Starting problem on 88 190E 2.6

[firepilot55]

Hi, I'm kinda new here and looked around for an answer before posting.
I have a 1988 190E 2.6. It takes about 10 minutes to start. when it finaly catches it runs real ruff. I have to slowly push on the gas pedal until the ruffness goes away. If I give it gas a little faster, it shuts down. After about 10 minutes it runs great! Does this have something to do with the engine being cold ( outside temp is about 60 degrees or above). Please help, i'm on disabilty and can't afford alot of money to get fixed.
Thanks to all, John

[Cal Learner]

Welcome John, We could use a bit more information to help narrow the field of possibilities. Tell us how many miles, what sort of routine maintenance has been performed over the years (if you know), and what's already been done in an attempt to resolve the issue. After 10 minutes when you say it runs great, what sort of driving are you doing? Stop-go city driving, or out on the freeway? You have two issues--hard starts and rough idles--they may be connected, but may not be. Either one of those issues can be the result of fuel system or electrical system malfunctions or mis-adjustments. Without knowing more, my top 10 list is:

1) OVP
2) Fuel filter & air filter
3) Plugs
4) Plug wires
5) Distributor cap
6) Rotor
7) IAC valve
8) Fuel pressure regulator
9) EHA
10) CPS

What can you tell us John?

[firepilot55]

Hi, the problem just started one day. in the middle of winter about 20 degreesF (cleveland,ohio).I didn't have a lot of money to spend and I needed a car about 1 year ago. I paid $1,000 for it and it ran beautifully until this past winter as stated above. The warmer the outside temp is the better it starts. After i finally get it started with a real hesitent idle. I wait about 10 minutes slowing raising the rpms up. If i try to soon it will stall. After a while I begin to drive down the street and it still wants to hesitate. After about 3 or 4 blocks away it runs very good. Runs great at this point and I just happened to go on the freeway and it is still running great. When I shut it down and restart everything is fine. If I wait a couple hours before restarting the problem comes back but not as bad. the next morning the problem starts all over again. I know I am putting a strain on the starter, but I don't have another car. One thing that I noticed was for a coulpe of days I would put $5 of gas in and I found myself putting more gas in it, maybe 15 miles latter. the other day I put $20 in it and it seems to be using the gas normally now. But I still have the starting problem. If you ask me something else I will try to describe it the best I can.
Thanks so much, John

[Cal Learner]

John, have you had any maintenance done to the car since you've owned it? I'm talking about things like replacing fuel and air filters? New spark plugs or other parts of the ignition system? Oil changes? Is the Check Engine light on your dashboard lit when you drive the car? Is the ABS light on the dashboard lit when you're driving? You said in your first post that you crank the starter for 10 minutes to get it to start. Surely, you're not cranking it for 10 minutes straight, or the battery will be shot too. Do you mean that after trying to start it numerous times over a period of about 10 minutes, it finally starts? All of these questions are asked because the answers give us a better understanding of how to help you fix the problem. Can you give us specific answers to the questions I've asked please? While you're at it, how many miles on the car? Did you get any maintenance records from the previous owner? If so, what had he done to it in the past few years?

[firepilot55]

Sorry, Last summer I put in new plugs, air filter, water pump,changed oil twice. The service light has been on since I bought it last summer. 10 minutes trying to start, not at once but 10-15 trys I finaly get a rough idle. At this piont I slowly increase the rpms until it smooths out. All is well until the next day. 240,000 miles. no previous records. Being short of funds, paying a $1,000 for it, I was lucky(maybe) that the car ran. And it ran great for 9 months or so. I was happy with my car and I like it a lot, until this recent problem. The car handles great, just like the new BMW I had years ago when I was able to work Hope this helps, cause I need it. and once again, thank you for everything. Anyother questions, I will be glad to answer to the best of ability.
Thanks, John

[Cal Learner]

John, the list of possibilities is still pretty long. If you are mechanically-inclined, you should begin by getting the factory service manual CD for that car (they're available from MBUSA or maybe even from other forum members), a multimeter and Mityvac. Then, you're going to have to systematically diagnose the fuel system (pressure and volume at the fuel distributor/injectors) and the electrical system (ignition, relays, sensors) to rule out specific causes and components. If you are not up to that sort of stuff and you don't have a friend who can help, you'll need to take it to an independent garage specializing in MBz. You could easily spend more getting it to run correctly than you paid for the car. The possibilities still include almost everything on my earlier list, plus fuel pumps and a fuel accumulator. You can do some things right now that will be helpful:
1) Your CEL is on, can you read the stored trouble codes? If it's a California version car, there is a small, black plastic diagnostic box next to the battery where codes can be checked;
2) Check the fuse on top of the OVP (located against the firewall behind the battery on the passenger side)
3) Check all of the fuses in the main fuse/relay box (located near the firewall next to the brake booster on the driver side) and spin each fuse in its holder
4) Pull about 3 spark plugs and check the condition of the electrode tips. Are they wet? Oily? Black with carbon deposits? Or are they dry and tan?
Post back results and you'll get plenty of advice from members. Good luck.