1996 E320 will not start. Need help. Thanks - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Norman123 · #1 09-13-2007, 10:09 AM

Well, I'm out of ideas. I replaced the fuel pump and filter yesterday afternoon, and did not fix the culprit. Anyone has any recommendations what to test for or what part should I be troubleshooting?

My 1996 E320 which I though I had repaired wont start, the vehicle is been sitting on my driveway for the last 10 days. At first the car will die as I was driving it, and I would need to wait at least 2 hours so it would start again. So I proceeded to replace the CPS, but I continued to have the same issue and it got worse after several days . So I replaced the MAF and Cam Sensor without any positive results.

Currently the car will only start after sitting for 24hrs and it will only run for 2 seconds and shuts off. Once the car shuts-off the car will crank but won't start again until the next day. By the way when it starts for the 2 seconds it seems to run great. I really need someone experience to help me troubleshoot this issue; I would appreciate any help that can be provided. The following parts were changed within the last 30 days:

Once again the following parts are new and where replaced:

Fuel pump
Fuel filter
Fuel pressure regulator
Crank Positioning sensor
Cam positioning sensor
MAF sensor
Cooling sensor
Knock sensors
Tried using another K40 module (relays).
Transmition wire harness.

Thanks in advance

Norman

Falsapartenza85 · #2 09-13-2007, 09:23 PM

At this point, i would tow it to the dealer. The only other items i could think of are Oxygen Sensors, A Coolant Temp Sensor gone bad, OR a clogged catalytic converter. How many miles are on the car? Do you have a scan tool? Try checking for codes..... Something is preventing the Fuel Injection System from Completing its circuit.

YOU COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BAD GASOLINE!

Norman123 · #3 09-13-2007, 10:05 PM

Well, I do appreciate your reply, and your suggestions. This afternoon when I got home, I pulled out the wire diagram for the engine harness, and I started to check continuity and ohms readings from the ECU plug to the different connections to the engine (i.e., MAF, CAM, etc), and to my surprise I found that the coaxial cable going to the crank positioning sensor had a short at several locations. Once I started wiggling the coax the car started perfectly, and while the vehicle was running I twisted the coax and the car shut off. The other 2 coaxial cables inside this wire harness, are for the Knock sensors and they are also defective.

I guess tomorrow I will order a new engine wire harness. I hope that this thread will help someone with a 1996 E320 starting issues. I will be taking pictures and posting the DIY for others to use.

Oh by the way the vehicle has 70,000 miles.

Thanks

Falsapartenza85 · #4 09-14-2007, 01:32 PM

Norman,

I am glad i was able to help. That is why we are here! You must have a 1995 build date since the wiring harness has deteriorated. There are plenty of diagrams and information on the replacement of the wiring harness for the M104 engine. Lots of luck!

-Mike

Norman123 · #5 09-14-2007, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falsapartenza85

Norman,

You must have a 1995 build date since the wiring harness has deteriorated.
-Mike

Mike, the built date is 02/1996. As per the wire harness, it seems that the 3 coaxial cables from the ECU to CPS, and the 2 coaxial cables from ECU to the 2 knock sensors are the only wires that are deteriorated within the entire engine harness.

This morning I ordered the harness, and I should be receiving it Monday morning. The job seems to be simple, but I'm sure I will have some difficulties replacing some of the conectors located by the starter such as the knock sensor located at the rear left of the engine behind the starter. I figure thet the removal and installation should take approximately 2 hours tops.

As I stated before I will take pictures and write a DIY. By any chance you know if Mercedesshop has instructions or has any requirements in order to post a DIY? Once again I do appreciate your replies.

Norman

Oracle12345 · #6 09-15-2007, 12:05 AM

Hi, send me your vin and email addy so I can send you some documents. Whoops didnt read the post close enough oh well.

CamelotShadow · #7 09-15-2007, 12:16 AM

Congrats on your sourcing the problem.
My thought was a bad start relay...

JimF · #8 09-15-2007, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norman123

Once I started wiggling the coax the car started perfectly, and while the vehicle was running I twisted the coax and the car shut off. The other 2 coaxial cables inside this wire harness, are for the Knock sensors and they are also defective.

Oh by the way the vehicle has 70,000 miles.

Thanks

Good work! Don't forget to order the crankshaft and knock sensors; they are not part of the wiring harness. . .

BTW, that's the "first" time I heard of a those sensors going bad . . The C/S should ohm out to around 900 ohms.

Falsapartenza85 · #9 09-17-2007, 04:00 PM

Norman,

I was under the belly of my White 1996 E320 doing some cleaning and guess what i saw! The original build sticker still taped to the drive-shaft! My build date was February 12th, 1996! How cool is that! Yours is February 1996 too! Oh the irony! You better belive i was checking my wiring harness too!!!!!!!!

Everyone check your drive-shaft! Your baby's B-Day is on there!!!!

LOL, just thought i would share the irony!

-Mike

Norman123 · #10 09-18-2007, 11:38 AM

Mike,

I will take a look at the drive shaft tomorrow, to find out if the date is different from the placard on the driver’s door. The reason I mention this is because I got the new engine wiring harness yesterday and it was not the correct one, and it was ordered using the vehicles VIN Number. The one that I received yesterday (A210 540 21 05) was missing a few wires to include a white connector located next to the ECU and it did not have a connector for the air pump. Also this new wire harness had a different plug/connector for the Electronic Accelerator (the new one was oval and the one in the car is round). The reason I mention this is for future reference, (the VIN number in some cases does not point to the correct engine wire harness). The new wire harness part number is A210 540 33 05 and it is also for the 104.995 engine. This is a mystery.

Let’s hope that the one they order is the correct one. I will be receiving it tomorrow and I will let you know.

Thanks Norman

Falsapartenza85 · #11 09-19-2007, 12:39 PM

Norman,

If your location did not say Miami, Florida (which is my favorite place in the universe!) I would have to say you must be dealing with Prestige Mercedes-Benz in Paramus!

The first problem is that there is a lack of English-Speaking employees in this parts department, they never carried anything in stock, and when the part FINALLY came in, it was the wrong part! UGH!

I am so glad i work for the factory store now!

Are you buying parts from MB Miami?

-Mike

Norman123 · #12 09-22-2007, 12:55 PM

Mike,

Finally got the wire harness and it is installed. The vehicle is running like the first day when it was driven out of the dealer. It only took me 1hour and 30 minutes to remove and replace the harness. Simple job and I believe anyone that changes their own oil can do this task.
As per the wrong part, and the cause of why they sent the wrong one, is was MB fault, which they list the wrong part number when you use the vehicle VIN. I’m glad I was able to read the part number from the old harness. Also I never buy parts directly from MB, and if I do is because I do not have a choice. In Miami Florida is a company/distributor named FINISH LINE, which sells MB and VMW parts. This company has reasonable prices and they usually have all the parts needed.

Regards,\

Norman

Falsapartenza85 · #13 09-22-2007, 08:09 PM

A job well done!

I'm glad we were all able to help you sort things out with our in-put and your time! best of luck for years to come with the 210!

-Mike