I have a hard start problem on my 92 400E since I bought the car 3 months ago, it always takes 3 seconds before it fires up, no matter warm or cold, also it doesn't make difference if I let it run and turn off engine then start again, it just takes 3 seconds regardless the conditions, even with a brand new battery, new distrubitor caps, rotors, fuel regulator, plugs.

However yesterday when I was cleaning its throttle body, I experienced the first ever smooth start. This happened when I sprayed too much throttle body cleaner, the engine choked and stopped, I then tried to start the engine again, to my surprise the engine fired up immediately, I tried it twice, each time it fired up right way, but if I shut down the engine normally, it again took 3 seconds.

Mike Freeman had suggested my to modify Crankshaft Position Sensor, before I do so, can anyone help me to analyze base on the clue above? does this indicate I have leaking injectors?

Thanks.

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99 BMW 540i 6-speed 110K Km
03 SAAB 9-5 wagon 80K Km
92 400E (Sold) 245K km
Still missing the days with the Benz, it kept me busy.

Carman;
I would be very cautious abuot spraying carb cleaner into the throttle body,The hot wire system is very delicate and could be damaged.
Three seconds of cranking is'nt too long for starting unless it's a getaway car!
MF

Hi Mike,

Glad to see you here.

I tried to find the crank position sensor as you described, but couldn't find it from the rear of the engine. Instead I found one at the front of the engine, it's a kind of sensor with black heavy rubber gasket, it stays on a stand and is very close to a big rotor that driven by crankshaft, seems like it can detect the arrival of a piece of magnet on that rotor.

It locates very near to the belt tensioner, does it sound like CKP sensor to you? strange enough the Service CD also says the CKP sensor L5/1 for M119.97 engine is at the rear of the engine.

I tried to get used to it, but people always stare at me when I start the car, is this just because my 400E is attractive..., I also worry that longer cranking can result in shorter battery life, 3 seconds means it consumes 3 times more energy from battery than normal cars, this is very bad in extreme cold winter here in Canada.

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99 BMW 540i 6-speed 110K Km
03 SAAB 9-5 wagon 80K Km
92 400E (Sold) 245K km
Still missing the days with the Benz, it kept me busy.

I haven't timed mine, but I could imagine it might take 3 seconds of cranking. It certainly has never really just "popped off" as soon as you nudge the starter, like some Japanese cars do.

I did have a "no start" problem while under warranty and they adjusted the CAMSHAFT sensor, I believe, but I don't know where it or the crankshaft sensor is.

If you haven't already done so, switch to Mobil 1 with winter coming up. I read a study a while back that showed in diesels, the cold weather cranking RPMs went up considerably with synthetic oil vs. conventional, which (esp. in a diesel) means a quicker start. I know mine cranks noticably faster in really cold weather since I switched over.

The other thought would be to try some Techron or BG 44K and a good old fashioned Italian tune-up.

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Steve
'93 400E

Thank you, 400E.

I changed the oil to Mobil-1 right after I got the car, even the transmission fluid is Mobil-1 ATF now, I have also put in injector cleaner twice.

I timed it tonight, actually not bad as I felt, only 1.5 second, probably the same as your car? maybe it was just designed in that way, then I will just live with it. The car fires up the fastest I have owned is my current pushrod V6 Ford Explorer, I feel it takes as little as 0.1S to fire up, it's 5 years old, still on its original battery.

I do recall my previous Volvo 850 also required a little bit longer cranking, maybe this just European engineering.

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99 BMW 540i 6-speed 110K Km
03 SAAB 9-5 wagon 80K Km
92 400E (Sold) 245K km
Still missing the days with the Benz, it kept me busy.

Yeah, that sounds about right to me. I suspect you're right about European vs. other origin vehicles. My wife had a new Saab a few years back and it definitely had a pretty long cranking time, too, for what it's worth.

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Steve
'93 400E