'80 300se start,stall,start,stall,start,stall

[bolomiester]

This is an '89 300se and I've been chasing this problem since I bought the car in March. It always takes at least 2 tries to start it, sometimes 10 times or more. It starts, revs up then the rpms drop to zero and it stalls. When it finally does keep running it will sput and sputter for a few seconds before settling down to a normal idle.

There have been occasions when even 10 or more tries was not enough. On those, it will start if I hold the throttle open a bit. But if I take my foot off it will stall. Even if I hold the throttle open for several minutes before releasing it. The only way I keep it running then is to ease the rpms down to where I can shift into drive and drive it for a few minutes. Eventually it runs fine, but if have to stop within those few minutes it stalls. It seems to need that sput/sputter bahavior before it will run right.

It is much worst on a hot start after it sits for 30 minutes or more.

I replaced:

• Distributor cap & rotor
• Spark Plug wires
• Spark plugs
• Fuel pump
• Fuel filter
• Fuel accumulator
• Hoses leading to and from the ICV
• All fuses
• Air filter

I've tried jumpering the fuel pump to take the fuel pump relay out of the equation but it did not make a difference.

Everything on this car works, and once started it runs and idles very well.

Can anyone give me a clue where to look next. Thanks.