92 300CE won't start
 

I have to tow it home last week. This morning, I checked fuel pump (it work)and swap out the coil. It still would not start. Any suggestions.

Jack

Jack, if the no start situation happened suddenly without warning it very well could be that the ignition control module (mounted on the driver' side inner fender) has failed. A new one is $2,500 or so from a MB dealer ... and they need to look up the ICM for a 1992 300SL because one for a 300CE won't show in their parts system. If you know someone who owns a 1991 or 1992 300CE try swapping the ICM from their car to confirm that yours is bad. I went through this same situation with our 1991 300CE in the past year. No used ICM's are available and they cannot be rebuilt ... new was the only option. So confirm that the existing one is bad before going that route.

Thanks for your reply.

I already called for part this morning, the part is very expensive.

Jack

Did you check the fuse and the OVP relay mounted behind the battery?
This is a typical problem in the W124 which prevents starting.

there are several causes why cars won't start. no ignition spark, enough petrol, flat battery, dirty connections, no fuel pressures. try to look on these things. It might be because of a bad ignition module, faulty alarm,courtesy light switches, bad speed sensors, bad coil or rotor arm.

When you say 'wont start' do you mean the car does nothing or does it crank but not catch?

The more info the better.

It crank
 

Thanks for all the reply...I did buy a relay last week, the plug has two extra connections. After I verified with parts on Monday that it is a newer design. I will try it this weekend.

Jack

I measured the crank position senor, it was 825 ohm. Is this correct??

Jack

Bad ignition module
 

I towed my car to the shop this morning. It's confirm to be a bad ignition module. The cheapest price I found is $1500. Does anyone know where I can find one cheaper.

Jack

Jack, $1,500 sounds like a bargain to me ... provided it's a new ignition control module. I paid about $2,000 for a new one ... so if that's the cost of a used one I would opt to spend the extra money for a new one ... another used one may fail anytime then you're right back where you started, less $1,500.

It is a pain for old car owners :( like me. The part is almost 1/2 of car value.

New MB part
 

The part is new, price is $1575+tax...or I can send it to Flordia to rebuild my old one for $1150. I will flip a coin tomorrow.

Jack

Jack, unless you're getting the price quote for the new ignition control module from a MB dealer I'd be very suspicious. These ignition control modules cannot be rebuilt because the insides are epoxied ... so the remanufacturers cannot determine what components are inside them. I've talked to Beckmann Technology (a remanufacturer) and that's their explanation. As I mentioned previously I bought a new ICM from the local dealer ... it's one for a 300SL as the dealer's Parts System doesn't list one available for a 300CE which has the same engine.

it seems to me...that going forward it won't make much sense to buy a used w124 with a 104 engine..

am i missing something here? does the 103 engine use a different type of system...?

Yes, the M103's have a different design. The early M104's in 124's and 129's are known for going bad. For a while new EZL's weren't even available from the dealer. Be glad they have them available again! I would stay away from used as it is most likely an older/inferior design..one which we all know is prone to failing.

For the $$$ this would be a Great time to swap over to a Megasquirt II w/ fuel and ignition control.

Jonathan

New part ordered
 

Thank for your the replies....I ordered a new module this morning from my local ind part. He gets his parts from Intercontinental Mercecedes or Park Place Motors in Houston.

Jack

Hi Jack,

check this out
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=014&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=330108044261&rd=1&rd=1

that unit is for an M103..I believe we are talking about an M104, no?

Jonathan

Jonathan, a 1992 300CE has the 104 engine.

Yes, I know..had one in about 2 weeks ago;-)

However, the EZL listed in the above link is for an M103, thus not pertinent to this fellow's woes.

Jonathan

Who rebuilds them in FL? I found this shop in Germany that will build them for USD 1000 pius shipping.

I bought a used Siemens brand, apparently an improved part over the Bosch but can't verify it. It is from a '92 and works in my '90.

Anyone experience intermittent high idle?

The item description says nothing about M103 or M104, just:

" Mercedes Ignition Module

It is mercedes part# 006 545 74 32, Bosch part # 0 227 400 658. This should fit w126 300SE/SEL 1988-89, 300TE 1988-89,190E 2.6 1989 and w124 300e's1986-92, but as always your best bet is to match up the part number with the one you are trying to replace. "

So 1992 300E and 1992 300CE do not have the same engine? It'd have been big saving .

It doesn't have to say which engine, the years it fits tells you it's for an M103. The CE came equipped with the M104 in 92, before the E and TE.

Jonathan

How about this one, it is different, could be for M104

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MERCEDES-W124-300E-SE-SEL-IGNITION-MODULE_W0QQitemZ300101119531QQihZ020QQcategoryZ33689QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

Lot of interest...
 

I also own a 300E and S320. At first glance, they look the same. But the 104 engine on my 300CE has an extra knob on the bottom roll for some type of adjustment.

Here is the link in Flordia, you would have to send in your old module, and they will rebuild it for you. For about $350 extra, I opt to install a new one. One note, they can test your old unit for $50. If I known that, I would not have my car towed to be verified.

http://www.audiabs.com

Jack

Jack, the Part Number for the new ICM I purchased from our local MB dealer is A 012 545 20 32. I'd be very skeptical about any new part number that is different. I repeat my earlier comment ... these ICM's cannot be rebuilt. Trust me, I spent 12 months trying to track down either a rebuilt unit or a used one, and made numerous phone calls and sent many e-mail messages in the process.

That's for a 300 or 190E 2.6.

Jonathan

Trying to help Jack save some bucks, no success :D .