1985 380SL - How to Crank

[fgreynolds]

Recently purchased 85 380SL. Owner's Manual says the engine should start without any petal. Mine won't...have to depress the petal. Is this normal on the 380 (120K miles), or do I need to adjust something? Thanks.

Frank Reynolds

[YuCrew]

I've never had to depress the accelerator to start my 1984 380SL.

However, hot re-starts are a common issue, normally solved by replacing the fuel accumulator. Most fuel injected engines (like the 380SL) that I'm familiar with do not require any accelerator action.

[ctaylor738]

1. Air sensor plate may be out of adjustment. If it's completely closed, the FD won't supply any fuel.

2. The opening around the sensor plate may be gummed up.

3. Your idle control valve may not be working and not allowing air at start-up, but this is was the case you would expect idle problems

4. The throttle plate - deep in the bowels of the intake manifold - my be slightly out of adjustment or gummed up. Even with the throttle at rest, it needs to allow a tiny amount of air. But again, you would expect other problems.

Lots of posts on how to deal with the sensor plate adjustment and cleaning.

[fgreynolds]

Thanks for your help. The car idles after it starts and does not stall, so it sounds like I need to check/clean the air sensor plate and perhaps replace the fuel accumulator.

Frank Reynolds

[YuCrew]

Based on your symptoms, I would NOT start with the accumulator. I just wanted to share with you a common "hot" re-start problem. Even the dealer said probably leaking fuel injectors or something else. However, alll the "experts" here and elsewhere found that replacing the fuel accumulator solved the HOT restart problem.

Good luck.