I have posted this problem before and received some great feedback, I also checked the site for people with the same problem.

When I start the car I have to hold the key for a while and step on the gas pedal until the car turns on. When the car finally starts it idels rough for about 15 to 20 seconds then the car is smooth. The car has no problem when driving only when starting. The colder it gets the harder it is to start. I have just changed in the last month:

2 fuel pumps
dist cap and rotor
fuel filter ( 6 months ago)
air filter
water temp sensor

I have changed the spark plugs 8 months ago and the ignition wires 4 years ago. Would these 2 things cause the car not to start properly?

I have run out of ideas!!

Please help

Fab

The only thing I could think of would be bad fuel accumulator. But not sure if that would cause rough running for a few seconds. Will cause hard starts when warm though.

I would have first said Water Temp Sensor but you already said you changed that. When was last time you ran some fuel injector cleaner or sprayed some carb cleaner into the AFM to clean everything out?

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~Jamie
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2003 Pewter C230K SC C1, C4, C5, C7, heated seats, CD Changer, and 6 Speed. ContiExtremes on the C7's.

1986 190E 2.3 Black, Auto, Mods to come soon.....

I had that same problem and I fixed it a week ago with a new fuel filter. It doesnt matter if you did put in a new one 6 or 7 months ago, but if you run your car allot with the fuel gauge under 1/4 tank it will infact get dirty. If I was you I'd remove the filter and see if i could blow air smoothly through the filter with my mouth. I did this on my car a week ago and could not get any air to pass through the filter. When I bought the new one air passed with now trouble at all.

92 300E

Same difficulty here...My 1992 (M104). I just bought this car. It has 83000 miles.

I'm still getting familiar with this car (my first MB). I have a shop manual on order...(i prefer to do my own maintenance). Wasn't too sure sure about accumalator....Wasn't too sure I actually had one. Seen One on Ebay. What does it actually do? Seems we all think perhaps a fuel problem. Seems thats if the electric fuel pump was started before actually turning the Ignition switch to the Start position the needed fuel pressure would be available. Perhaps the accumalator plays a roll in this senario?

newby member

Ron 4:11Pm PDT

The car has 2 fuel pumps in the rear passenger side of the car with the accumalator there and the filter....I'd start by checking the fuel filter first....I did everything but that and ended spending more that 300.00 dollars and the problem was the fuel filter that went for only 29.00.

92 300E (My 1st MB)

This is called throwing parts at a problem. I have never understood the reluctance to admit that you don't understand the complex nature of a automotive system.

So off we go replacing fuel pumps, fuel accumulators, etc. etc. In the end you spend more money than the cost of a diagnostic visit to your friendly local MB specialist shop.

All they would have to do is keep it overnight and start it up with their meters attached. They also know how to pull the codes. Then you will have the answer and can choose to have them do it or do it yourself.

I can tell you for sure that getting the M103 correctly repaired and adjusted is not something I would do myself. I watched and listened to a mechanic with 30 some years experience as he got my M103 '92 300E back on the road after it suddenly died out of state. He replaced the EHA, Idle Adjust Valve, Cold Start Valve, the coolant sensor, Oxygen Sensor etc etc. He replaced some of these after diagnosis. Some were optional, but I told him I wanted to error on the safe side. There is expertise and knowledge involved in adjusting the system.

Still running nicely 70,000 mile later.

Steve