

Is it the screw thats on top of fuel pressure regulator thats on the left side of the fuel distributor? Or some other screw on the fuel dirstributor?

Thanks
Bobby

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Bobby
'82 380SEL
'98 E320W<--Rusty

The mixture adjustment screw is located on the top of the air cleaner behind the wingnut. Look for a black grommet with hole in the middle. You'll need a 3mm allen wrench. Stick the allen wrench in the hole and push down until the wrench catches the head of the spring loaded screw and turn the wrench slowly (depressed while turning) not more than 1/8 turn at once and then remove wrench. Start the car and rev. it up slightly for 15 seconds. Take it for a drive and see how it runs. If it feels a little better you might want to try another 1/8 turn CW. Your idle might need to be adjusted down as this will increase your idle a bit.

If it runs better, your done. If not, turn the adj. counter clockwise back to where you started, be as precise as you can

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Question Authority before it Questions you.

These symptoms are sometimes caused by a faulty warm up compensator .

Ben

Thanks guys,

I will try adjusting mixture. If not, I'll put it back and proceed by taking off the WUR and cleaning it. I don't have the gauges to set the pressure if I change the Oring--read this in a previous post somewhere.

I'll try and respond by tomorrow.

Thanks,
Bobby

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Bobby
'82 380SEL
'98 E320W<--Rusty

450slcguy,

I adjusted the mixture screw about 1/2 turn so far and it runs a lot better. Its actually drivable in traffic now...LOL

Still missing a little powerthough. Probably try another 1/8 or so turn...I guess its not like an old chevy--turn it until it almost dies and then back off a 1/2 turn(perfect every time)--that was the farm setting we use to use...LOL

My question is how does this happen all of a sudden. It was driving fine one day then a few days later it started just like that. Also, I guess that adjustment screw just leans or adds more air so why didn't the exhaust smell more like it was flooding?

Like you said, I will have to idle it down a bit now...where exactly is the idle screw?

Thanks for all your help,
Bobby

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Bobby
'82 380SEL
'98 E320W<--Rusty

You moved from TX to VA? Perhaps a significant altitude/climate change? Perhaps age/wear/varnish? Not sure why, but it does happens.

Look for a white plastic spring loaded screw in front of the air cleaner. Turn CW to idle down with engine running.

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Question Authority before it Questions you.

450slcguy,

I took it for a good drive today. Starts and runs good it seems until you drive in traffic or the highway. Off the line (red to green light) she lags still. Not enough for people to start honking at you but almost. On the highway she will go as fast as you want to go...it just takes a while. When you hit the kick-down to pass, she will shift down and accelerate--just its a slow acceleration-no power .

There seems to be a slight smell of gasoline at exhaust, no smoke. Didn't really notice that before.

So she is running rich?
Not enough air?

Do I take off the the WUR or is there something else?


Thanks for any help,
Bobby

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Bobby
'82 380SEL
'98 E320W<--Rusty

Tweak it down a bit, might be running to rich.
Do a search on cleaning WUR

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Question Authority before it Questions you.

450slcguy,

Is there any special trick in taking the wur off. I found a couple of post w/ pics of wur, but nothing really on how to take it off. So just unscrew what you see and its off? After its off any other things I should be worried about when I take it apart?

Thanks for your guidance,

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Bobby
'82 380SEL
'98 E320W<--Rusty