Hello, everyone. I have been (knock on wood) fortunate in not having to post a problem for discussion here... until now. Yesterday morning morning on the way to work, my '75 164e stalled twice when idling in gear. In both cases, it restarted after a couple of minutes and ran fine. The ambient temps were about -9C at the time, and it was very damp (snowstorm, actually).

As the tank was below 1/4 full, and we had recently had very cold weather, I surmised I had some water from condensation in the fuel tank. I filled the tank and added gasoline antifreeze.

Further details: I took some time and deliberately tested the car today to assess the problem (yesterday I was just trying to get the work, then home!!).

Pattern:

- under load will run fine at any ambient temp (today we swung between -25C and -12C).
- off load, will die in approx. one to two minutes, no matter what the idle speed.
- cut out is quite abrupt, minimal or no stumbling beforehand. Like it's run out of fuel.
- VERY strong smell of raw (unburned) fuel when it cuts out.
- restarts in 30 seconds to one minute, then runs perfectly and does not die again at idle afterwards (not within five minutes, anyway).
- needs about five to fifteen seconds of continuous cranking to restart, and restart is gradual not abrupt (consistent with a flooded car cleaning itself out).

Other than the stalling, it runs flawlessly and fuel mileage seems to be consistent with the extreme cold.

I have used the car before in extreme cold (that is usually the only winter use it ever sees) and this has never happened before.

The only two suggestions I have so far are the coil (which to me does not explain the prompt restart, or the running fine under load) and possibly the charcoal evaporative canister being plugged or frozen.

Any other ideas? I am going to cross-post this to the brickboard as well. I just wrote off my 740 Turbo a month or so ago, and my old Mercedes turbodiesel just ate its transmission, so this is my only transport right now. I usually have at least one backup car during the winter months....

Cheers,

Steve

Hi Steve;
You might also check the hoses that run to and from the idle air bypass valve, and the AC valve, if the car still has it. The hoses get brittle and don't conform, and any air that is admitted (engine movement) can upset the fuel ratio enough to stall the engine quite quickly. The last one I diagnosed stalled when using the brakes hard, but not when stopping gently. I though booster unit, then auto trans sprag, all sorts of things. Turns out engine movement would wiggle the hoses. Lacquer thinner to clean them, black silicone to seal them, couple of clamps, problem fixed. Worth a try.

So it IS an oldtimer! But newer than any of mine. I think your suspicions
are about the same I would have. I think I would look at things electrical
also, like maybe a temp sensor or a loose connection somewhere. The Air Pressure Sensor on the inside of the fender can be a killer if something
goes wrong with it but they usually don't get better. Have you tried any
Dri-Gas or other alcohol product to make sure that ice isn't the problem?
I remember a series of posts from Lee Holman up in Maine a few years back
on her son's car doing weird things at low temps and she found the tank
had a big chunk of ice in it. Winter has softened up here lately - frosty
mornings and up to 50°F (+10C) in the afternoon. I really appreciate it
because my blood is still a little thin from Panama where the temp cycles
between 23 and 33°C with occasional excursions up to 36 or so.
--
George Downs, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Central US