88 300E M-103 auto. turns over, won't start...
 

Won't even fire intermittently, just turns over. Car ran great when parked a little less than 2 years ago. In the past, sometimes when it dropped below about 55 degrees, there would be a funny noise coming from below the pass side front floorboard but the car still ran fine. That noise is there now. Sounds like a noisy fuel pump but there isn't one there. Never have heard that noise in my 89 M-103 300E. Dropped 4 fresh gallons into it. The number "4" LED is lit up on the self diagnostic panel (this is a California car) but I didn't activate that (I don't know how to do that yet on these cars). I have the Stu Ritter Bible for the W-124 but I can't find it. I think I loaned it to someone. Given enough time (a month), I could troubleshoot this on my own using the info on GSXR's (Dave's) site but I'm under considerable pressure to move this car before Monday mourning (24 hours). This is the car we brought our first child home from the hospital in (not pertinent I know). Thanks to all who help. Regards, Eric

If it has sat for 2 years without being driven its going to take more than a day to get it going. The gas has all turned to varnish by now, possibly wrecking: Fuel pump, fuel distributor....injectors.....lines.....pressure regulator.....the list goes on. Its going to need some major work. Including probably having the fuel tank pulled and cleaned.

If you move it Monday, its going to be on a tow truck. ;)

I appreciate your input but I respectfully disagree about the varnish issue. I've had many cars through the years including my 93 400E that have sat for extended periods without ruining the fuel system. The 400E sat from 8/05 till 6/07 with no ill effect. This 88 300E sat from 6/07 till now (remember, I said less than 2 years) My 89 300E, which was also parked in 6/07, fired right up and ran great when asked to do so at the end of last October. That's just 3 months and 1 week less time sitting than the 88 300E. No, this is something else.
Does anybody have an idea what that number "4" LED means? Again, thanks to all who help. Regards, Eric

Check the fuse on top of the OVP. OVP located in the area of the battery.
Fuse blown will give you the crank but no start symptom.

check your fuses etc, neutral safety switch, make sure starter is working and getting proper juice. I would clean out the fuel system and put some fresh gas in it.

Thanks for the tip. Is this OVP behind or in front or beside the battery? What is the OVP? I know I'm probably looking right at it. Regards, Eric

The starter is cranking great and there are 4 fresh gallons of gas in the tank. I noticed you have a 2.6 with a stalling problem. When I was doing my search for info on my problem before I started this thread, I saw a few threads that addressed stalling issues on M-103s. Did you check them out? Regards, Eric

OVP= over voltage protective relay.
Mounted to the right and slightly back from the battery.
Should be located with the Fuel Pump Relay and can have one or two fuses mounted on top of it.
Fuses sometimes blow when you try to jump start the car or even charging the battery.

Or when changing the battery? I'm on this.
I know where the Fuel Pump Relay is because I have found that I can manipulate the WOT shift points of the trans. by trying different relays. I learned from the Stu Ritter Bible that that relay also controls the trans. kickdown and WOT upshifts as well as the eng. RPM limiter. (I can use the 88 and later only. Can't use the 86-87 because of the difference in number of fuel pumps). Maybe I should start a thread on the topic? Have you ever tried this on your turbo M-103? That car is cool by the way! Anyway, I'll let all know if this OVP thing is it. Thanks. Regards, Eric

Is it possible for the OVP to be bad even if the fuse inside it is still good? As soon as it stops raining, I'm going to try the one from the 89 since we KNOW that one is good. Regards, Eric

Didn't work. Any other ideas? I'm in big trouble (Seriously) if this car doesn't move before tomorrow. Regards, Eric

Getting good spark and a bit of fresh fuel odor out the tail pipe. So I'm getting good fuel and good spark. This car should be running! What does that lit up LED by number 4 mean? Another thing that is odd is the fuel gauge still reads empty while the key is in the run position even though I put 4 gallons in---that should be 2 gallons above the reserve so it should show a little on the gauge.

fixed the stalling problem havent updated the sig yet

With fuel and spark, well, it should light up. Try some ether (starting fluid) sprayed sparingly (!) down the throttle body. Make sure there's not a mouse nest in the air cleaner or something else weird going on. Make sure the plugs are not fouled. Thump the fuel gauge with your finger, it may jump up, mine tend to "stick" at empty sometimes.

The #4 LED is supposed to blink codes when you press the little button. With the key on, press the button for 3 seconds, and count the blinks. When it stops, press another 3 seconds, count again. If it blinks the same number every time, only one code is stored. If it blinks different numbers, it will repeat (start back at the first numerical code) after you've gone through all of 'em. Blink code "1" means no codes are stored. There are only 8 possible codes on this old CIS system, btw.

:nuke:

1st reply was correct...the fuel system is crapped out...varnished is the word...sitting fuel turns into a laquer like substance. it's probably in the injectors, they are stuck closed. every heard of pickeling?