85 190E 2.3L 180,000 miles. My 190 won't start. After towing it home I was able to start it in the garage by removing the air cleaner and spraying in ether. I could keep it running by keeping the rpms above about 2000. However, it wouldn't idle. It would also start if the plate on the airflow sensor was held down slightly. When it was running the mixture smelled rich. The ambient air temperature through all of this ranged from 15-28 degrees.

Any ideas?

Without any more info I would plug in a new Overvoltege protection relay!
If it's bad you won't have power to the cold start valve or fuel mixture trimming (cold enrichment).
Mike

Thanks for the reply. What other info do you need? Should I put a meter on the cold start valve and check for power? Can I pull the OVP relay and check continuity on it? Barn

turn on ignition switch have a second person listen at left rear of car to here fuel pump run briefly if nothing proably has bad fuel pump relay it is located behind battery should say rpm limit on top of it

Second step is to check fuse in voltage overload protection relay still located behind battery silver in color with 10 amp fuse in the top

Third step would help to clean fuel filter at cis head as is last stop to keep contaminated from cis head filter is located on firewall side of cis head take out filter/fitting blow out with high pressure air

while fuel hose is off put into plastic/glass container. then unplug ingnitiion contol box on left front inside fender to prevent spark have second person crank car to find out if fuel is flowing

Was the car running and then quit? Or drove OK but wouldn't restart. Did the engine overheat? Did you just get fuel? Backfire when driving?
You stated the engine ran as long as it was above 2000 RPM,Do you mean it ran without sspraying starting fluid in it? If thats the case the pump must be running.
There is a large vacuum hose from the idle valve to the air duct housing that comes off during backfires, If this is the case there won't be enough airflow at low RPMs to move the airflow sensor.
Mike

Mike thanks for following this. The first time it had the problem the engine was shutoff normally but it wouldn't restart.

Yes the fuel pump must be fine. I had it running for 5 minutes at a high rpm without squirting starter fluid. To initially start the engine it needs one shot of starter fluid.

It didn't overheat. I didn't ask my son if he had gotten fuel. The gauge shows 1/2 tank.

I removed the OVP relay and checked the fuse. It's fine.

How is the cold start injector tested?