SL/R107: 560SL Engine Trouble?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3
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560SL Engine Trouble?
Hi there,
A few years ago I bought a 1987 560SL. It has a lot of miles on it, but learned from an inspection that it was in good mechanical shape. It passed emmissions with flying colors. It had been driven very little since purchased 3 years work was done on the body and interior. Now that it is ready for the road it failed emissions miserably - 10 times the allowable limit for hydrocarbon emmission. If I punch the gas petal, it will either hesitate or just stall.
I replace the spark plugs and tested spark to each plug but with no positive results.
It seems strange to have such a radical change in performace/emmisisons after the car had been just sitting.
I took it to the shop where the temperature sensor was replace, but was told the throttle switch and ignition control unit may need replacing. I wonder of those items could be causing the performance issue to the degree I have described.
I wonder of the symtoms I describe are typical of a common problem with some component or condition.
I would like to start the fix with the simple actions first - perhaps recommendations on cleaners, lines and components to check, etc.
I very much appreciate any advice on steps to take in identifying and fixing the problem.
Thanks!
Gary
A few years ago I bought a 1987 560SL. It has a lot of miles on it, but learned from an inspection that it was in good mechanical shape. It passed emmissions with flying colors. It had been driven very little since purchased 3 years work was done on the body and interior. Now that it is ready for the road it failed emissions miserably - 10 times the allowable limit for hydrocarbon emmission. If I punch the gas petal, it will either hesitate or just stall.
I replace the spark plugs and tested spark to each plug but with no positive results.
It seems strange to have such a radical change in performace/emmisisons after the car had been just sitting.
I took it to the shop where the temperature sensor was replace, but was told the throttle switch and ignition control unit may need replacing. I wonder of those items could be causing the performance issue to the degree I have described.
I wonder of the symtoms I describe are typical of a common problem with some component or condition.
I would like to start the fix with the simple actions first - perhaps recommendations on cleaners, lines and components to check, etc.
I very much appreciate any advice on steps to take in identifying and fixing the problem.
Thanks!
Gary
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 270
Likes: 3
From: Overland Park, Kansas
SOLD both: 1987 560SL 2003 ML320
The most common problems are usually caused by vacuum leaks and those are the hardest to track down. I'm lucky to have an independent MB shop that is really good with the older SL's. I would have them check the fuel system first [I had to have th fuel pumps replaced], then look at the coil. I thought I had a spark plug problem and it turned out to be a faulty coil. Good luck.
