SMOKE & SIZZLING - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rodm · #1 03-28-2011, 11:53 AM

My W210/ E300 was running fine until yesterday. My wife went to start it, it started died then restarted stayed running with ROUGH idle, check engine and glow plug light then came ON so she turned it off. I came home from work tried it same symptoms and left it for today when I was off. Just tried it but before starting left it key on 20 seconds (after glow light going out) but before starting engine, rough idle and then started smelling SMOKE with a SIZZLING noise from engine compartment . Check engine came on but glow plug light went out. Immediately turned it off. Any ideas on what to check for ?? THANKS Rod

79Mercy · #2 03-28-2011, 12:04 PM

I would inspect the GP relay. Not sure where its located on your newer model though.

GregMN · #3 03-28-2011, 01:24 PM

If the glow plug light comes on after a start, that indicates bad glow plug(s). Not having all the glow plugs working would lead to a rough running engine until all the cylinders start to fire (a short time).

Smoke and sizzle. You need to check that out. Could be a glow plug wire shorting out somewhere. The smoke would be the wire insulation burning. The sizzle could also be the wire insulation melting.

Unplug the glow plug harness from the relay. Jump power to each glow plug individually. If one of them is shorted out, it should be fairly obvious, pretty quickly.

Has any work been done on it recently?

rodm · #4 03-28-2011, 04:03 PM

Thanks for replies. Had a difficult time finding the relay as it is a sealed unit on the 1997. I was able to take off the 6 pin connector with out breaking it and found the # 4 was reading infinite on the 200 ohm scale. The others all read .09 . I did get a reading of 16.7 on the 20k scale for the # 4. i assume the next step woulb be to take off the engine cover and intake runner to get to the GP to test them.

GregMN · #5 03-28-2011, 04:11 PM

What year?

If a non turbo, I think you can access the #4 by just removing the crossover pipe. Then you can see if the wire is still attached to the GP.

rodm · #6 03-28-2011, 09:16 PM

NEED HELP... cant get the caps off the GP. l have tried squeezing them with pliers and pulling. Pushing down then squeezing and pulling....you name it I have done it. Obviously I dont want to brake the caps off the harness so trying not to use too much force . Any tricks to this...The cap does have 2 raised portions on each side and i assumed i had to squeeze them. It also appears to have one on the top portion opposite the wires coming in to it.........1997 w210 non turbo

spark3542 · #7 03-28-2011, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodm

NEED HELP... cant get the caps off the GP. l have tried squeezing them with pliers and pulling. Pushing down then squeezing and pulling....you name it I have done it. Obviously I dont want to brake the caps off the harness so trying not to use too much force . Any tricks to this...The cap does have 2 raised portions on each side and i assumed i had to squeeze them. It also appears to have one on the top portion opposite the wires coming in to it.........1997 w210 non turbo

They only push on...just pull.

Sounds like gp #4 is bad. Use the procedure to remove it without breaking it...warm engine, lots of PB Blaster, use torque wrench and don't exceed 50Nm off torque.

rodm · #8 03-29-2011, 08:47 PM

Thanks Mark that was easy enough I just pulled and they all came off.....sometimes with these cars you can analyze something to death....lol

rodm · #9 04-12-2011, 01:25 PM

I was able to finally get all six plugs out after days of PB Blaster and letting them sit and turning them out a bit at a time. The last two were hell and I would just spray them turn as much as they would let me then spray again and let them sit. All the thick crud was pressure washed out of the intake manifold using gas and a brush.. Was able to clean out all of the glow plug holes using a drill bit and gun cleaning brush. BUT now on the last glow plug hole the gun cleaning brush broke off from the handle leaving the brush stuck about two inches in the hole. I have tried a flexible claw that I bought from sears but it does not have enough clamping power to pull the brush out. I just went and bought the skinniest needle nose pliers from sears and have been trying for about an hour to get the end of the brush in the pliers but so far no luck. 1997 E 300 non turbo. ANY IDEAS ANYONE.?????
Rod

GregMN · #10 04-12-2011, 01:47 PM

Have you reinstalled any glow plugs yet?

oldsinner111 · #11 04-12-2011, 01:54 PM

try strong magnet if steel or purchase a pair of hemostats.Is piston on the up stroke?Then turn crankshaft.

pimpernell · #12 04-12-2011, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodm

I was able to finally get all six plugs out after days of PB Blaster and letting them sit and turning them out a bit at a time. The last two were hell and I would just spray them turn as much as they would let me then spray again and let them sit. All the thick crud was pressure washed out of the intake manifold using gas and a brush.. Was able to clean out all of the glow plug holes using a drill bit and gun cleaning brush. BUT now on the last glow plug hole the gun cleaning brush broke off from the handle leaving the brush stuck about two inches in the hole. I have tried a flexible claw that I bought from sears but it does not have enough clamping power to pull the brush out. I just went and bought the skinniest needle nose pliers from sears and have been trying for about an hour to get the end of the brush in the pliers but so far no luck. 1997 E 300 non turbo. ANY IDEAS ANYONE.?????
Rod

If your gun cleaning brushes are like mine, the brush itself is on a metal rod. If that metal rod is in the hole, you might want to try a piece of rubber hose the same size, or a little smaller and fit it over the rod end. You might be able to apply a vacuum to the hose which might allow you to extract the rod and brush. Whatever way you decide to go, just be careful not to drive the brush further in and down into the cylinder. Best of luck

rodm · #13 04-12-2011, 02:39 PM

Greg' why did you ask if I had any other plugs back in yet????. No but I could???. OLdsinner, magnet wont work really STUCK..might have to buy the hemostats...Pimpernell the claw I used had two lbs pressure...dont believe vacuum will work but at this point willing to try anything. Does anyone know if putting the other 5 glow plug in and just cranking will blow the brush out or will it hit the top of the piston?.

Skippy · #14 04-12-2011, 03:38 PM

I wouldn't try that with the starter. Slowly barring the engine over by hand MIGHT help, but could also make things worse.

rodm · #15 04-12-2011, 06:27 PM

Whew!!! I was finally able to get the brush out. I bought a kit for $10.00 at Northern Tool which contained a hemostat with a locking mechanism in the back. The kit is actually used for fishing. I was able to pinch the end of the brush lock the back of the hemostat and pull till it came out.... Everything is clean and now ready to go back together on Friday when I am off. Did notice I can hand tighten my glow plugs all the way down by hand and turn them back out after reaming them out with the gun brush.
THANKS TO ALL FOR THE HELP SO FAR.
Rod