This car isnt mine, it belongs to my neighbor, but I am going ot help him get it running if possible (and maybe buy it from him later when I have space). He got it for free years ago, and spent about $10k at a shop getting it running again, but never really drove it much. It hasnt been started in at least a year and a half. He tried to get it to start and it will crank but not fire. I did get it to start and run with starting fluid, but it just dies a few seconds later. I am 99% sure the problem is related to bad gas, but does anyone have any suggestions of what to do next? ( I know its probably not worth fixing, but I dont see any reason to not at least put a little effort into getting it running before it ends up in the junkyard).

Well definetly get that old gas out of there. Find a place under the car where you can crack the line and dump it into a pan. Be careful with the stuff. It might be old, but it will really burn, (but not to well in an engine). Put in new gas (not too much), turn the key and try to hear the fuel pumps. They should run for a second or two, maybe longer if they need to re-fill the lines.

__________________
Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

Hmm, I do not hear the fuel pump running, so if it should be noticeable that would probably explain the problem. I loosened one of the lines on the fuel distributor a bit too, and a little bit of gas dripped out, but it certainly wasnt under much pressure. Where are the fuel pumps located on that car? I have a diesel w126, but I havent ever worked on a gas one before.

pumps are under the right rear, near the wheel. i'd make sure the fuel pump relay isn't dead. it's by the battery. pull it out, jump pins 7&8 and the pump should run. it's possible the pump is dead, as they don't like to sit, so when you do jump the socket, use a fuse. no pump, make sure the voltage is getting there. is yes on voltage, then dead pump. install the relay and try again, no pump, then it needs a relay-most likely-or some input is missing-possible, but not likely. make sure the little wire from the battery to the relay is tight on the battery terminal. seen a few cars with new batteries that won't start because that was loosened during the installation. good luck, chuck.

Does anyone have a picture of where the relay is, and the wire going to the battery? The only wire on the battery terminal looks to be something that was added for an aftermarket stereo, nothing else.

I found the relay, but the pins are not numbered 7, 8 etc. Does anyone know which pins to jump to run the fuel pump? There is a picture of the one this car has on the website of the parts supplier based in Arizona which cant be mentioned here part #0015453605

look at the socket with a magnifying glass. 7 and 8 are in the middle across from each other. but look first. don't want to make it worse. good luck, chuck.

I determined that the fuel pump was bad, so i drained about 8 gallons of nasty gas out of it and put a different fuel pump in and now the pump runs when you turn the key. It still wont start though, although I may have not tried long enough. It will still start and run easily with starting fluid though. What else should I check?