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  #16  
Old 04-15-2008, 08:52 PM
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All good suggestions, I can only add, look at the Crane wiring in the distributor to make sure it's not frayed anywhere.

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Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe
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  #17  
Old 04-16-2008, 01:50 PM
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Location: upland,ca
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Thankyou again for all the info. My angst concerning my drive home yesterday was well founded. I left my office, drove a few miles and promptly had to coast to the side. I pulled the air cleaner and smelled gas. I checked all the wires to the coil and distributer which all looked fine. Then after a few more minutes got in and it started right up and I drove home with no other problems. This morning It started right up and I drove to the office. I will pop the distributer cap and do a more thorough inspection on the wires. I also like the idea of the neon light and will destroy one of our testers in the back before I leave for home today. Has anyone had a CRANE unit fail? Is there any way to test the unit?
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  #18  
Old 04-16-2008, 02:04 PM
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My 1972 250C had the exact same issue, stranding my wife once and me on another occasion. In the process of restoring the car this winter, I found several problems that may have contributed:

1. The heat risers were stuck, which likely overheated the carbs and definately warped them.
2. All the wires to the starter were free to move about, and combined to their close proximity to the exhaust manifold, the insulation had melted. It's possible, I suppose, that these were hsorting out and causing intermittent failure.
3. Frayed wiring to the original Mercedes ignition box.
4. The ignition coil, rotor, cap, and wires were all replaced on principal. I installed a Petronix Ignitor kit as well. I replaced the carbs with a set of Webers. I also rebuild the exhaust manifold and heat-risers.
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  #19  
Old 04-16-2008, 09:50 PM
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Location: Nova Scotia, Canada.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue 72 250 View Post
I vote for an intermitant electrical connection. Look for frayed or loose wires. I doubt that the coil is the problem. There is never any shame in cleaning out fuel filters on old cars.
I have a couple of 72 114 coupes. I agree there is no harm in going over the filters etc on an older car. Actually it should be done as part of a periodic maintenance thing as well. Much much cheaper than failing on the road these days in my opinion. You still seem to lose the day as well when this happens.
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  #20  
Old 04-17-2008, 01:01 PM
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I agree about the filter maintenance and maintenance in general and I am pretty good about keeping up on it. I drive the car about 300 miles a week especially now with gas being what it is and my F350 getting 10 miles to a gallon. Yesterday at lunch I checked all the wiring around the distributer and Crane unit and found a loose ground wire. It wasn't the specific ground wire for the ignition unit but there is a mess of wires from an earlier cruise control system that I partially removed. My drive home was uneventful and the car seems to be working fine again. I will have to remove the balance of the wire from the cruise control and get it all straightened out. I also want to check the connections to the ignition switch and add the neon light. Do I need to do anything concerning the heat risers if I have the JAM weber conversion? I just assumed that that no longer was an relevant. I plan on rebuilding the carbs soon as one is seeping a little gas. Thanks again for all the good ideas and information.
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  #21  
Old 04-17-2008, 01:02 PM
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If the heat risers are functioning properly you should not have to do anything to them. If they are stuck you should probably give them some attention.
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  #22  
Old 04-21-2008, 10:43 PM
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My W108 250SE had a similar problem where it would stall at intermittent/random times, turns out the old mechanical fuel injection still needs the throttle position sensor to be connected - one of the wires on my throttle body had broken off, the car would run for an undetermined time then stall, as if it were not getting any fuel - worth having a look unless your 250C is a carby setup...

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