WELL....I started my 89 190E 2.6 this morning without any problem, started a few times off and on to move it around the yard. Started and went across town to Lowes and went into the store...in the store about 20 minutes. Come back out, try to start the car.....starter turns just like always...car won't start. It has never acted like this before. I don't believe it's the engine itself....something in the ignition or fuel system. I'm going to let it cool off for a while and go back to see if she will run cold. She has 229,000 miles on her and has been my daily driver for a while. I can hear the fuel pump power up like always, there is half tank of gas. When the starter is turning, I tried giving it a little gas as I sometimes have to do when starting hot engine...it's as though something grabbed a time or two, like it tried to start and couldn't. Without touching the gas it sounds as it normally does when starting. Very odd....
any suggestions where to start? My MB tech place is 50 miles away. I'll get it home after while if I have to pull it with my diesel Chevy.

Pull a spark plug out and ground the threads to the engine block. Have somebody else crank it. Is there any spark? If yes, sniff the empty spark plug hole for a gas smell.

I'll try that after the engine cools off a little...the car is only about 1.5 miles from home.

Take a screw driver and tap on all the relays behind the battery or just the fuel pump one if you recognize it. Then try it again.

__________________
Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

Cooled off for from the time I originally started this post until now....started right up and drove it home. Got home, tried again, works fine now. Bizarre! Where should I start?

I would have to guess it's the fuel pump relay, because most of the 102/103 engined cars seem to run into a problem with it at some point.

Mine did what yours did (randomly would not start) for ages until I figured out what the problem was.


Anyway, simple way to check: Next time you start it, listen for the fuel pump buzzing for 1/2 sec when you turn the ignition on. Get familiar with that sound, and next time it does not start listen for it. If it is not there, the fuel pump is not being turned on which is 98% likely to be due to the fuel pump relay with your symptoms.

good luck

Russell

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190E's:
2.5-16v 1990 90,000m Astral Silver
2.0E 8v 1986 107,000m Black 2nd owner
http://www.maylane.demon.co.uk/190esmall.jpghttp://www.maylane.demon.co.uk/190esmall2.jpg

but it did buzz.......everytime I tried to start it I listened specifically for that sound

I'm 'bout ready to find me a diesel ...at least I know how to work on them..rebuilt 2 already
Thanks for the input...anymore suggestions will be appreciated.

Was it a hiss... like air escaping or a buzz... like a motor trying to run?
I think hissing is good and buzzing is not good... from what I have read.
That it is a problem when warm is classic fuel pump relay symptom (cracks in solder expand and connections are broken... might want to re-solder it if it happens again or take it out and look inside at the solder connections under a glass for cracks.
Good luck.

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-Marty

1986 300E 220,000 miles+ transmission impossible
(Now waiting under a bridge in order to become one)

Reading your M103 duty cycle:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831799-post13.html
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831807-post14.html

it was a hiss