Larry,
I've been chasing a rough idle problem for sometime now. Mpg at around 16 for the past year. The car idles high at around 10,000 then comes down to around 7-8000. If you put it in park once hot the idle bounces as if searching for the right spot.

Replaced:
Upper wiring harness
Plugs
Wires
Caps & rotors
Re-wired the ETA

Haven't been able to get the O2 sensor out, hopefully will get to that this week.
Any ideas of what else to try?
The exhaust def has some holes and is a little loud, but now she's hardly running at all, idle drops down really low when stopped and stalls the car at times.
I was thinking the cats might be plugged up with debris.

Thanks,
Luke

Replacing the O2 sensor(s) is probably a good idea, as they are probably damaged by the high heat and whoknowswhat going past them. I suppose the CEL light is on? If so, have you made the home made code reader, and checked the codes? I have to wonder, if with all of the electrical shorts and things, if a module didn't take a hit.
Good Luck with the sensors!

__________________
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

Did you re-wire it yourself or have it done by one of the online parts places that offer the service?

I have used Magnaflow cats for years on a wide variety of MB cars....5 different 190E's ...three of which were 16V's....one a 3.2 conversion, and the other was a 2.6....They always served me well. I usually took out the pre-cats which tended to clog with age...then put in a Megaflow muffler, with Magna Flow cat, and Magna Flow resonator, all with 2.25" pipes. The combination worked well and avoided the tinniness.

Now with the exhaust flowing well a K&N drop in filter made an improvement. Without flowing the exhaust, adding a K&N filter is a waste of money and you will see no difference. What good is it to add extra intake air if the gasses cannot get out the back side of the motor? In general these improvements will make a big difference in oil consumption....by reducing gas pressure under the valve cover....thereby pushing less oil down the sleeves. Even though this was on a variety of 190E's the principles remain the same...and the exhausts were durable. I currently own a 400E with the same problem as noted above....one of the dual pipes was rotted out behind the cat. It cost me $47.50 to have one made and welded into place.

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Lean usually makes it run hot. The extra fuel when rich cools everything down.

Just check the spark plugs. Sounds like your car is critically lean at idle. If the cats are red hot then at least they are flowing. If they we're plugged the wouldn't flow and your engine would have no power

Vanatta20, the engine does not have its normal power, once warm I push the gas pedal and there is hardly anything there. Car stumbles and stalls.

MDE3, thanks for the heads up on Magnaflow, that's what I will use if I end up replacing the exhaust components.

Gatorblue92, I purchased the new wireharness from my local dealer and talked to them about a good-will price, it was still
Close to $700. Pretty easy to install for a DIYer, plug and play, just followed the old connections. One thing to be cautious of- when you move around the old vent tubing it's very brittle, I broke 2 of mine and ended up back at the dealer for more parts.

gatorblue92,
Sorry, I misread your question.
Yes, I re-wired my ETA. I Purchased the wire from the dealer and re-soldered it on. I do not re-call the price but it wasn't $700, that was the price for the upper wire harness.
Now, I do not get the humm from the ETA when the key is turned to the on position (not start position). Anyone know if this indicates something else is bad in on the ETA?

Luke

No buzz? Might wanna double check your solder connections and connectors, make sure they are seated well.

Just out of curiosity, any new codes?

__________________
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

Here are the codes:
PIN 4: 22
PIN 6: 13, 17
PIN 7: 2, 3, 4, 6
PIN 8: 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 17

I reset all the codes and now the car will not start.
The car cranks but will not start almost like no fuel is present... any ideas here?
Would like to get it started so I can run it down to my local indy.

Thanks,
L

Did you get it started?

__________________
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

Yes, the 1st fuse was blown in the module. I replaced that and she fired up. However while I was backing out of my garage my front left spring snapped, one cool up from the base, then the ball joint failed and poped out.
Managed to roll he car back into my garage on a dolly and now I've got some more issues to deal with!
Not sure if it's time to dump this car or persevere on with repairs...

Anyone know if there is a specific code for bad cats?

Luke