190E Cold Start Issue

[MercyBenz63]

OK here goes, '85 190E 2.3 Automatic. When started cold engine starts and dies immediately. After about five starts engine will remain running for short period of time. Five more starts and the engine is warm enought to begin to idle. If at any time the throttle is actuated before the engine has warmed the car dies immediately.

The temp sensor seems to be working (resistance drops as engine warms), although unplugging the temp sensor does not seem to affect the starting problem. The Aux air loop motor functions when direct powered (can see the opening move.) Unplugging the EHA also does not seem to affect the cold starting condition.

Any ideas before i do the full on fuel pressure test rigamarole?

Thanks in advance.

~K

[t walgamuth]

testing the cold start valve. although it seldom causes trouble this sure sounds like it is not reporting for work.

tom w

[MercyBenz63]

I did not test the cold start vavle because I thought this only actuated during cranking and for up to 12 sec following starting. If this is truly the case it would seem like the car is starting on fuel provided by the cold start valve and then quickly dying.

~K

[ejsharp]

I'd do a general trouble shoot like look at O2 wire to make sure it's not shorted and maybe check the fuel relay located behind the battery to make sure it has no circular cracks on the circuit board. What about OVP relay?

[MercyBenz63]

I guess that I should also mention that once the car appraoches operating temperature it runs just fine. It will also start up just fine if it is warm.

I guess I just assumed that bacause the thing runs OK when warm the the OVP and other relays are good. Maybe this is a bad assumption. I'll check those too.

[lkchris]

Substitute 190E for 300E
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showpost.php?p=1029163&postcount=2

[MercyBenz63]

Thank you all for you help in solving this one.

After reading the suggestions to check the OVP relay I did just that. Wonder of wonders, someone had installed a 7.5 amp fuse that of course was broken. A new 10 amp fuse solved the problem and now the car and owner are happy once again!

[bb190e]

it seem that i had the same problem with mine 109e, but it was because i blow a fuse, that i didn't know was there, look behind the battery, there a panal the removes, there a silver box with a fuse in the top of it, check the fuse. that fix my hard starting.. bb190e

[kmaysob]

what does ovp stand for? ive been trying to resolve this problem for a while. i read this post and went searching,well i found the silver box and the fuse was blown. it seems to start alot quicker. we'll see tomorrow when it hasnt ran for 12 hours

[ejsharp]

OVP = "Over Voltage Protection" relay.

[kmaysob]

what all will the ovp effect when the fuse blows?

[ejsharp]

Whatever components prevent flu like symtoms from seizing the engine.

[mctwin2kman]

Originally Posted by kmaysob

what all will the ovp effect when the fuse blows?

The OVP controls power to the EHA, CIS-E, and IACV, as well as the ABS if installed.

[kmaysob]

man, the gasser world is alot different than the diesel world im from. thank you all for your help. its much appreciated.

[Wildman]

I've got a 1985 230 CE (Euro coupe) with the hard starting / no starting problem. It's got spark and I can smell gas. It just turns over and over without starting. Sometimes it wants to sputter and run, but immediately dies.

I've looked for the OVP fuse, but can't seem to find it. The battery is against the firewall on the passenger side, but there is nothing behind the battery. No box, no cover of any kind. There is a wiring harness that enters the firewall here, but no access to anything.

Any ideas out there? The 230 CE supposedly has the same engine as a 190E 2.3, but apparently the location of stuff like this is different.