I'm chuggin' again!!
 

'93 190e 2.6, 81k

Hello friends:

My infamous chugging problem has re-developed again, and I'm not sure what the culprit is this time!!

This happens when I have driven for awhile, turn off the engine, come back and re-start. Cold starts are always fine - engine picks up and has lots of power. When it's warm however, it kind of shakes and sometime comes close to dying out, but never does. Acceleration is sluggish for the first 5 minutes or so, then is fine. Valve stem seals were replaced last year and that seemed to help a lot, but now it's back again.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks friends!

Take care-
Michael.

ttt

I thought from the title of the thread that you had "fallen off the wagon" and you're drinking again.:D

Does the check engine light come on? If not when you turn on the key before starting the engine does the check engine light come on? This checks the light bulb.

Also, if this is a California car, the error codes and the method of retrieving them is different from a Federal car.

Good luck,

have you checked your throttle switch? It's found at the engine end of the throttle linkage. I've posted these steps many times to test the switch is working, but only to people with the 4-cylinder engine.

Your 6-cylinder is very similar (same bore/stroke but 2 extra cylinders). Give it a try

Drive at 30mph in '3', with foot off the throttle. Change autobox down to '2'. If it jolts down into 2nd instantly, your switch is OK in the no-throttle positition.

Now do the same thing, with just a very small amount of throttle applied (enough to unclick the switch). If the gearbox slips and generally dosent instantly jolt down, the switch is working fine.

Quite why the throttle switch connects to the gearbox as well as the ECU I haven't found out yet, but when off the throttle and coasting its designed to cut off fuel supply to the engine (better economy). If it's not working your car may chug. When cold, the fact that it's not working may not matter so much as the engine richens itself when cold, supplying extra fuel.


Let us know what you get..!

Russ

Hi guys:

Thanks much for your posts! I tried the idea with the throttle linkage, and I got results as I should, so I guess that's OK. No check engine lights or anything. It runs great after chugging for 2-4 minutes. But it only does it when it's warm - when it's cold, it fires right up - idle is good and I have no problems.

Unfortunately, I've got bigger fish to fry with my transmission & exhaust right now, so I guess it will have to chug for awhile!

Thanks for all the help.

Take care-
Michael.