1989 300e Power Loss
 

So...taking my long stored W124 for its maiden voyage. Taking it slow and things seems to be going well. I go to accelerate and the engine bogs down and dies. It restarts fine and I go a little further and dies again. Get to a gas station and check things out. I got a little whif of transmission burning up smell, so I check trans fluid and its a little low. I add some trans fluid and decide to head back. Dies about every quarter mile or if I get above about 25 mph. It seems to be getting at least into 2nd gear, but not much more without dying. On one occasion, it started to die then began bucking, like it wanted to go. After a few violent chugs, it surged then died.

I've replaced plugs, wires, and distributor, both fuel pumps and filter, and drained tank to get rid of old gas. It idles smoothly and does not stall or dies when throttled up in park or neutral. This only occurs in gear. The burning smell has not returned.

Any thoughts before I throw in towel and take it to a shop?

Thanks
Dan

inspect all the soft fuel lines....even /especially the ones near the fuel pump. could be air sucking in through a crack that will allow enough fuel to run but when it tries to pull more through the air creates a 'block' and the car stalls. my plow truck did the same thing

The burning smell was probably old that has dripped on the exhaust or the smell of old fuel from the exhaust.

My 91 300SL, was stored 3 + years with old fuel. The fuel distributor plunger had gummed up causing all sorts of really bad run issues. Remove the lines to the fuel distributor then the 3 ( 4 ?) inner screws that hold it to the air housing. Use spray carb cleaner in the ports and on the plunger stem. You might need compressed air blown in the control presure port to make the plunger extend. Best case the plunger should extend by gravity. Do not seperate the two halves of the dist as there is a gasket between them.

Thanks gents. I'll check the lines and fuel distribution system this weekend.

A couple more pieces of data if it matters to help troubleshoot this.

At idle, the economy gauge indicated minimal fuel flow and it reacts as expected when the engine is accelerated in Park or Neutral.

When driving, I noticed that the needle was pegged out in the red, then it would stall and quit. After I stopped, put in in Park it would start right up and idle smoothly.

Aside from the fuel lines and distribution unit, would the EHA or ICV cause problems like this?

Dan

The fuel econ gauge is a vacuum gauge with MPG markings not a fuel flow meter. The more you push on the throttle, the lower the vacuum and the more it dips towards low end.

Vacuum leak.