now my 420SEL won't start...argh
 

I powerwashed my engine compartment a week ago Saturday...the car wouldn't start for a day, started and ran the next day, ever since it has stumbled and run poorly , but only intermittently. I hadn't started it for 2-3 days, and when I tried this evening, it will crank, act like it wants to catch, but won't fire up. I'm starting to wonder if the washing was conicidental to this problem, or it it's related. Any thoughts?

I think it is the root of the problem.

Before we bought our C280 Sport, we drove a C220, then a C280, but wanted something with better road feel. The salesman suggested a Sport model, but they didn't have one on hand. Anyway, we were told the owner of the dealership's daughter had a C280 Sport that we could use for a test drive. But there was a problem. She brought the car to the dealership the day before and had the service manager wash the engine bay because she wanted it looking new. So, the service manager dutifully listened to the owner's daughter. The car would not start. After a few days and, if I remember correctly, over a thousand in parts and labor, it was running. Man, was the owner pizzed at his daughter for throwing her weight around at HIS dealership! But the car ran fine, we fell in love, and bought our first Benz in December of 1996. Now it is a disease.

Anyway, good luck. I guess I would start by disconnecting every electrical item one by one and drying the connections out with a hair dryer. After that, I wouldn't know what to do.

I finally got it to catch, then it seemed to run OK...I went out on the interstate, it ran OK, with the exception of one minor stumble. After it got up to temp, it started to stumble under anything but really light throttle and actually stalled once. It did re-start right away, but then I had to go really easy on the gas the rest of the way home. I'm a little irritated, mostly at myself, but at least I have other wheels until I sort out this issue.

This is exactly the reason I always advise against engine washing. Some cars come through it without fanfare, while others have problem after problem.

I have washed engines before too, only to regret it heavily later. I had a Honda Accord that took a week to dry out. :rolleyes:

Hopefully it will soon dry out.

Let's hope it does start acting normal after it dries out all the way...I just hope I haven't fried something. I've been driving Enterprise rentals on weekends ($9/day) because I drive several hundred miles each weekend for work, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate jumping back into my nasty, rusty old Mbz after driving a brand new Mazda 3 all weekend, although the gas mileage on the Mazda is nice.