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  #1  
Old 10-19-2005, 07:11 PM
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Angry '97 E420 Died on Highway

I bought this car apx 3 weeks ago and have had no problems what so ever. Last night all of the sudden as I'm driving down the highway my car just cuts out completely. No sputtering or noises, no idications what so ever. The engine just stopped running and I coasted to a stop. No matter how much I tried it would not restart, no matter how long I waited. It would crank like a champ just never actually start. After reading other posts and trying to diagnose myself I was leaning towards thinking it was the fuel pump. I can hear the cranking start to slow from the battery loosing power because I have tried cranking it so much while doing tests. I went to the store and got Carb cleaner and the diagnostic tool from Auto Zone to pull codes. I ran the scan and it came up with NO codes at all. Then I decide to try the Carb cleaner. I was going to spray it in the air intake while cranking it to see if it would start to come to life. Well, now when I try to start it there is just a very fast clicking and it doesn't crank. I thought the battery might just not have the power to crank it now and so I hooked up my backup battery pack to it to let it charge. Please someone help me I am pulling my hair out.
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Old 10-19-2005, 08:27 PM
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Well for starters charge up your battery. It would be a good idea to listen for the fuel pump when you turn on the key. It will run for a few seconds then shut off.
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  #3  
Old 10-19-2005, 09:45 PM
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Sounds electrical to me. I think a fuel problem would have been more of a sputtering death.
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  #4  
Old 10-19-2005, 10:57 PM
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Engine won't start

Hi,----Good tip from Benztech,if you have good hearing, does the fuel pump run for a few seconds with key on. If you don't have any professional diagnostic equipment, a DIYer can diagnose with a few items from the local Pep Boys or Autozone. You need to buy 2 items, a 12 volt test light or a low cost multi-meter & a fuel pressure guage kit,you have a threaded pressure tap on your fuel rail with a brass hex cap.These two items will pay for themselves if you are able to determine the problem. Next time you need them,they will be FREE. OK, you need 3 things for your engine to run ,compression , ignition (spark) & fuel pressure. You said there were no noises, so I doubt if the chain broke,compression OK. You can make a spark tester from a sparkplug & a piece of wire 15" long with 2 fairly large alligator clips one clip on the plug thread & the other clip on to engine metal, pull one easy to get to plug wire from a spark plug & connect that plug wire to your homemade tester. Now get the wife,girl- friend or somebody to crank it over.Now look at the gap for a BLUE spark,if it's yellow it won't start!, needs to be BLUE. If it's blue , OK done. Next thread on the fuel pressure guage,always use good judgement when working around gasoline. Key it up , NOT CRANKING ,you may have to cycle the key a few times from OFF to RUN to get full pressue approx.46-52 psi. If no pressure now get 12 volt test lamp or meter & check fuel pump fuse & all other fuses in your panel, your car may have fuses in the trunk near the spare tire. Probe both sides of the fuse with the test lamp to a good ground, a good fuse will illuminate on both sides , a bad fuse only on one side.Read the decal on the panel cover for fuse info location. You are now armed with enough info to determine what "street to go down" & get this baby running. Please reply back with your findings so all can benefit. My motto "repairs through testing", you have to fix it with "Smarts NOT parts".Good Luck ------- Ray
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Old 10-19-2005, 11:57 PM
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Thanks for the replies with great advise so far. Engine is cranking like a champ again, now that I have had my battery pack charging it for a few hours. Tried the carb cleaner with no results what so ever. I have a good multi-meter so all I need is the pressure gauge. I will begin with these tests this evening and let you all know what I find. I didn't think to mention that I got a high end alarm system installed several days ago. Feeling like it is an electrical problem is making me suspicious that they might have screwed something up with the alarm interfacing with the imobilizer unit. Who knows? Hopefully I will find something with the basic tests that will help me know which "road" to take.
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  #6  
Old 10-20-2005, 05:18 AM
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Exclamation New Info- Making Progress

Thank you so much for giving me the advice to check the fuses. That didn't even cross my mind for a problem that I considered so serious. I started checking all the fuses throughout the three fuse panels that I know of. I found a blown fuse that is labeled ignition coil in the box under the hood. I thought sweet, I just have to replace the fuse and I hopefully it will start. Well, it fired up and then quit a second later. Checked the fuse and it was blown again. So, question is, what causes an ignition coil fuse to blow any time the engine is running? Anyone?
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  #7  
Old 10-20-2005, 06:09 AM
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xtrmerik, I recommend contacting the high-end alarm installer and get some details regading exactly what and where he made splices, connections during the installation. The installer may have inadverently damaged or loosened some wires or connectors during the installation, especially if he worked behind the dashboard. That sounds like the culprit to me. What's wrong with the MB alarm system that you felt the need to supplement it?
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  #8  
Old 06-09-2012, 11:51 PM
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Hi Ray and All !

I had a question on a 1997 E420. The Car had gotten wet via the sunroof. I disconnected the battery for days and the car will not turn over and start. It almost sounds like its starving for fuel. When turning the key to the on position, I hear something under the engine cover start to almost whine and click, the noise continues and doesn't stop. I finally left it on for about 5 min, and then I heard it go off. All the electronics in the car do work, Lights, Horn etc.. I checked all of the fuses with a tester and everything seems to be fine. Do you think the car not starting is related to that "whining Noise ? Is that the Fuel Pump ? What may I check from this point.

Thank you
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Old 06-10-2012, 03:26 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Riccie420 View Post
Hi Ray and All !

I had a question on a 1997 E420. The Car had gotten wet via the sunroof. I disconnected the battery for days and the car will not turn over and start. It almost sounds like its starving for fuel. When turning the key to the on position, I hear something under the engine cover start to almost whine and click, the noise continues and doesn't stop. I finally left it on for about 5 min, and then I heard it go off. All the electronics in the car do work, Lights, Horn etc.. I checked all of the fuses with a tester and everything seems to be fine. Do you think the car not starting is related to that "whining Noise ? Is that the Fuel Pump ? What may I check from this point.

Thank you

this should be it's own topic... but your fuel pump(s) are generally in tank or in the frame near the tank. since everything got wet inside you should let everything dry for awhile. Disconnect the battery and hope that you diddnt fry any computers in the process... Check all your fuses look for any broken ones.
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  #10  
Old 06-15-2012, 10:31 PM
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I would never allow an auto alarm hack to touch my car.......kinda reminds me of a recent story I heard from a BMW owner who took her car to a quick lube for an oil change. They left the drain plug out which destroyed her engine....YIKES! They are now claiming they had nothing to do with it.....
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