Benz Disaster
 

Please Help. Car is a 92 300E 4matic I was driving home from work. Stopped to get the mail. Got back in the car and decided to to see if the car still had some snot. So I nailed her, (dirt road) engine redlined(6800) and stalled at the top of the hill. It will crank but not start. Car has had some tranny problems won't shift out of first below 3000, and always shifts a little slow. Any help would be appreciated as this is the parents car, and they are not impressed. Thanks in advance

Did it stall as it was redlining?

I've been there kid, I'm sure we all have, and I sure don't envy you.

I imagine it has a rev limiter which will prevent damage to the main mechaincal parts of the motor. It may have gone a bit too far and stopped the car from running (kindof a young person limiter:P)

I doubt too much damage is done.

Maybe a relay or a loose wire.

Tom W

it died as it was redlining I believe, if not, shortly after.

Ya, young and foolish.

How can I test the fuel pump, and where is it located? Please be external of the fuel tank...

it is....

good news is that you're about to learn how to fix a car.

Read up here a lot and explain to the parents that you've got a few dozen friends to help.

If you survive the discussion, the car might too.

-CTH

I'm pretty good at fixing old stuff, I have a pair of spitfires. It's just all this electronics stuff that is bothersome. I prefer my mechanical Cam driven fuel pump lol here's my blog

When this happened to me in my youth it was due to points.

I'd check spark, and if getting none look at teh CPS and then coils.

If you are lucky, the rotor fell apart. If you are not lucky, the timing chain broke.

Take off the oil filler cap and watch the camshaft while someone cranks. If it doesn't turn, it's valve job time. If it does, remove the distributor cap and see if the rotor is in bits. If so, replace it and you will be OK.

DO NOT redline an engine in unknown condition unless you don't care if it's gonna survive -- a worn timing chain will let go for sure, and the M103 doesn't have a really robust chain.

If you have an M104 (dual overhead cam), it won't be the rotor.

There are other possibilities -- bad crank position sensor, dead ignition computer, fried coil, dead fuel pump (see if it runs when you crank it), and more, but if it died at high rpm, don't expect it to be cheap.

When you get it running, adjust the kickdown cable and fix the vacuum leak at the modulator on the tranny or the intake manifold.

Peter

Thank You Peter. I definately learned a lesson

Rotor isn't spinning. There goes the timing chain. I'm guessing that it's an interference engine and some of the valves are cooked.

On some cars there is a rolled pin that holds the rotor gear on the shaft. This can shear, putting you out of business. I did it once on my Saab and was not doing anything unusual.

Pull the distributor and check to see if the rotor turns when you turn the gear.

Tom W

I don't think would be your timing chain if you can still crank the car. I imagine it would make some pretty bad noises if the valves and pistons were hitting each other.