1991 190E 2.6 died 3 times for a few minutes - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Jim Anderson · #1 07-26-2007, 04:47 PM

Almost didn't make it back from lunch today. Stopped at a stop sign and the engine died while it idled. It sat there for about 5 minutes while I poked around under the hood and cranked ocasionally then started right up and ran fine. A few miles later it quit again while I was driving (managed to coast past the railroad tracks.) Again sat for a few minutes then it started. A mile later I pulled into work and it quit again just as I pulled into my parking spot, and wouldn't start, but then I didn't need it.

My only indications are I could hear the fuel pumps run for a second when I turned the ignition on, it cranks fast (good battery) and gives no indication of firing while I crank, and when it quit while I was driving the tach went to zero even though the engine was still turning while I coasted.

I've heard rumors of the OVP doing this kind of stuff, is that the thing behind the battery with a fuse on top?

Anything I can do, check, fix while at work?

I'm expecting an adventurious drive home.

saumil · #2 07-26-2007, 05:00 PM

Assuming your car is similar to my 87, 260E. Maybe disconnect the coolant temp sensor connector from the sensor. If it starts without it great, if not, let it start and then take it out. It should put the car into a limp mode which I am assuming should be a high reliability low performance mode of operation. Will get you safely across the railway tracks, I hope. I am not sure where it would be on your car, but on my 87, 260E, it is the last sensor on the engine, towards the winshield, on the intake side. It is a two terminal connector.

Jim Anderson · #3 07-26-2007, 08:58 PM

It's a 30 mile drive, but today I didn't get on the freeway, It quit about half way home, after a few moments it started and ran for a few feet. Did that a couple of times then just waited for a stretch, then it started and got me almoat to the top of a hill thet I could have coasted from

Sat there for a while and no start. Then a sheriff stopped. After a bit he said he'd push me to the top of the hill (he had pushers). I coasted most of the way home and it started about a block away and was running when I shut it off.

Good news: I got it in my garage.

Bad news: I've got a car that runs fine that I have to fix

saumil · #4 07-26-2007, 09:10 PM

The intermittency is hard to fix by tests, you have to replace parts and hope for the best, like someone once said, plug and pray.

david s poole · #5 07-27-2007, 10:41 AM

your description sounds like the crank sensor at the bell housing[transmits a tdc signal to the ignition module]without this you lose spark.let it cool down for a while and it will start again.

Jim Anderson · #6 07-27-2007, 02:06 PM

Would that be the same signel that runs the tachometer? When the engine quits the tach goes to zero even though the engine is still turning.

jmlynick · #7 08-14-2007, 08:14 AM

My tachometer does not work on my 190 E 2.3. When I replaced my water pump I took the crank sensor off to clean it. My tach worked when I put the car back together - for a while.

My Question: I my tach not working an indicator that I will be having intermittant trouble with the crank sensor in the future?

Thanks
John Mlynick
Shelburne Falls, MA