My 500SEL was running fine, but then cut out completely at 40mph, and has refused to restart. There was no warning whatsoever, and the engine didn't splutter, but cut out abruptly. Having had the car towed home, I can see I've got a good spark, and the fuel pump can be heard running for the usual few seconds when the key is turned.

I'm guessing that the fuel pump is OK then, and perhaps theres a blockage in a filter, but it seems unlikely that this would have caused such an abrupt failure. My trouble is that as well as the fact that I don't know the fuel system on this car at all, I've had to park the car on a main(ish) road as I'd never get it up the hill and round the tight corner into my garage without power, so checking things is going to be difficult.

Can anyone offer me any other suggestions? The car is a 1986 UK model.

Cheers,
Joe.

That engine requires a lot of spark...& requires 100psi of fuel pressure..making sure of those items are the starting points.

__________________
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Retired Moderator

if this is an 86 euro as we know them over here,it should have black valve covers and the ke jetronic fuel injection.in other words the same as the us 560sel.in front of windshield there should be a couple of tallish rectangular relays.one says 'klima' and is a/c the other will have 4 digit numb same as redline on the tach.this is fuel pump relay and most likely culprit from your description.if you pull this relay up and turn it over you will see two pins in the centre opposite each other called 30 and 87.if you take a pce of auto wire and strip insulation off it so you can wind it around pins in a figuer 8 .then plug back into socket and fuel pumps should run all the time even with key off.then try it.

__________________
David S Poole
European Performance
Dallas, TX
4696880422

"Fortune favors the prepared mind"
1987 Mercedes Benz 420SEL
1988 Mercedes Benz 300TE (With new evaporator)
2000 Mercedes Benz C280
http://www.w108.org/gallery/albums/A...1159.thumb.jpg

And take the cover off the fuel pump relay and resolder the connections on the PC board, especially the large ones that connect to the pins.

__________________
Regards

Warren

Currently 1965 220Sb, 2002 FORD Crown Vic Police Interceptor

Had 1965 220SEb, 1967 230S, 280SE 4.5, 300SE (W126), 420SEL

ENTER > = (HP RPN)

Not part of the in-crowd since 1952.