[W126 Coupe] Idle Issues

[Dan Gardner]

Hi Folks

    First off many thanks to Chet & Gerry for their invaluable information 
regarding this all too common problem.Its this sort of personal experience 
knowledge that you just cant get from a manual.I will defiantly have to bite 
the bullet and fit all new rubbers,its a good time for me to purchase from 
the US as our AUD has reached parity with the USD for the first time in 27 
years,(sorry for you guys having to suffer the GCF)
so I have been on a spending spree as I cant see it lasting.I have had my 
1979 450sl (200,000mls)for over 17 years and it has been as reliable as 
Sunrise its hard to believe that the two cars are from the same company as 
the SEC(50,000mls) has had more bugs than a "Hobo's" bed,but having said 
that I am determined to have it purring like a kitten.

                                                                             
                        Kind Regards Dan   1986 560SEC Euro (220kw)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <mbcoupes-request at mbcoupes.com>
To: <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 1:15 AM
Subject: MBCOUPES Digest, Vol 78, Issue 6



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> Today's Topics:

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>   1. (no subject) (JKilday616 at aol.com)

>   2. Re: Vacuum Regulator (gerryvz)

>   3. Re: Vacuum Regulator (Chet Hwilka)

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

> Message: 1

> Date: Mon, 6 Dec 2010 12:40:06 EST

> From: JKilday616 at aol.com

> Subject: [W126 Coupe] (no subject)

> To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com

> Message-ID: <1b0ec0.38aa8d8f.3a2e79f6 at aol.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>

> I need to replace the tool roll and all the printed  material that was in

> my car including the Owner's Manual and the Service  Booklet.

>

> It is a 1990 560 SEC with 27,000 original  miles.

>

> Thanks for your help.

>

> Jim Kilday

>

>

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> Message: 2

> Date: Mon, 06 Dec 2010 18:54:57 +0000 (GMT)

> From: gerryvz <gerryvz at me.com>

> Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Vacuum Regulator

> To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com

> Message-ID: <50c29188-d35e-4134-8ab3-c45a38fc129e at me.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"; Format="flowed"

>

> 90 percent of the time, a fast idle situation is caused by vacuum leaks in 

> the intake system.

>

> Indeed, the best way to diagnose vacuum leaks involving intake rubber 

> components is to get a smoke test. This will tell you in 5 minutes where 

> your issues lay.  If a smoke test doesn't indicate any vacuum leaks, then 

> you can move on to other causes, such as the OVP relay, idle speed 

> controller, slide valve, and so forth. But all of these are secondary to 

> intake rubber air hoses, fuel injector holders and seals, and so forth.

>

> This intake rubber and seals is not horribly expensive (a couple of 

> hundred dollars US MAXIMUM for everything) and it is well worth the effort 

> to replace. If you don't know that it's been replaced in the last 10-12 

> years, it's almost guaranteed that you are living on borrowed time and 

> that a leak will develop.

>

> Chet's splendid tutorial that he referenced in his reply provides an 

> excellent guide (particularly when combined with the factory service 

> manual) on removing the intake and replacing rubber.  I have done it now 

> three times, and it the job be done with only common tools and a moderate 

> amount of mechanical skill easily in a weekend, and even in a day if one 

> has enough time. Figure about 4-6 hours for a first-timer to remove the 

> intake, and about the same amount of time to re-install it.

>

> You need to also get a new set of intake manifold gaskets which will seal 

> the manifold to the heads. These gaskets around around $10 apiece.

>

> One piece of advice: DO NOT SCRIMP and get aftermarket / Chinese intake 

> rubber for your car.  I'm talking about cheap brands like "Uroparts" that 

> are commonly sold by sites like buymbparts.biz and AutohausAZ.com. The 

> factory rubber hoses aren't much more expensive (particularly when 

> purchased through parts.com) and is MUCH higher quality and better fitting 

> for your car.  You will NOT find the real MB factory rubber hoses & parts 

> anywhere cheaper than via parts.com.  To use their site most effectively, 

> you will need to have the MB part numbers in hand for the rubber bits --  

> do not use the "menu" system on parts.com.  If you need a tutorial, don't 

> hesitate to contact me. But you will need to have the MB part numbers in 

> hand (available free via the MB EPC site).

>

> When you replace your intake hoses and seals, it's also imperative that 

> you replace all of the plastic vacuum lines, as well as the rubber vacuum 

> line fittings/nipples that the lines press into. There are 3-4 different 

> styles/sizes of these rubber fittings and they are again very inexpensive 

> ($1-3 USD apiece, and probably you'd need 12-15 of them or so). You can 

> buy vacuum line by the meter, and I'd get a good 5 or 10 meters of it so 

> you have more than enough.  Don't forget to replace the vacuum line & 

> rubber fitting that attaches to the transmission, running from the back of 

> the intake manifold down to the transmission!! Also don't forget to 

> replace the three-way and four-way rubber vacuum distribution hoses that 

> run through the inner firewall near the master cylinder and fuse box. 

> These are often overlooked.

>

> You will be amazed at how nicely your car runs just after replacing all of 

> the soft items (vacuum lines and air hoses) underhood!

>

> I will always be eternally grateful to Chet Hwilka for his tutorial and 

> the invaluable assistance & courage it gave me to redo my top end.

>

> http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=167571&id=821723571&l=946f984ee3

>

> Cheers,

> Gerry

>

>

> - - - - - - - - - - - -

> Gerry Van Zandt

> +1 503 805-9316 (cell)

> +1 281 518-2960 (work)

> ?+1 832 764-0183 (home)

>

>

>

>

>

> On Dec 06, 2010, at 11:15 AM, mbcoupes-request at mbcoupes.com wrote:

>

>>

>>

>> As I have been plagued with the high idle problem,which even the German

>> factory trained "Guru"could not seem to locate.The idle speed controler 

>> has

>> been swapped(as well as the valve) so I have been thinking of fitting an

>> adjustable vacuum regulator in the line between the valve and 

>> manifold,this

>> may well be a crazy idea,but I have cut the idle down by 200 rpm by 

>> sleeving

>>

>> the valve with a plastic tube,but because it fluctuates from day to day I

>> would be nice If I could fine tune it,any thoughts on the matter would be

>> most welcome.

>>

>>

>>

>> Kind Regards Dan Gardner 1986 560SEC (Euro 220kw)

>>

>> The MB Coupes Website!

>> W126 SEC Mailing List

>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>> ------------------------------

>>

>> Message: 2

>> Date: Mon, 6 Dec 2010 12:17:14 +0800

>> From: "Dan Gardner" <cruftsk9 at tpg.com.au>

>> Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Hi Idle

>> To: <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

>> Message-ID: <CD27A7D2DD7A4156BEA7E288893D95AC at dane9tuc6ffoy5>

>> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";

>> reply-type=original

>>

>> Hi Folks

>>

>> Thanks for the information,I suppose with these vacuum leaks I need to

>> have the "smoke test"(if they can do it here)just to verify if the system 

>> is

>> sealed from leaks.From what I can gather the manifold rubber seals are

>> notorious for leaking with age.Dont know if these can be bought in a

>> silicone compound.

>> Digressing I have just bought a few steering & suspension parts for my 

>> 450sl

>> from "Autohaus" even with postage ($90)to Western Australia still I ended 

>> up

>> paying less than half price than buying locally.So if you live in the US

>> never complain about the cost of parts as you are spoilt for choice,price

>> and availability.

>>

>>

>>

>> Kind Regards Dan Gardner 1986 560SEC

>> (Euro 220kw)

>>

>>

>>

>>

>> ------------------------------

>>

>> The MB Coupes Website!

>> W126 SEC Coupes

>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>>

>> End of MBCOUPES Digest, Vol 78, Issue 5

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> Message: 3

> Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2010 07:11:34 -0500

> From: "Chet Hwilka" <chwilka at comcast.net>

> Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Vacuum Regulator

> To: "'Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists'" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

> Message-ID: <C83FE5820C71433086281ED86224D526 at Chethp>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>

> Thank you Gerry for the nice comments and I'm very glad it helped.  That's

> the reason we take the time to put together these help articles.  In some

> cases it takes more time to document a job than the job itself, but if it

> helps someone and inspires them to document their next job, it's good for

> everyone.  I know I'm very grateful to find any sliver of info about a job

> I'm preparing for.  In most cases the manuals just don't give us the

> practical information we need.   They give you the technical info, but the

> practical info comes from experience.

>

> And Gerry your exceptional article covers all the bases and is a MUST read

> for anyone contemplating doing their own head job.  Or even someone having

> it done by a shop, so they know what will be done to their car.

>

> The other reason to have a photo document of a job (especially this big) 

> is

> as reference when reassembling.   I know I can't remember where every nut 

> &

> bolt goes, even with all the bagging and tagging I do, but a picture is

> worth a 1000 words and has saved my butt a ton of times.

>

>

>

> Chet

>

>

>

>

>

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