MBClub UK Forums - View Single Post - Warm idle too slow

Brabus3.6 · 25-12-2004, 02:40 AM

It's a 1989 black (of course!) Brabus 3.6 saloon. It's done 121k miles. It is an auto trying to idle at 500RPM in drive when warm. Trouble started last year when my uncle was driving the car and the water pump blew. Subsequently blowing the head gasket. I did a head job on it in October last year, HG £564.87!!!!! But the engineers I entrusted the head can't have been great because the valve guides were worn, causing the valves the bend again. It lasted 6 months before what I believe was combustion chamber to coolant passage head gasket failure with coolant once again disappearing. This time I entrusted the head to a firm in Romford who did the valve guides too. They can make a head gasket for less than Brabus they say. This time Brabus charged me £440. The power seems to be all there.
I may visit George if he opens between Christmas and New Year because I'm off skiing on 3rd Jan and off to Uni on 16th Jan! Today while fiddling I observed that placing load like headlights and wipers on the electrical system slows the car down leading me to believe the alternator may be on its way out. Could this cause such a problem? I believe the car may be misfiring at idle as the revs and oil pressure peak and trough slightly but audibly. I may readjust the tappets although I'm sure they're spot on as I've got the car idling more quietly then it ever has before. Any suggestions? Thanks

25-12-2004, 02:40 AM	#3
Brabus3.6 Hardcore MB Enthusiast Threadstarter Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: London/Oxford Car: 1989 Brabus 3.6 Saloon Posts: 109	It's a 1989 black (of course!) Brabus 3.6 saloon. It's done 121k miles. It is an auto trying to idle at 500RPM in drive when warm. Trouble started last year when my uncle was driving the car and the water pump blew. Subsequently blowing the head gasket. I did a head job on it in October last year, HG £564.87!!!!! But the engineers I entrusted the head can't have been great because the valve guides were worn, causing the valves the bend again. It lasted 6 months before what I believe was combustion chamber to coolant passage head gasket failure with coolant once again disappearing. This time I entrusted the head to a firm in Romford who did the valve guides too. They can make a head gasket for less than Brabus they say. This time Brabus charged me £440. The power seems to be all there. I may visit George if he opens between Christmas and New Year because I'm off skiing on 3rd Jan and off to Uni on 16th Jan! Today while fiddling I observed that placing load like headlights and wipers on the electrical system slows the car down leading me to believe the alternator may be on its way out. Could this cause such a problem? I believe the car may be misfiring at idle as the revs and oil pressure peak and trough slightly but audibly. I may readjust the tappets although I'm sure they're spot on as I've got the car idling more quietly then it ever has before. Any suggestions? Thanks Last edited by Brabus3.6; 25-12-2004 at 02:47 AM.