I am working on an 85 190E that was sitting for a very long time. When I first got it it would not start at all and backfired through the intake. It was parked supposedly because it would not run (however many years ago). I did find the root cause of the backfiring and not running. The tab broke off the distributor rotor and the rotor was pointing the wrong way. As soon I fixed that the car will start and idle for roughly five seconds. I flushed the old fuel out of the car also. The cold start injector is not working either. I can start the car and keep it running with carb spray and even hold about 2500 rpm with short bursts of carb spray but as soon as the car is under its own power it will not run. I believe the root cause was the distributor rotor but before I condemn the fuel distributor is there any way to test and see if it's capable of delivering enough fuel to run the car? Any feedback or ideas would be greatly appreciated since I am not so familiar with this type of fuel injection.

Well this can and will be a long session, The fuel if not treated with a stabilizer has varnished the internal works of the fuel system, you may even have to replace the fuel sending unit in the tank. So lets start at that point if it dose not work it will be because of varnish, and you need to change it. next the fuel filter, change it. The injectors are going to be next, pull them and send them to a shop to be cleaned. next check the plunger in the f/d see if it is stuck. Though if I where you I would send the f/d out for rebuild. Once you have the fuel system back in operation, you will need to check the electrical components of the fuel system, The EHA, The potentiometer, The oxygen sensor.I know this is quite a list but you will even need to pull the entire intake manifold down and replace all the rubber parts and the idle air lines. doing this at the time you are having the fuel system reworked will be the best time. You will have a long enjoyable care free ride. JNT

First, check to make sure the fuel pump is running. If it is, drain the fuel out of the tank (probably looks like syrup by now, and it mostly detergent additive anyway, the gasoline has long evaporated). Put at least 5 gal of fresh premium in the tank, and add a full bottle of RedLine or Techron injector cleaner (and only those, they are the only ones that work well).

Jumper the fuel pump relay so that the fuel pump runs, and let it run for a couple hours. This should flush all the crud out of the fuel distributor. Unscrew the injector lines at the injectors a half turn or so, and press down on the air flow meter flap (inside the air cleaner). Fuel should flow out the injection lines -- may be gummy at first. Let it run until it's clean, then tighten up the injector lines and try to start the car. Should at least run on it's own by then.


Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!