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Car Forum / Mercedes-Benz Cars / March 2005

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90 560 SEL, several questions

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Aaron - 06 Mar 2005 07:49 GMT
Just purchased my first Mercedes, decided to go with the top of my wishlist
and went with the 1990 560 SEL.  A couple of items need repair, so I thought
I would pose questions to the group and see if anyone has experience with
these.  Just for background, this car has 190,000 miles on it.

1.  Sunroof..  Power sunroof does not open.  Fuse appears good, same fuse as
front seat heat, heat works.

2.  Engine misfire..  Car seems to be missing on one or two cyl, still
drives well, most noticable at stoplights.

3.  High idle..  Wants to idle at about 2000 RPM.  Can't be normal, this
means that I can take my foot off the gas and still maintain 40 mph.  Also
results in some very hard shifts into drive or reverse.

I have not purchaced a service book for this car yet, will be looking for
that shortly, but any suggestions in the meantime would be appriciated.
Thank you in advance.

Aaron

High school -1999.... Firm believer that Mercedes were for yuppie scum
1999.... Drove one for the first time, a 1985 560 SEL, became a believer
2005.... An owner at last, 1990 560 SEL, I think it has every option except
the power rear sunshade
Martin Joseph - 06 Mar 2005 09:56 GMT
> Just purchased my first Mercedes, decided to go with the top of my wishlist
> and went with the 1990 560 SEL.  A couple of items need repair, so I thought
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> 1.  Sunroof..  Power sunroof does not open.  Fuse appears good, same fuse as
> front seat heat, heat works.
These can be very hard to fix,  especially if total disassembly is
required... The motor is in the trunk on the drivers side I think.  You
should here it trying to turn when you actuate it?

> 2.  Engine misfire..  Car seems to be missing on one or two cyl, still
> drives well, most noticable at stoplights.
Could be anything from bad gas to poor compression.

> 3.  High idle..  Wants to idle at about 2000 RPM.  Can't be normal, this
> means that I can take my foot off the gas and still maintain 40 mph.  Also
> results in some very hard shifts into drive or reverse.
Uh OH.  This sounds like someone jacked up the idle to cover the missing...

Trouble I bet.  I would carefully inspect all underhood areas,  looking
for leaking vacuum hoses or cracks in the air intake system.  Also
inspect the air cleaner element for hints.

Pull all the plugs and see what they look like.  Oily? Fouled?  trouble...

> I have not purchaced a service book for this car yet, will be looking for
> that shortly, but any suggestions in the meantime would be appriciated.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> 2005.... An owner at last, 1990 560 SEL, I think it has every option except
> the power rear sunshade
2005 Pay Jerkin Shrimp
marlin - 06 Mar 2005 13:10 GMT
> Uh OH.  This sounds like someone jacked up the idle to cover the
> missing...

I doubt they would. jacking up the idle on these cars is such a pain you
might as well just fix the problem. My guess is idle control unit. Expensive
if you buy new, not too bad if you get it from a salvage yard like
pgauto.com
Richard
Aaron - 12 Mar 2005 01:01 GMT
Actually it turns out he was correct.  After an adventure with a misfit, I
found a competent mechanic who removed the air cleaner and found that the
plug covering the idle adjustment screw had been broken off and the idle
turned up.  Upon turning it back to normal, the car refused to start, back
up and it started, back down and it vented black exhaust.  The vehicle is at
the mechanic to be fully inspected... could be plugs or wires or distributer
or fuel injectors.... or.....?  Wish me luck, I don't want the car I have
coveted for years to become my nightmare.

Aaron
sad, dejected..... Mercedesless
> > Uh OH.  This sounds like someone jacked up the idle to cover the
> > missing...
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> pgauto.com
> Richard
Richard Sexton - 06 Mar 2005 18:41 GMT
>Just purchased my first Mercedes, decided to go with the top of my wishlist
>and went with the 1990 560 SEL.  A couple of items need repair, so I thought
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>1.  Sunroof..  Power sunroof does not open.  Fuse appears good, same fuse as
>front seat heat, heat works.

Check for voltage at the motor (in the trunk, on the right up a bit)

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Tiger - 11 Mar 2005 17:39 GMT
I am a bit late...

> 1.  Sunroof..  Power sunroof does not open.  Fuse appears good, same fuse as
> front seat heat, heat works.

Check voltage at the motor... while someone is pressing the button to open.
If power is there... then motor is bad... if no power, then replace the fuse
and check again. Fuse may look good but when you remove it, falls apart or
corroded.

> 2.  Engine misfire..  Car seems to be missing on one or two cyl, still
> drives well, most noticable at stoplights.

Sounds like spark plug wires are bad... common. check resistance (ohm)
should al be below 1400. Otherwise, you probably need to change the cap and
rotor.

> 3.  High idle..  Wants to idle at about 2000 RPM.  Can't be normal, this
> means that I can take my foot off the gas and still maintain 40 mph.  Also
> results in some very hard shifts into drive or reverse.

Check for vacuum leak... In front of engine, there is a round device with a
wire plug in front and two big vac hose in rear at 90 degree... if you
remove the electrical plug and the engine revs higher... most likely to be a
vac leak somewhere... trace all vacuum hoses.

> I have not purchaced a service book for this car yet, will be looking for
> that shortly, but any suggestions in the meantime would be appriciated.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> 2005.... An owner at last, 1990 560 SEL, I think it has every option except
> the power rear sunshade
Aaron - 15 Mar 2005 03:17 GMT
OK, here's where we are now.

 All 8 spark plugs are black and sooty, acording to the mechanic this
indicates a fuel delivery problem.  He says the wires and distributer appear
to be in good condition, and that the compression is excellent.  Also, no
vacuum leaks.  Possible causes according to him are as follows:
Fuel pressure regulator
Fuel Distributor
Computer
Electrohydrolic actuator (what?!?)

Next stop for the car is an authorized Mercedes service center as the
mechanic has the decency to tell me he did not have the equipment to isolate
the exact problem.  So far, some good news and some bad news, two mechanics
and $160.00 US

Aaron

> Just purchased my first Mercedes, decided to go with the top of my wishlist
> and went with the 1990 560 SEL.  A couple of items need repair, so I thought
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> 2005.... An owner at last, 1990 560 SEL, I think it has every option except
> the power rear sunshade
Martin Joseph - 15 Mar 2005 09:05 GMT
> OK, here's where we are now.
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> the exact problem.  So far, some good news and some bad news, two mechanics
> and $160.00 US

Dude!  You are doing great!  Good compression and a fuel issue is a
happy story compared to what it might have been (ie major mechanical
issues).

Brace yourself for the bill from the dealer and pray for it to be the
pressure regulator...

Sounds like you also have found a good honest mechanic there.  Stick
with him, they are rare.
marlinspike - 20 Mar 2005 01:35 GMT
Couldn't it simple be set rich? Thats what I would suspect if all 8 were
gummed with gas.
Richard
> OK, here's where we are now.
>
[quoted text clipped - 47 lines]
> except
>> the power rear sunshade
Aaron - 21 Mar 2005 01:28 GMT
could be, I've not had the car long enough to know it's ins and outs.  How
does one set that?  The car also leaves quite the cloud of black when
accelerating

Aaron
> Couldn't it simple be set rich? Thats what I would suspect if all 8 were
> gummed with gas.
[quoted text clipped - 50 lines]
> > except
> >> the power rear sunshade
marlinspike - 21 Mar 2005 02:45 GMT
To do it proper you need a multimeter that measures duty cycles...I'll do
better than describe it I'll give you a link with good info. It would only
take a mechanic a couple of minutes to set it...though if you do have a
mechanic do it go to an independant shop cause the dealer will charge you 1
hour labor.

http://www.landiss.com/mixture.htm

Richard
> could be, I've not had the car long enough to know it's ins and outs.  How
> does one set that?  The car also leaves quite the cloud of black when
[quoted text clipped - 62 lines]
>> > except
>> >> the power rear sunshade
Martin Joseph - 21 Mar 2005 07:40 GMT
> To do it proper you need a multimeter that measures duty cycles...I'll
> do better than describe it I'll give you a link with good info. It
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> http://www.landiss.com/mixture.htm

Wow,  that's pretty complex.  I would check the fuel pressure regulator
first, since that seems a lot simpler?

Marty

PS Presumably this setting wouldn't just get way too rich on it's own.  
I wouldn't touch it until verifying everything else,  or you will screw
it up and have even more problems.
marlinspike - 21 Mar 2005 16:47 GMT
> Wow,  that's pretty complex.  I would check the fuel pressure regulator
> first, since that seems a lot simpler?

Maybe I should have just presented it in simpler terms: get a 3mm long allen
key and a multimeter with duty cycles. Stick the multimeter prongs in pins 2
and 3 of the diagnostic port. Stick the allen key in that hole with the
rubber seal in the air filter housing, and turn it counter clockwise until
your multimeter reads 70% (note how many turns it took in case you want to
go back).
Richard
r parris - 22 Mar 2005 23:37 GMT
Sounds to me like "little old lady driving powerful car, only to church,
and to the market syndrome"......Change oil and filter and install
"proper" new plugs,  change air filter, add2 bottles  of Chevron fuel
injector cleaner, and go for a 200 mile ride on the interstate.....
flooring it, when ever prudent.            recheck
marlinspike - 23 Mar 2005 00:50 GMT
I'm gonna disagree with you on the highway. Chevron works best when it's
used for short trips around the city (but long enough to get the engien
hot). Also, change the oil after the chevron techron.
Richard
> Sounds to me like "little old lady driving powerful car, only to church,
> and to the market syndrome"......Change oil and filter and install
> "proper" new plugs,  change air filter, add2 bottles  of Chevron fuel
> injector cleaner, and go for a 200 mile ride on the interstate.....
> flooring it, when ever prudent.            recheck
Aaron - 29 Mar 2005 01:58 GMT
well, the car has 190,000 miles on it, so it must have been a long way to
church =)

> Sounds to me like "little old lady driving powerful car, only to church,
> and to the market syndrome"......Change oil and filter and install
> "proper" new plugs,  change air filter, add2 bottles  of Chevron fuel
> injector cleaner, and go for a 200 mile ride on the interstate.....
> flooring it, when ever prudent.            recheck
 
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