[R129 SL] Sudden Engine miss on my 1996 SL500 - M119 engine

[George Jenner]

Jonathan, I thought I would give you and the group an update on the outcome of my engine miss.  I took the SL in to a shop which I regularly do business with and the owner plugged a hand held tester in to the connector beneath the dash on the drivers side.  Unfortunately he was not successful in locating the problem.  So I took the Benz to Autowerks which is a Benz, BMW, Audi type shop a little further away.  They said it probably was a coil but since they would have to order one in I decided to try a new set of plugs while I waited overnight for the coil to arrive.  Got the plugs home and went to work.  Found one plug loose enough to blow oil past the plug seal.  Otherwise the plug looked great but were worn to a wide gap (about .55) so replacements were in order.  Did not fix the problem however so next day I got the coil and the plug connector also.  They then used their hand held tester and found that my problem was plug number one.  That saved me a bunch of time trying to locate the faulty coil.  Went home, replaced the coil and connector and my problem went away.  The entire cost was $99.90 for the coil, $14.00 for the connector, $36.40 for eight plugs.

I learned a lot thanks to you and the group.

It sure is great to have the support of everyone in the 129group.  Thank You,  George Jenner
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jonathan Hodgman 
  To: SL Mailing List 
  Sent: Monday, April 16, 2007 1:33 PM
  Subject: Re: [R129 SL] Sudden Engine miss on my 1996 SL500 - M119 engine


  I'd wager a coil has dropped out.  Not uncommon.  All gas engines have spark plugs.  

  I would bring the car in for diagnosis, they should be able to tell you which cylinder isn't firing and test the coil accordingly. 

  Jonathan
  -- 
  Blue Ridge Mercedes/AMG East
  Offering Enthusiast Service, Restoration and Modification.
  http://www.blueridgemb.com


  1996 S600 Euro "Scharnhorst" 
  1991 560 SEC Full Euro ECE
  1991 560 SEC 226Hp/271ft/lbs:)
  1989 560 SEC AMG (N.Amer 250/295)
  1987 560 SEC US Spec
  1986 560 SEL AMG 6.0L 32V
  1986 560 SL  White on Burgundy
  1985 500 SEL Euro (Parts Car) 
  1985 300 CD For Sale
  1980 280 SE Euro
  1978 300D TMU
  1987 560 SEL 162K Midnight Blue on Gray RIP:(
  1987 560 SEC Sold
  1992 E300D 140K Champagne on Parchment tex (Sold)
  1990 560 SEC 154K Anthracite on Gray (Sold) 
  1988 300 TE 160K Burgundy on Palomino (Sold)
  1980 280 SE US 185K (Sold)
  2006 Z4 3.0Si M spec 6sp 


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