My 1987 560 SL exhibits both cold and hot start problems. When cold, it cranks and cranks until it starts, then runs fine through warmup and under normal driving conditions. It does the same thing under hot start conditions. I've removed the cold start injector valve to see if it leaks under fuel pressure. It doesn't. I then cranked the engine (cold) with the injector connected, but out of the block. It didn't spray a drop.

Is this indicative of a bad cold start valve, nor am I not testing it correctly?

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M. Sandler

1986 560SEC: 150,000 miles, runs great, but I've got to sell it (too many cars for one man)
1987 560SL: 122,000 miles, used to run poorly, now (thanks to forum), runs great!
1997 GMC Jimmy: Turned out to be a turkey.
1989 T-Bird Super Coupe: 150,000 miles, still runs great. Ford got it right.

Cold start injection takes place for differing lengths of time as you go below 59 deg F (don't quote me). That means in Florida cold start operation doesn't ever occur ten months out of the year.

You should look to the EHA current as good starting does need cold fuel correction. Much has been writen. Hot starting is usually a fuel pressure leak down on K jet (KE in this case) cars.

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

Thanks, as usual, for the quick reply, Steve. Fuel pressure leak-down doesn't seem to be a problem. I have pressure throughout the system, even after sitting for a week. The EHA is new, but I haven't checked the current going to it. Once the car starts, it seems to run near-perfectly with the exception of a slight increase in idle. That and the poor gas mileage, which I've managed to make slighty better, but still poor.

Perhaps I should quit while I'm winning, and just pay for the gas!

__________________
M. Sandler

1986 560SEC: 150,000 miles, runs great, but I've got to sell it (too many cars for one man)
1987 560SL: 122,000 miles, used to run poorly, now (thanks to forum), runs great!
1997 GMC Jimmy: Turned out to be a turkey.
1989 T-Bird Super Coupe: 150,000 miles, still runs great. Ford got it right.