My 87 190E w/2.6 and 100K has started having hard start problems after setting for several hours. Once it starts, it runs great. Spark plugs, rotor cap, distributor cap, fuel filter, air filter were replaced about 7,000 miles ago.

In searching past post, several have mentioned to check the OVP (Over voltage Relay)

I have located a relay under the hood, driver's side, located near the regular fuses. The relay as two red fuses on the top. Both fuses looked OK. Is this the OVP relay? If it were faulty will this cause hard starting problems?

Thanks for any assistance.

Ralph

I have a 190e 2.6 and from the advice I got here and what I can remember, the OVP is on the passenger side behind the battery.

The OVP does have two red fuses on top. Should look like:

http://img.eautopartscatalog.com/live/P205618126.JPG

Looks like the ignition should be fine. You might try checking your injectors and cold start valve. They could be leaking, causing hard starts. Also, check all of the connectors along the driver's side of the valve cover. They sometimes get corroded. I found one of mine unconnected and a poorly spliced wire on another connector. But my problems were slightly different and involved rough idling.

You may also want to consider the fuel accumulator. It's possible that you're losing fuel pressure. See if turning the key on and off a few times (without starting) changes things. That should get the fuel pump building pressure.

Does a warm engine start fine? Are there any idling problems at all?

__________________
Mike Heath
1988 560SL Black/Palomino
1988 300SEL Black Pearl/Burgandy
1984 500SEC Anthracite Grey/Palomino

Thanks vanakin and Mike for your reply.

I'll check the items you both suggested and post a follow up when I have time to get to it. On my 190E, (1987 w/2.6) there is nothing located behind the battery that looks like an OVP. Maybe someone else can direct me a little on this.

Mike, good ideas on checking connections, and testing by turning the key on and off a few times before cranking.

I was suspecting the fuel injectors, and thought about pulling them out. Can these be tested? Or is best to bite the bullet and just replace them?

You folks are great on this forum. Thanks for your help!

R.C.

My bet is the accumulator. It holds pressure in the fuelinjection system after the engine has been shut off. If the engine is cold and you get it started try shutting it off. if it starts right away it is most likely the fuel accumulator.

__________________
1990 190E 2.6
1996 Grand Voyager 3.3
1985 Mustang GT 5.0 5 SPD
1982 Suzuki GS 750T

Follow up on the hard starting issue. While on the witch-hunt to locating the problem, I pulled a few of the plugs that had been replaced about 7,000 miles back. They all looked good, but noticed the plug gaps were at 24, and not the recommended 32. I replaced all plugs with a fresh set, and gap them @ 32.

Also found the OVP behind the battery, and checked the two 10 amp fuses. They were OK.

The hard starting is not a problem now. Improved it 99 %. I contend it was the plugs being gap to close.

Thanks to all that sent suggestions.

Thanks,

Ralph

Check your fuel pumps and injectors especially the cold start injector. That was what caused my problem.

A follow up on the 190E 2.6 hard starting. The change in spark plugs did not help long, the car starting getting progressively hard to start over the next 3,000 miles till it almost would not start at all. After it started, engine would stumble when accelerating from a stop.

I followed the advise of you all, and did the following till it corrected the issue:

Checked fuses on OVP Both 10 amp fuses on to top of OVP OK
Changed the fuel accumulator. No improvement.
Changed the injectors. Slight improvement.
Changed Spark plugs Slight improvement.
Pulled the OVP off, open it up, re-soldered connections No improvement.
Replaced OVP, Big improvement!!!. Quick starts, no stumbling.

Thanks for the assistance and advice of this forum.

It sounds like it could be the ignition coil. Typically the ignition systems are very strong. I hate to have you keep throwing parts at it. Disconnect a plug wire and put a spark plug in it and ground the plug and see if the spark looks strong.

__________________
1990 190E 2.6
1996 Grand Voyager 3.3
1985 Mustang GT 5.0 5 SPD
1982 Suzuki GS 750T

Ralph

So it was both the narrow gapped plugs and the OVP?

It runs well now?

Haasman

__________________
'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

Haasman and JDUB,

Thanks for your response. It is running great now. I think now that it was the OVP that was the biggest problem, and the spark plugs having a wrong gap was next in line.

My wife and I love the car, and plan on keeping a MB in our household.

Thanks for the help of this forum. Really great information from some helpful folks.

Ralph

I have a 93, 190E 2.6 and have been having problems getting it started. Usually would take up to 4 times turning the key and would sputter after starting. I read on this site about someone with similar problems and they recommended checking the OVP/fuse. Did that and the fuse was blown. Changed it and it cranks great....... Also want to mention that I had used my car to jump start someones car.