help e320 won't start - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mcdill · #1 07-10-2002, 02:18 PM

Went out to start my car and it wouldn't turn over. The last time I drove it was yesterday morning. The ring gear was going bad - it was making a terrible noise when it did start... has it finally caught up to me? Any suggestions? The battery was fine, but now it might need a jump.
thanks.
matt
1994 e320

mbe32094 · #2 07-10-2002, 03:14 PM

Do you have lights on your dashboard (engine trouble indicator)? Does your battery has enough juice to power your horn or your headlights? If not then, you have a bad battery. Baterry usually dies down on hot summer days even though it is fully charged. I have mine just dies down after I started my engine, drove several miles w/ AC on full blast. Turned off ignition then came back after 15 minutes started my car and boom no more juice. By the way the temp yesterday in my area was 103 deg. F. I have a 5 year old battery and will replace it today.

mcdill · #3 07-10-2002, 03:24 PM

The car wanted to start... the indicator lights on the dashboard were on, and the car was chugging away to start, but it just didn't catch. I think the battery is fine, but I'll go check it. I just bought the car 3 months ago, so I'm not really sure how old the battery is. But, it's supposed to be 110 degrees or so today, so maybe that has something to do with it???

Thanks,
Matt
E320

mcdill · #4 07-10-2002, 04:36 PM

I went out and checked the battery and horn, lights, etc...they all worked fine. So it's not the battery. My mechanic said the ring gear was bad when I got the oil changed a month ago. My main question is whether there is a way to start the car? Is there a way to move the car in gear? What about moving it backward?? is that ok?

And how much is it approx. to change the ring gear? And would I need a new starter as well?? Total approx. cost?

Thank you,
Matt

mcdill · #5 07-11-2002, 03:26 PM

Got the car started today. After reading some more posts on dead batteries, I checked the battery again and assumed that the 110 degree heat the past couple of days had evaporated some water from the battery. Put some water in, tried to jump it but it still wouldn't start, so i pressed the accelerator to the floor and it started up. I guess the engine was flooded? Problem is fixed for now, but it seems kind of hard to start still. I think the battery might be dying, or the heat is just taking its toll.

I have a new question, though: when the car was idling, i heard a trickling noise from the passenger side trunk area. So i opened the trunk and the noise was very loud from the area around the gas tank filler door. It was like loud trickling water. The tank was 1/4 full, so i filled it up...same sound.

Is this normal?

thanks,
matt
'94 e320

pentoman · #6 07-11-2002, 06:08 PM

Nearly always on MBs and BMWs, jump starting will blow the OVP fuse, causing the hard starting and needing to put foot to the floor that you describe. I'm not entirely sure if your car has an OVP relay though.

later

earossi · #7 07-11-2002, 06:15 PM

The only item located in or around the trunk and close to the fuel tank is the electric fuel pump. A pump that is on its way to failure usually makes a loud humming sound, not the sound you characterized as "trickling water".

mcdill · #8 07-11-2002, 07:14 PM

my car has an ovp relay, i checked the fuse yesterday and it was fine, guess i should check it now that i've jumped the car. wonder if the ovp is bad?

for the trickling noise...very strange. it sounds like a facet on a fast drip. weird.

thanks everyone. hopefully it'll keep starting....we'll see.

matt
'94 e320