86 190E 2.3-16 overheating and idle control problem
 

my 190E has had a weird overheating problem. at a stop the temp quickly rises to the mark above the 80 degree C mark. i don't know what the temp at that mark is but i know its too high. it also has a weird idle problem, the idle sometimes may stay low and 1000RPM, but sometimes it goes up to between 1500 to 2000 RPM's and about 40% of the time it holds steady at 2000RPM.

the funny thing is that the high idle doesn't make the over heating problem any better but only makes it worse.

so i need to make these problems dissapear because the constant heating and cooling of the head could crack it. and these heads are not cheap.

any help appreciated

I have this same problem on my regular 2.3 and I've been dying to figure it out! Mine will go as high as 3000 sometimes, and it will go well over 100*C when stopped and the idle is high. No idea what it could be, and I have a new OVP relay in so I'm assuming it's not that.

I'd be interested to know what the solution is as well.

i had both problems on my 2.6

the overheating issue was a simple coolant reservoir cap ( aka rad cap )

we tested it with a pressure gauge and it would not hold 15PSI like it should. Got a new one for 20 PSI, solved

the high idle problem was easier than i thought. After being stumped for many months, i took out that microswitch with that little wheel near the throttle linkage and upon examining it, it was very oily. So i disconnected the switch going into it and cleanned the leads and made sure the thing is dry. I guess the oil was preventing the thing to work properly. When you put it back, make sure the little wheel rests against the little "clicker " so that it clicks in and stays like that when your car is in P or N. When you are in D or R and press the gas, the little wheel should get off the clicker as the clicker is a signal to keep the RPMS low.