My 89 760, daughter driving it, just stopped on her out of the blue.

Battery is new (1 week old), but positive cable was a bit loose ...tightened.
Jumped car, it ran - barely idled low - then died when lights turned on (night).
Jumped again, drove for a short distance with parking lights on - sputtered and quit - just like it ran out of gas (but it has plenty).

White smoke out back at idle ...running rich ?? Has not been doing this before.

After it quit, I was able to roll up power windows, so battery is strong enough to do that chore - making me think that after jumping off - it should have run - even if the battery was a bit down.

WEIRD ..the push button for the air - the one on the right - blinks continually.

Please ..I read the FAQs - could be the hall effect in the distributor, or the power stage - but I am hoping for more ideas.

Thanks.
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' Of all bad men religious bad men are the worst. '' (C S Lewis ; on Evil Men) 89 764 (170K), '94 940T (265K), 92 245 (150K)

Black exhaust is rich. White usually means a coolant leak due to a bad head gasket. Are you loosing coolant? Maybe try a compression check.

Does the car quit cranking?

How much DC voltage at the battery when off, and when running?

What do the plugs look like?

Thanks ..

Am taking a fresh battery this morning to try.

The weird thing is that blinking light - the right button for the air.

I will be sure and check the plugs.

Thanks again ..
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' Of all bad men religious bad men are the worst. '' (C S Lewis ; on Evil Men) 89 764 (170K), '94 940T (265K), 92 245 (150K)

Andy,

Not to despair, clean and tighten the battery post connections, then start the car and check the voltage across the battery terminals. It should be around 13.5 to 14.1 volts. Check the voltage at the back of the alternator. It should be within a few volts of the battery reading. If the battery voltage is low, and also the alternator, replace the alternator (or rebuild it). If the battery is low and the alternator is fine, re-check the wiring from the alternator to the battery. Make certain that the alternator ground wire has not come loose.

Regards,

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Will Dallas, www.willdallas.us, www.willdallas.org, www.willdallas.com, www.dallasprecision.com 86 245 DL 222K miles, 93 940 260K miles, 88 765 GLE 152K miles

Thanks ..Will, and others.

Fresh battery cranked it right up this morning. Initially the blinking air conditioning button was gone, although I did note when I cranked it that the SRS light remained on for about 30 seconds and then went out.

My daughter left work this evening at 6:30. Car cranked and ran fine, but the blinking air button is back and the ABS and SRS lights on the dash remained on for the trip to her place.

Is this sounding like a short, somewhere draining down the battery? I will do the checks you mentioned, Will ..asap.

Thanks to all.
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' Of all bad men religious bad men are the worst. '' (C S Lewis ; on Evil Men) 89 764 (170K), '94 940T (265K), 92 245 (150K)

Again ..thanks to all.

It is apparently a short somewhere that comes and does. Battery is still hot. All connections to battery good, clean & tight.

This morning - no blinking light. Tonight when Miriam started home, it was back. She worked the ignition key a bit, but that had no effect.

Could be if I take out the air conditioning relay first, then the fuse - that might give me a hint.

Any other hints, I am open.

Thanks ...one more time.
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' Of all bad men religious bad men are the worst. '' (C S Lewis ; on Evil Men) 89 764 (170K), '94 940T (265K), 92 245 (150K)

Andy,

Check to make certain that the ignition switch is returning all of the way back to "Run" after cranking. I have one that needs to be helped back into position because the idiot lights stay on when it is started.

Regards,
--
Will Dallas, www.willdallas.us, www.willdallas.org, www.willdallas.com, www.dallasprecision.com 86 245 DL 222K miles, 93 940 260K miles, 88 765 GLE 152K miles