93’ SL500 STARTING PROBLEMS

[Menett]

I have a 93 SL500… jump in the car to go for a quick errand, starts fine, then refuses to start when I try to start the car after parking it for 5-15 mins.
- it cranks, sputtering and back firing, but will not start. Sometimes I get lucky, it starts, but I have to keep high RPMs until it allows me to drive it or it will stall and not start again. Wait 30 min’s, and it starts right up with no problem.
Also, start the car, drive it for a long period, no problems restarting it again.
- I have replaced the cam positioning sensor, same problem existS.
HAS ANYONE FIGURED OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS YET??

[tecqboy]

There are so many possibilities. That particular engine is very sensitive to rotor and distributor cap issues. I know, you wouldn't think so, but do a forum search on distributors for your engine. In any case, you can look for wear on the electrodes and check for cracking of the insulators, especially the one beneath the rotor. How good are the ignition wires? The plugs? Or maybe it's a fuel problem. A leaking enrichment injector will make starting a warm engine difficult. And what about the coolant temp sensor? Vacuum hoses on a car that old are bound to be brittle and leaking. All these items can be checked and inspected. Don't just throw parts at the problem.

[Peter K]

Had same problem with my 1990 500SL did not start when hot ,it was a fuel delivery problem . Check if you have a fuel in the fuel distributor when this happen again . Problem in my car was a dirty fuel strainer in the fuel tank . Hope this help .