Hey all:
My 16v has a funky idle. It's fine when cold (I replaced a few sensors on the thermostat), and when warm it bounces up and down all the time. I replaced the oxygen sensor today and now it seems better, and when the idle is now perfectly level at a stop, the engine seems to shake in a subtle way as if it is sputtering. The idle is still much better than it was before the oxygen sensor replacement. My mechanic, who reset the timing of the engine because it was off, is convinced that the previous shop I took my 16v to messed up the timing totally (they replaced the timing chain and all the guide rails). Could they possibly have messed up the timing by replacing the timing chain and all the rails? How can I check this? Thanks in advance.

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1985 190E 2.3-16 Euro

Idle Control Valve -- that's what did the trick for me. This is after replacing: fuel injectors, a bunch of sensors, cap, rotor, etc. Oh well, at least those items I won't have to worry about for awhile. The valve is not cheap ($173.00), but considering the altenative (stalling at lights, crappy idle when hot) -- I'd gladly have paid twice that much to make the problem go away. Good luck.

Brian16V

Kiato,

How did you mechanic set your timing?? Do you mean he reset the cam timing??? The ignition timing on th 16v is controled by the computer. Moving the distributor won't change a thing. It is relatively easy to see if the cam timing is close by removing the cam cover and bring the first cylinder up to TDC. The marks cam sprockets should line up.

If the fist shop screwed up the cam timing and damaged a valve, that would cause a slight shake at idle. Run a compression and leak down test to see if it is a problem with the motor.

As Brian mentioned, the air idle control valve can gum up. I replaced mine, but it didn't make much of a difference. You could clean it with carb cleaner to see if that helps. If it has high mileage, I would look for a possible vacuum leak.

Tinker

Hey thanks for the advice guys. I will look at the idle control valve. About the cam timing, I will have my new mechanic check that out (my previous one was a joke). I believe my old mechanic good have messed up the cam timing when he was replacing the timing chain and all the timing chain guide rails.

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1985 190E 2.3-16 Euro