See the recent "Idle Control Valve" post.
 

Now there are three of us with the same problem.

The '87's don't store codes, but you can connect a dwell meter or DMM with a duty cycle to pin 3 of the diagnostic socket and see what dwell or duty cycle reading you get. I can then look it up for you in the manual.

Trouble code reader for 103 engine
 

Greetings Forum Members,

I have a 1987 190e 2.6 with the typical leaky head gasket and non working ac unit.
For my purposes I can live with these issues.
Recently the engine has begun to run rough, surge at idle and stall with difficult restart(pedal to floor while cranking engine to restart).
Do any of these symptoms sound familiar?
Any suggestions for an affordable trouble code devise I could purchase to diagnose my problem(s)?

Thanks,

Knarf

Chuck,

Thanks for the reply.
I assume that I check the reading with the engine running since no codes are stored.
I'll take a reading this weekend and post the results.
I just replace the idle control valve 2 years ago.




Knarf

You may have a bad ignition coil. I had a similiar problem few weeks ago and replacing the ignition coil got rid of it. (I bought a used one for about $35).

ZORIN
 

pLEASE Sir. tell me how to test the ignition coil in my 190 E, 2.6L, 1988.
What are the simtoms when it fails?

Thanks.


MARIO FARIAS
laprefar@cantv.net

OVP test
 

Chuck,
Tested OVP at pin #3- it read 6.2mA. What's the verdict (the fuse is good)? Thanks.
Rich

Mario:
 

The symptoms I exprienced due to a bad ignition coil was: hard start and stalling at low RPM.

You need to test the DWELL or duty cycle at Pin 3.

But voltage works as a proxy. Check your battery voltage at idle and then convert your reading to a percent of that. Is it fluctating or constant? It should fluctuate slightly around 45-50% of your battery voltage.