I drive a 4 cylinder 230E with W124 engine (1992 model). Just last week, the engine suddenly died on me while on the road - no jittery movements, no prior indication - the engine just died! I pull to one side, off the ignition, on it again and it started without problem. The car then behave normally. Then today, it happen again; engine suddenly died, I start again, and off the car goes. I got a feeling this kind of problem will be very difficult to trace. I am willing to do a top overhaul (if it will help) instead of sending it to the workshop and having them trying to disgonise the problem by changing this and that. Any comments from the experts out there? By the way, I am from Malaysia and as a last resort, am turning to this column for help. Thanks!

Sounds like an electrical problem. Do you have a lot of keyes on your key chain? Sometimes a worn ignition tumbler can do this.

Do you have the warning lights on the dash come on after this happens? Does this happend when cold or warm? How old is your distributor cap and rotor?

Haasman

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

Doesn't sound like a mechanical problem to me, more like an electrical issue.

Does the engine, by any chance, die when the car is decelerating?Like when slowing down to stop at a traffic light intersection or taking a corner?

Consider Fuel pump(s) or relay.
Pumps seem to go intermittent prior to failure.

__________________
1986 300E 5-Speed 240k mi.

Ok, I'm not familar with the "w124" engine however, I'm going to assume its got a CIS-S or K-jetronic M102 in it. If thats the case I'd suspect either the EZL or the refernce sensor (which is in the distribitor ~~I think~~, been awhile since I've tinkered on a 102)

Joe

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Acme Automotive Inc.
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Azhari,
You are right; the first time it happens when the car is slowing down due to traffic, the second time when making a turn at the traffic lights. So what do you think is the problem?

haasman,
I do not have many keys, just two. I don't remember any warning lights from the dash coming on, as I said it just happens and the engine died. This occurs when the engine is warm/hot. My distributor cap & rotor? I last change it about 2-3 years ago.

csnow,
I don't know about the fuel pump 'cos this happens so suddenly it catches you totally unawares & that's dangerous. You don't know when it's going to recur. I would think if it is a fuel pump problem, I may have some problems starting it again immediately it happens. But no, it just started like normal, like the problem isn't there in the first place. I would agree it's more of an electrical issue here. But what component? Thanks for your input anyway.

joe p,
I'm afraid I don't know whether the 124 has the K-jetronic M102. But it could be a senor problem since it is so sudden. Any chance of an air flow sensor problem?

I second the fuel relay as the problem. If so the problem is caused because a crack has formed on the printed circuit board of the relay. It is repairable if you have a solder iron. Pull the relay (black box about size of pack of cigarettes), pop off cover and examine back of circuit board where the pins are soldered to the printed circuit. If damaged you will see a fine circular crack in the solder around one of the pins. Drop new bead of solder on the spot and you will be running normally again. The pin will be attached to one of the heavier coils that are mounted to the circuit board.
The problem occurs because the crack makes intermittant contact... depending on temperature, and forces of the car's motion etc.

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Earl



1993 190E 2.3
2000 Toyota 4x4 Tundra

I had the same intermittent issue with my 190E a while back.Sometimes it would die once in a fortnight, sometimes twice a day - could never tell but when it died, all the idiot lights came on.

And the car always restarts OK.

The Over Voltage Protection relay or Fuel Pump Relay are normally the culprit.

In my car, I swapped out both coz they are not expensive.

In the photo, the OVP is circled in red and the FPR in green (has the word KICKDOWN printed on top).

The problem has never resurfaced since I swapped these 2 relays out.

Good luck, dude.

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had a similar problem with my wife's 190e.... seemed to be related to the trasmission fluid level getting low. . Was a fairly frequent problem 'til we replaced the tranny.

ejsharp,
Ok, I will replace the fuel relay in total, since it is probably old and the problem may recur at another place on the same board. I'll go get the part after work today & try it out. Thanks!

azhari,
I will follow your advice & replace the FPR, since other members seem to think that is the problem too. Depending on the cost, I may also replace the OVP as suggested. Then I'll try it out; if it doesn't recur for at least a couple of weeks, then you've nailed it; 'cos like you said, sometimes it occur once a fortnight, at times maybe daily. Thanks a million for the trouble to post the picture; for a person like me who is not very mechanical minded, that is a big help too! Will keep you all informed on how it is going.

Not so much. Fuel pump failure mode tends to be an intermittent full on or off state, not one of partial function.

Cycling the relay by turning the car on and off can shock the pump free again, as can whacking it with a blunt object.

__________________
1986 300E 5-Speed 240k mi.