My 1980 450 SL just died

[xkeots]

Hi All,

I just went to drive my 450 SL and it is dead. There was a lot of condensation on the motor from major rain this weekend but inside the cap was dry.
The motor cranked with no start.
I looked at the cap screws where the wires mount and inside the wires and they all are a bit rusty.
I am not too familiar with the Me/Be so can someone give me a check list here please?
I am going to have my wife turn the key tomorrow so I can see if there is a spark from the coil and the cap.
If not should I change everything? How can I check the ignition module? Or the pickup?

Thanks
Jack
1980 450 SL

[Roncallo]

Start by checking for a spark at the coil. To do this find an old plug and break off the side electrode. Install the plug in the coil wire and hold (or clamp if your scared) the plug shell to ground while an assitant cranks the car. If you get spark at the coil wire repeat the test at each plug wire. If no spark at the coil wire try a different coil wire. If no spark at the new coil wire, follow trouble shooting proceedures for the coil and primary ignition system. Unfortunatly I dont have these additional proceedures.

KD makes an ignition tester just like this. It is a spark plug with no side electrode and a aligator clamp welded on to clamp the shell to ground. There are two versions of the KD tester, a standard ignition and an HEI version. You want the standard version. I belive these testers are under $10.00 each.

John Roncallo

[dima4855]

Check to see if you have fuel coming in, the only way I know how to do it on these cars is to pull one of the fuel filter lines off and have an assitant quickly turn the key on and off and see if anything comes out.
Have you checked the fuses yet?

[xkeots]

Hi,

It started finally but it sounds like it is running on 4 cyls. Yes, fuel is coming through.
The threads on the cap under the wires and the wire sides were a bit rusty.
I just bought wires, car, rotor & coil and I changed the plugs.
If this doesn't help I might have to bring it in for an evaluation at Me/Be unless someone here can give me some help.
I will keep posted.

Jack
1980 450 SL

[dima4855]

Check your vacuum lines thouroughly to make sure nothing is disconnected and when the car gets hot check the timing and set it to 5bdc (don't forget to plug the vacuum advance).
Is your car smoking from the tailpipe?
WHen you change the spark plugs pay attention to the color of the spark plug and make a mental note about where the fouled up spark plugs came from. Make sure that there are no wet black tipped spark plugs, because that would imply something is wrong with the engine.

[xkeots]

Hi,

All fixed. Nothing that a coil,wires,cap & rotor didn't cure.
The W107 runs soo smooth you can't feel it idle. I actually thought that it stalled.

Thanks
Jack