Hello All - I recelntly bought a 116 chassis to drive while i rebuild my 16valve. It is a 280S, from 1975. Got a good deal on it, and it is in absolutely pristine condition, sooo clean.

I drove the car for two weeks, and she ran pretty well, for a 30 year old without a tune up. The day i got in her to drive to DMV to register, i found i had no spark (and no ride). The car turns over endlessly, and i know it has fuel, as i can smell the gas when i take off the air filter.

I replaced the coil, that being the most likely culprit. That had no effect, i am still getting no spark. Everything from the plugs to the cap and rotor are now new, as is the coil. Is there any other possible culprit other than the ignition control "computer"?

I would really appreciate any input into this issue, as i can barely live without a car to drive.

you will have to help out some. which type of fuel injection does it have? or is it a carb? does it have points? a sudden failure of spark i would suspect a loose lead somewhere or a broken point wire or a wire fell off somewhere. it also could be a bad ground wire from the batt to chassis or from chassis to engine. or simply dirty battery cable. if it is the (is it j tronic fuel injection) then there may be a set of injection points under the distributor points. no you said it smells like fuel so prob that is not it. if it has points look at the point wire inside the distributor. also look at the rotor.

good luck.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

The car has a carb, and it also has points. A mechanic told me that if i took the wire from the coil to the distributor cap and grounded it i should see spark when i turn the car over (which i dont).

it has been a while since i trouble shot a gasser. the above proceedure bypasses the ignition, right? now you could also bypass the wire from the coil to the battery. a jumper from the plus on the battery to the plus on the coil would check that.

did you check all connections around the distributor? the points inside? the point wire inside? the rotor? the point gap?

i suggest you try all of the above and check back.

good luck.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

The car has transistorized ignition. Do not jumper the bat to coil .
The points switch the ignition control module , not the coil. The ECU switched the coil.
There are two ballast resistors . Check each with an ohm meter for possible open/bad connection.
Check points for opening/closing ..

so is the transistor ecu the little silver box about the size of a cigarette pack that sits under the coil or so?

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Well, thanks to the input of a member i was able to download a deliciously free mercedes shop manual. With proper information i was able to trace the problem to the resistors.

The ICM appears to be functioning properly. It is, by the way, about the size of 4 packs of ciggarettes, silver, and located on the inner fender just next to the coil.

Again, thanks many times over for helping me out. Whomever invented the carburator needs to found, dragged out into the street, and.....(insert threat here). Stupid medieval technology. While we're at it.....lets look up the guy who invented drum brakes......

THANK YOU! ALL!

Be cautious of your attitude towards yesterdays technology, more so now since you are dependant on it othervise, you vill be valking, ja!

Ve haff vays ov making you valk?

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1989 300 SEL that mostly works, but needs TLC