Engine sputtering at low revs - occassionally

[franjo_66]

Hi All

Up until a few days ago my 230SL has been driving perfectly. Easy starting hot or cold, smooth acceleration, perfect engine temp in all conditions etc.

Lately, it will sputter and choke from take off or at low revs when accelerating. Does not happen when engine is cold or during first 5-10min of driving.

When it does happen, the engine will occassionally stop. But then these symptoms don't occur everytime I take off from a red light or similar. Acceleration past 2,000rpm is always smooth with no sputtering or choking.

Car has new plugs, fuel filter, etc done about 1,000km ago.

Fuel pump was redone by Pacific Injection 9,000kms ago with injectors. At the same time I installed a new fuel tank, strainer, 123 distributor, ignition leads (copper core) and new red Bosch coil.

Sounds to me like an intermittent fuel issue. Should I be checking fuel delivery/flow as a first port of call? Appreciate your input as to where the first set of checks should be focused as the intermittent nature of this issue has me stumped.

Thanks
Franjo

[Bonnyboy]

Shot in the dark... but check your distributor to make sure any of the screws in there with the points or auto advance / retard didn't come lose or fall out.    If only when warm could it be a internal break in one of the wires heading into or within the distributor?

[franjo_66]

Hi Ian

The distributor was the first area I checked yesterday. All wires and connections are good and the distributor body is not loose.

I have not opened her up to have a look, but sounds like it is worth checking.

Thanks
Franjo

[chumps]

The exact problem I had about a year ago. Turned out it was a loose wire on the coil. Tightened it, problem solved. Worth a look. Chumps