Horrible shaking!!

[babyblueCE]

Hello all. Its that time again where one fault leads to another and my luck seems to be running out with my C124. I think someone has cursed me motor . I was driving the car yesterday as i hadn't done so for about a week and upon start up the car started shaking pretty badly. I took the car out thinking that it might be cold and once it will heat up it will fine but this wasn't the case. After a while i started smelling burning in the cabin and took the car straight home and have not touched it since. I have had a look at the manual and it states that i will need to change the HT leads and also my fuel filter. Before i fork out for these items does anyone know what might be causing the burning smell? I will check the usual, air leaks, MAF, throttle body etc.

 

[Pendragon]

You need to get a diagnostics machine on it or you may well end up forking out for parts that are not needed

Keith

 

[grober]

You have certainly had a catalogue of problems with your car since buying it. Time to get it to a specialist who is familiar with these cars to give it a good going over . It will be money well spent and possibly saved too.

 

[markjay]

Not sure about the smell, but with regards the shaking, don't overlook the basics, e.g. broken engine or transmission mounts (or drive shaft coupling if shaking only while driving).

 

[kth286]

condensation build up in distributor cap.

remove cap and wipe clean and dry.

test drive car again and report back.

 

[babyblueCE]

Sorry guys i did forget to mention that i have a J Reg 300CE so i am assuming that i diagnostic machine cannot be hooked up to the car.

kth286 i will check the distribution cap and let you know this afternoon

 

[Pendragon]

You will have a OBD socket on it .....probably under the bonnet...38 pin and it can be hooked up to a STAR or CAR SOFT Diagnostics program.

Find yourself a Indie who has the equipment to do it.

Don't know where you are but if you are near Cardiff then bring it to me or there may be a member on here closer to you that can do it for you.

Keith

 

[babyblueCE]

I have checked the Distributor cap and there was slight condensation which i cleaned. Once i put the cap back and started the car the shaking did not stop but i did smell petrol, a lot!!! I removed the MAF and started the car but the shaking did not stop

 

[kth286]

you now need to look for obvious leaks of petrol - it's a KE-jetronic manual
injection system.

look at the petrol distributor head area - take the air filter/cleaner assembly off.

 

[mct_cars]

Plugs out, give them a clean and give it a go - if the Dizzy was wet and producing no spark to some of the cylinders it would explain the vibrating - it would also explain the smell of petrol as there would be unburnt fuel in the cylinders.

Other than that, as above, get it diagnosed or you could be hunting for ages!

 

[BlackC55]

You will have a OBD socket on it .....probably under the bonnet...38 pin and it can be hooked up to a STAR or CAR SOFT Diagnostics program.

Find yourself a Indie who has the equipment to do it.

Don't know where you are but if you are near Cardiff then bring it to me or there may be a member on here closer to you that can do it for you.

Keith

There is no diag socket on that 124 as such. Its a pin out job.

 

[Pendragon]

Well thats boogered that idea then


Keith

 

[SJX]

Try the basic stuff first. Visually inspect the HT leads (engine off!). Look for burning at the contact tip on plug end and also distributor end. Whip out the plugs one by one, fit them to the lead and lay them onto the metal engine block one at a time, get someone to crank the engine and watch for a spark - no sparkio - faulty leadio or or plugio! Have a gander at the plugs, tower insulators etc, external and at the tip - HT tracking marks will look like pencil lines and indicate a faulty plug or one in the making. Remember that even when they spark nicely out of the engine the slightest problem is amplified once under compression inside the block. Another way too if you are careful and exercise a little care is to set the engine running and have a calculated prod about with a wooden stick or garden cane, wiggle the HT leads, prod and poke the wiring and listen for an engine note change. If a point that makes a difference to engine beat is identified, a further investigation round that area is needed.

Hope that helps you out a little.

Steve

 

[babyblueCE]

hello all and thank you for the messages. I pulled the HT leads one by one and checked for sparks and they all sparked. I then changed the spark plugs and the car started fine and there was no shaking!! Problem solved!

 

[SJX]

Thats a result then !