I Give Up
 

Hey everyone. I’ve made a big mistake and now I’m paying the price. I bought a 1991 black with gray interior 420SEL for $900 but it was not running and I was told by the previous owner that all it needed was a fuel distributor. Since it was parked at a shade tree type mechanic shop and he said that he could replace the fuel distributor for $300 if I supplied the fuel distributor, I figured that it would be okay for him to do it. I don’t know it that was my first or second mistake, buying the car maybe wasn’t the best idea. Anyway I buy a used fuel distributor and take it to him. He installs it but now the starter dies. Ok, I go and get a starter and he installs it, still won’t start. This guy has no experience with Mercedes or diagnostic equipment so he’s struggling to figure it out. Next he thinks it’s the ECU. This was a giant pain to find the right one. I now have 2 extra ECU’s if anyone is interested. I finally get the right one and he installs it. Still nothing. He says it getting spark, fuel, has good compression but it wont stay running. I’ve never heard it run myself but he says that it will start for about 5-7 seconds and then die. After that it won’t even start for that 5-7 seconds. If you wait an hour or so it will do the same. Ok he can’t go any further without the proper equipment and now I’m stuck with a $572 bill for a car that doesn’t run. I told him I’ve got to think about options and get back to him. Right now I’m almost ready to walk away or let someone come in and pay the bill and the car’s theirs. I’m open to ANY ideas.

If she has spark (check timing) and compression, then its a fuel problem. Easy fix IMHO. 1) are you certain the fuel distributer is good? 2) is the fuel pressure within spec, you might want to check that. 3) how are your injectors? 4) are there any filter or line blockages? 5) are you sure the fuel in the tank hasent gone bad?. . If you can answer yes to all this you should have a running MB.. .

Feel free to add anything anyone If I have overlooked something.

Hey Lexxani, thanks for the response. I'll answer what I know. Please keep in mind that I am not a mechanic at all. Ready to learn but limited knowledge now.

1) are you certain the fuel distributer is good?
1. The mechanic said he checked and fuel is coming through each of the lines.

2) is the fuel pressure within spec, you might want to check that.
2. I have no idea. How do check this?

3) how are your injectors?
3. I'm assuming ok since fuel is getting to the spark plugs

4) are there any filter or line blockages?
4. I have no idea. I would assume the mechanic check for this

5) are you sure the fuel in the tank hasent gone bad?.
5. He had to add 5 gallons due to it being empty

I don't know if it will help any, but I had a similar experience when I put a fuel distributor on my engine that was setup for an earlier system.
The fuel distributor that I mistakenly put on would not allow the air flow to pull the sensor plate down, and would choke off the engine unless I went and pushed firmly down on the plate a little way.

Once I figured out that I had a problem and swapped the other fuel distributor on, it ran again, but that doesn't sound like it's possible in your situation.

As far as the fuel pressure goes, there is a special tool (a pair of hoses and some valving, along with a gauge) as well as a manual dedicated to calibrating CIS.

Thank you Josh for the reply but I think I've got to let it go to someone that has more experience than what I have. If you know anyone in the Dallas area, they can have it for $575.

Keep yours running strong...

Is it a nice car cosmetically? How many miles? Does it have good compression in all 8 cylinders? You may be walking away at just the wrong time.

i am very interested in either fixing the car for you or buying the car and fixing it.phone,214-956-7007.

The body is straight and the interior is good. Of course both need a good cleaning. It has good compression on all 8 cylinders and it has 137,000 miles.

Consider taking the car to a MB mechanic. Sounds like this guy is throwing parts at the problem looking for an answer.

Pay the man for his trouble and GET TO AN INDY MB guy ASAP! or call the guy above.

David Poole to the rescue. David came out and said it may be just a plugged fuel line. Had the car towed to David's shop where it's being treated properly for it aliments.

Thank you for all the idea's and support on this.

I remember that car from Craigslist a few months back. I called the guy and seriously considered buying it just for spare parts. The funny thing is that he told me David Poole had already looked at it. I found a post by him here on the forum and saw where David had offered a suggestion but hadn't actually "looked at it." I passed it up.