'85 190E seems sluggish/underpowered - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Mel Weaver · #1 05-29-2003, 11:25 PM

I checked searches-no luck.
I have had her a few months, no records on maint. I should probably replace all basics: plugs, wires, filters, dist. cap/rotor all the easy stuff first! Just SOO BUSY!!!
Any quick ideas/jobs?
I keep promising myself I'll get to her eventually!
OR! Order of replacement of items? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance, -M

Jason Beal · #2 05-29-2003, 11:46 PM

I'd start with what you listed and then see what happens. Those are all pretty quick jobs. Maybe run some injector cleaner (I like techron and redline) through too. If you have no records, I'd go through the whole thing and change all the fluids/filters. When you have time that is.

haasman · #3 05-29-2003, 11:58 PM

Mel

I would skip the wires for now, unless you are sure they are bad.

How many miles? I am resurrecting an '87 190e with a good engine and trans but over 215k. I did the parts you mentioned as well as a double-dose of Techron in less than a full tank.

The other item I did was to bleed the injector lines AT the fuel distributor. Need to be very careful doing this, but remarkably a whole bunch of junk came out and the car ran much better.

Depending on the miles of your car's engine, it may also have a stretched chain that could contribute to its sluggish performance.

Keep us posted,

Haasman

tunk · #4 05-30-2003, 08:24 AM

I changed filters and fluids as well as wires plug cap when I picked up the car with 180K on it... and the car isn't faster off the line. you know, some might disrespect the car for its conservative start off the line, I would say the engine has plenty of torque at low speeds to get you going from second gear at a light; which was the way it was designed. But get it up to 55 in a bend and see if it doesn't make you smile a little more. What am I saying, you have an older car that won't be beating too many new cars off the line (doesn't matter how many fluids or filters you change IMHO), but it was built for 40 and up in the twisties and can beat many cars in there (read: all SUV's at the very least). Change the fluids, filters, take care of it, and know that others with similar years will all tell you that it starts slowly and builds up real speed past 40mph.

cdt

tvpierce · #5 05-30-2003, 08:52 AM

I'm in the process of adjusting my transmission Control Pressure Cable (with some help from Haasman -- thanks again Haasman!).

The reason I'm persuing this is that I've always felt the car was not shifting at the proper times. (upshifts too soon while accelerating, and downshifts too late and too slowly) As a result, the performance is sluggish. I've adjusted the cable some (tightened it) and got very favorable results. The problem is that I've come to the maximum reach of the cable, and the transmission is still not shifting to my satisfaction. (Maybe I need a new cable?) I hope to investigate this further this weekend. I'll report back with the results.

Jeff Pierce

tunk · #6 05-30-2003, 09:43 AM

tvpierce I am having trouble finding your posts detailing the work on the transmission Control Pressure Cable, did you start the thread? Could be interesting reading. Used to live right up by the hospital and then down in Biddeford... miss that area.

cdt

tvpierce · #7 05-30-2003, 11:51 AM

There isn't another thread -- just an unanswered post (by me). Haasman sent me personal a message saying he had some info I needed.

The information in the post is basically the same as what's in my previous post in this thread.

As far as adjusting the transmission, I'm learning as I go here. I began thinking about it when I was making an adjustment to my Volvo. So I looked it up in my Haynes manual, and it has a procedure. I'm hoping the MB info from Haasman is more detailed than the Haynes.

I'll keep you posted.

Yeah, I love this place. Can't imagine living anywhere else. I work right around the corner from the hospital.

Jeff Pierce

Mel Weaver · #8 05-30-2003, 11:24 PM

Thanks Guys!
I'm not expecting quick off the line speed, never did. It just seems a little "listless" now, occasional rough idle.
Highway accel. is great! I had to duck into slow lane tonite on I95 and slow a bit to let someone by, I stepped on gas (about 65mph) and rapidly brought it back up to 75-actually pretty quickly!
Great car-Just a few bugs in the system.
-M

tvpierce · #9 06-09-2003, 09:49 AM

Just a quick update on adjusting the control pressure cable:

I received Haasman's email with the instructions and it worked great! (Thanks again, Haasman!)

On acceleration, the car holds its gear a little longer -- which is good. But the biggest improvement is on downshifting (like when passing another car). I used to have to hit the kickdown switch in order for it to downshift. Now, simply pressing the pedal to 2/3 throttle activates a downshift. It's marvelous to drive.

Jeff Pierce

Mel Weaver · #10 06-09-2003, 10:26 PM

Well...thanks. I guess I should try pedal 2/3 down???? Cable adjustment?
Don't mean to seem dense!
(Haasman!- HELP!!!!!!!!)
-Mel
How come you get private advice!?

neileg · #11 06-10-2003, 05:11 AM

This isn't a second gear start issue, is it?

My '87 190E, like many MB cars of the period, would start in second gear unless you stamped on the pedal. An alternative was to drop the gear lever right back to 2 and then return to D, while stationary. The car then starts in first gear.

haasman · #12 06-10-2003, 09:31 AM

Mel- Email me and I'll send you the adjustment diagram.

Haasman

tvpierce · #13 06-10-2003, 10:21 AM

Haasman,

As mentioned above, I adjusted the cable per the MB instructions, and the results were great. Howerve, since I'm the kind of idiot that can't leave well enough alone, I thought I'd fiddle with it a little more -- only this time, my fiddling actually helped! When I "loosened" the cable a full revolution beyond spec, the result was even better!!! The transmission is now even more responsive.
My questions is: Is there any adverse affects from adjusting the transmission beyond what's specified in the manual?

Jeff Pierce

haasman · #14 06-10-2003, 10:32 AM

In a word no. I have messed around with these cables more than I care to admit. It is my understanding that it is simply a matter of timing of the shifts.

In experimenting, I have gone too much both ways. I have found that with the older the car, ie. more wear and stretch on the cable, its pivots and linkages, the more you have to compensate.

The bummer is finding a great adjustment and then not leaving well enough alone and getting too far the other way.

Haasman

tvpierce · #15 06-10-2003, 11:53 AM

Thanks Haasman. Then I'll keep tweeking it until I get it perfect.

Boy, what a difference it makes in the "attitude" of the car. My wife used to hate driving my car, because it seemed like a dog compared to her Volvo 940 turbo. Now I'm affraid she'll take my car one day, and I'll never get it back.

Thanks again for your help.

Jeff Pierce