2 weird problems keep occuring intermittently:
See if you guys have any solutions.

1)Car won't start. Battery is strong, Fuses ok, transmission in park. No starter clicks at all. This is the second time this happened. The first time, nothing was fixed, and the car started strong after trying for a while, then ran ok for a week. Do you think this is some sort of electrical relay problem?

2)Occasional "sulfur-like" smell while driving, the car will shake in idle and then proceed to die. Might be distributor cracked? But that was replaced less than 10k ago.
Thanks in advance

In my experience the first problem usually caused by the starter itself (unless there is no power going to it). It may also be the ignition switch or the neutral switch on the transmission. Check the cables to the starter to see if there is electricity going to it. Also move the transmission from park to neutral and back if it does not start.
"Sulfur-like" smell usually means bad catalytic converter.
Good luck.

Alex

Is there power getting to the starter?

Does it have an aftermarket alarm?

What year is it?

Is the fuel pump pumping fuel?

Are you getting a spark?

Is your air filter clogged?

Alon

__________________
'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

sorry, this is a 94 E420 stock. No alarms.
-As the car runs perfect when it's on, I don't suspect anything else except for the starter, ignition switch or the transmission.
-Funny thing is the sulfur smell, which maybe an unrelated problem to the starter, can this really be due to the catalytic converter, since it only occurs occasionally?

I would guess it to be a wiring harness problem. Does it hesitate at all when accelerating? Some 124s were known for having problems like this. Basically the insulation wears away and causes electrical trouble.

__________________
Regards,
Aaron

"2)Occasional "sulfur-like" smell while driving, the car will shake in idle and then proceed to die. Might be distributor cracked? But that was replaced less than 10k ago."

I've heard that this sulfur smell can be from different formulas of fuel. It does not mean you have bought cheap fuel, it just means go to another quality gas station. It may take a couple fill-ups to notice a difference.

My Dad's C220 did this.

Shaun

Your car has a starter interlock relay that wont allow the starter to work unless the correct key operates the door lock system. The car has an alarm but this relay is controled by the central locking system. IF it happens again try locking & unlocking the car from both doors & the trunk. This might help if this interlock relay isn't getting signal.

The sulfer smell can come from different brands of fuel, also many of the E 420s run on the rich side & short drives can make the smell worse!!

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

I agree with MBG Doc about running rich causing the rotten eggs smell. If it only happens intermittently, keep a log of the situations in which it is noticed, e.g. cold engine, cold day (40Deg F or less), what accessories are running, etc. If it really dies, perhaps idle stabilizer is not getting adjustment signal for added loads such as AC, or is getting signal and not working. Even if you can't find the problem yourself, keeping a situation specific log will help the professional technician know the best places to start looking. Just make certain you keep a copy of the log in case the first person doesn't fix it.