1990 MB 300E Stalling - Had been stored 1 year prior...Please help! - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Diesel1 · #16 08-08-2009, 11:48 AM

Sorry for all the confusion........ Basically the car finally started after I used the ether, it ran rough for awhile stalled a few times then seemed to return to normal. The return to normal was gradual and took a couple of hours of idling and driving. It was starting and running normal again before I changed the cap, rotor, plugs and fuel filter. So I concluded it was a fuel issue.

I think the fuel sitting somehow caused the stalling and no starting until it finally cleaned itself out with the help of "Sea Foam" motor treatment added to a couple of gallons of fresh gas.

Does this make sense?

Bob

400Eric · #17 08-08-2009, 10:13 PM

A little cross pollination is in order here. 88 300E M-103 auto. turns over, won't start...
Regards, Eric

tinypanzer · #18 08-10-2009, 11:11 PM

There's always the possibility of a vacuum leak. Rubber can easily go bad when the car is sitting up.

400Eric · #19 07-03-2010, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel1

Changed parts and two more days of driving and it's still running and starting fine. I am noticing that the fuel gauge needle is jumping up and down but settles most of the time at the correct reading. Any ideas on that?

Thank for all the help.....this is a great forum!

Bob K

Bob, did you ever get to the bottom of the fuel gauge issue?
Regards, Eric

gsxr · #20 07-04-2010, 11:24 PM

I've had flaky fuel gauge operation on a couple of my cars. Most of the time it has been a faulty gauge... replaced the gauge cluster (with a good used one) and the problem was solved. On one car it was the sender... this caused the needle to drift slightly up & down, when the fuel level was low. Both items are relatively cheap from a salvage yard or P&P. Worth swapping 'em to see what happens!

400Eric · #21 07-05-2010, 02:41 AM

I did get the cluster from an 87 W124 diesel a while back (cause you told me to the get the speedo from it). Disregarding the different face markings, are those fuel gauges themselves the same?
Regards, Eric

gsxr · #22 07-05-2010, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 400Eric

I did get the cluster from an 87 W124 diesel a while back (cause you told me to the get the speedo from it). Disregarding the different face markings, are those fuel gauges themselves the same?
Regards, Eric

Yes - all the 124 sedan gauges are functionally the same, except for the 124.036 which has a 90L fuel tank with a different sender. As you noted, the face markings will be different, but that's about it. I prefer to use late 124 gauges as they are more likely to be working properly, since the electronics are 6-8 years newer!

400Eric · #23 07-05-2010, 09:18 AM

I appreciate that but I already have the diesel one. That car had a dropped valve BTW, I never did tell you that. Remember? It was the one where they went through the trouble of pulling the whole engine only to leave the whole thing just sitting there beside the car. I also did get some of the other stuff you told me to get but a lot of it was gone though when I went back to get it. The cruise control unit was the old part number but I got it anyway because the car had fairly low miles. I'm also hoping that fact will weigh in my favor when it comes to the life expectancy of the fuel gauge.
Regards, Eric

sptt · #24 07-05-2010, 11:13 PM

I have a '91 300E and if I let it sit just a week, I have the same issues and have to give it a good run through and restart, clean plugs, use starter fluid, etc. I now start it and run it at least every 3 days. I had a custom boat with a Magnum 454 engine and it would usually sit until summer. I always had to hook up a water system and pre run it before going to the lake because the fuel somehow got water, deteriorated or did something within the ignition system that gunked it up. After it blew smoke and grumbled for a while, it would run like a thoroughbred out at the lake. Cars run best when used often, especially older ones (did I spell "thoroughbred" right?).

Diesel1 · #25 07-10-2010, 07:02 AM

Eric,

Sorry for the delay in my reply but I was away on vacation! No I never found out what was causing the issue. After solving the stalling and starting problem, I learned to live with the occasional fuel gauge issues.

Bob K