280SL warm up regulator

[freshairfiend]

Thanks for that suggestion, I'll make sure the harness is checked. Actually the car originated in Las Vegas and in the 10 years I've owned it has never been winter driven. In fact it has never even been put away wet when I've been caught in the rain, so it's less likely that there is any real corrosion than if it were located in a rust belt area.
The Flowtech folks were very helpful and believe they can build me a new WUR and have it delivered in about a week. Larry put me on to Aaron at German Star and he took all the final order info. Incidentally the net price is now $365.00 plus shipping and a core deposit is extra, but still a long way short of the $1,500.00 for the electronic upgrade. Strangely enough since the shop people cleaned the original it is almost working again even though not 100% - still an improvement on what it was before.

[nobby]

Originally Posted by freshairfiend

Larry put me on to Aaron at German Star and he took all the final order info. Incidentally the net price is now $365.00 plus shipping and a core deposit is extra,

And there is the difference. I bought directly from Larry.

[freshairfiend]

Well, the WUR has been fitted and the result is a completely different car. Easy starts, smoother idling and considerably more power. An added benefit is the disappearance of the gas smell that wafted around when the car was stopped and idling, for instance at a traffic light. I am surprised at the influence a previously unimportant part has made. It is once again an unalloyed pleasure to drive this car. I had forgotten how much get up and go it had - for an oldie that is.

[zakkkk]

Freshairfriend, not to butt in but, I have the exact same symptons on my 83 280 sl when starting cold.
In a post about a year ago where I sought to remedy the problem someone suggested that when I start the engine I should try turning the ignition key to the click right before the starter is engaged and you hear a whine for 3 seconds . That's the fuel pump squirting gas into the injectors, pre start. If you back off the key one click ( like a quarter inch) then turn the key forward one click and the fuel pump will repeat squirting and pump more gas. I do this squirt thing 4 times before a cold start and she fire up perfectly.
It seems like enough fuel is squirted into the system to overcome the initial fuel starvation caused by the faulty WUR.
Give it a try and see what happens.
jz

[nobby]

Originally Posted by zakkkk

In a post about a year ago where I sought to remedy the problem someone suggested that when I start the engine I should try turning the ignition key to the click right before the starter is engaged and you hear a whine for 3 seconds . That's the fuel pump squirting gas into the injectors,

This is incorrect. The fuel pump is pressurizing the system...yes. Squirting injectors...no.

Cold start injector....which is electric and controlled by a temp sensor and your fuel pump relay...yes.

[freshairfiend]

Before I had the new WUR fitted I would have been happy to save my money and try your twist and click method. However as stated earlier, the new part has provided far more than just easy starts and the vastly improved performance is so noticeable that I have to wonder why I had not perceived it previously. I guess as the WUR deteriorated gradually the drop off in performance and all around power happened over time too. I was aware that the car wasn't functioning at peak but did all the cheap things that a tune up consists of over time - plugs, harness injector cleaning etc.- although without much real success until now. It was like waving a magic wand.

[zakkkk]

Sorry Nobby for incorrect info.
But the pressurization trick works for me.