Help Start Problems !
 

!989 300 SEL. My MB sat 3 m0nths because of illness. Since then starting was a problem. Would run after long warm up. NOW it starts up fine but cuts right off.

I am trying to figure out if it is gas line, furl injextors, pump. Tried Techron in the beginning?

I live in a rural area and hope to make diagnosis before car is TOW for repair. MAYBE WE CAN FIX IT?

fuel pump relay? ignition switch?
what stops working? fuel or spark?

george

Lots of possibilities, some of which you can fix and some are mechanic only --

First, have you put fresh gas in it yet? If not, do so -- old gasoline burns poorly and will cause all sorts of trouble.

Next, put a whole bottle of techron in the next tank of gas -- you have have some varnish built up from sitting.

Pull the air filter housing off and check for mouse nests (I'm not kidding) -- a good sized mouse nest will prevent it running properly, and if they ate the air filter, you can get crud down the intake.

Chek the fuel control flap (directly under the air cleaner) for dirt -- it must move freely under light pressure (it only goes down). You may want to gently clean the venturi it sits it.

Check idle control valve hoses (the valve is under the air filter housing, about half the size of a coke can). If the hoses are hard and loose on the valve, they need to be replaced.

Most likely dead gas or sluggish air flap.

Peter