Anyone familiar with the 1989 260E engine? We've had the car since new. Only has 65k. Anything it ever needed was done pretty much on time, even the 10-year makeover. But it's had a problem from day 1 which two dealers can't identify, and we're told there's never been a service bulletin about this.
When the outdoor temperature is in the 60s or 70s, and you take your foot off the gas in the 30 to 40 mph range, the engine occasionally stalls immediately. The tach goes right to zero. Something that is supposed to prevent stalling by kicking-in for idling occasionally sticks. Happens two or three times a month. Prior to this year you could restart immediately. This year we must let it sit for 20 to 30 seconds or it won't re-start. Whatever is sticking is now sticking a bit worse, and takes 20 to 30 seconds to un-stick.
We'd like to fix it, as sitting immobile for 30 seconds in a busy intersection is bad form. It's also not a great idea to negotiate turns with no power steering, even if it's only at 25 mph.
It doesn't happen often enough to be able to isolate the bad part, but we're not in position to replace each little temperature sensitive fuel and vacuum gizmo under the hood that affects the idle.
If this was your car, which gizmos would you replace, and in what order? IOW which are the most likely parts in the fuel and vacuum circuits to stick a few times a month and affect the idle?
Much appreciate your ideas. FWIW the brand of gasoline is immaterial. We usually burn Amoco premium but it happens regardless of what's in the tank.
Rey Barry Charlottesville VA snipped-for-privacy@cstone.net