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  #1  
Old 05-16-2007, 04:41 PM
Newbie 190E Owner
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4
Unhappy W201 - 1985 190E - Start-Run problems

I have looked through the other threads and used them to partially correct the problem with my 190E, however it still won't start reliably every day or will start and then the low idle will cause it to die. Pressing on the gas pedal causes it to die quicker.

Here is what has occured and what has been done;

Wife ran out of gas

put 5 gallons in it

was hard to start, but started and drove home(5 blocks)

wife drove it to and from work for a week(5 blocks each way)

wife ran out of gas again

put 5 gallons in it

was hard to start but eventually started and drove it to gas station

filled car up

car didn't want to start after fill up

pushed car away from gas pumps and it started right up

drove home

car wouldn't start next day, kept trying for 3 days, no go

consulted MercedesShop for ideas

cleaned fuel filter(was almost clean to begin with)

removed fuel line from fuel distributor to check flow, no flow

consulted MercedesShop for ideas

removed fuel pump relay and jumped it

gas shot 20 feet across garage and splashed on far wall

cleaned up mess and ordered replacement fuel pump relay

10 days later I received the relay and it was the wrong one(had 10 pins)

called vendor and had a replacement 2 days later, again wrong relay

faxed pictures of all sides of relay and inside of relay to vendor

(NOTE: when I removed the relay electronics from the plastic case the parts smelled burnt.)

Finally received exact replacement fuel pump relay

installed relay and checked for flow by turning on ignition, had flow

rechecked by replacing old relay and got no flow

re-installed new relay and re-checked flow

re-connected fuel line to distributor

consulted MercedesShop for ideas

tried to start, no go after initially trying to run

noticed smell of gas and checked under car when fuel pump was running

found leak in rubber fuel line from hard line in back to fuel filter

replaced fuel line after checking fuel pressure, 75-80 psi

tried to start and it fired up and ran without touching gas pedal, idle was rough, but operation was smooth. Drove car around neighborhood for half hour then out on freeway for 20 mins and then back home with outside temperatures in the 80s to low 90s

next morniing tried to start car and it would run for 5-10 seconds and then die

This where I am now. What do I check and where is it? Are there manuals available on this car for free on the web that I can access?

Thank you for your assistance,
Robert

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  #2  
Old 05-16-2007, 05:32 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Colleyville, TX
Posts: 233
Hello Robert,
This is what i would do in the sequence specified below. I am assuming that your CEL is NOT on.

1. Check your OVP relay...it is located behind the battery with a red top. Make sure the fuse on top (10a) is OK. Also when you put it back in MAKE SURE IT IS SEATED PROPERLY IN THE SOCKET..a snug fit.

2. Check your cold start valve. Make sure you're getting current to the CSV. If the OVP is bad chances are the CSV is not getting any current and thus your rough idle issues & dying engine.

Please post results.

smk_texas
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  #3  
Old 05-16-2007, 06:28 PM
Newbie 190E Owner
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4
I checked the OVP relay. I seem to remember that someone said if it rattles it is bad. Mine rattled but on closer inspection one of the fingers that makes contact with the fuse was loose and the fuse was rattling. I removed the fuse and the plastic cap and tapped it against my palm and no rattle so I gently pressed on the finger to close the gap up and force a more secure connection, put the fuse back in and no rattle.

I reinstalled it and tried to start and it fired right up. It ran much smoother, but still had a slight stumble(probably plugs).

Can you tell me where the cold start valve is located so I can check it to verify it is not unreliable?

I just don't want to commit to driving it and go out in the morning and have it not start again after my wife has gone to work in my car.

Robert
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  #4  
Old 05-16-2007, 07:06 PM
just-n-time's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Louisiana266 Maloy Rd winnfield71483
Posts: 804
Robert, If I am not mistaken, the cold start valve will not send a shot of fuel unless it is pretty cold out. So I think you are on the correct path when you mention plugs, start at the beginning,check the cap, rotor, and all the plug wires for to much resistance. once all that is out of the way we can look deeper. How did the car perform before the two times it ran out of fuel? There are a great deal of things we can get into, so lets try to diagnose this simply. JNT.
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  #5  
Old 05-16-2007, 07:23 PM
Newbie 190E Owner
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4
It ran just fine before it ran out of gas.

I checked the rotor, dist cap, wires and now the plugs. The plugs are not new but they haven't been in very long. All else is OK.

It's not that bad of a stumble and the engine runs great if I give it some gas. The darn transmission almost snaps my neck in the 1-2 upshift no matter the throttle.

If it never got better, it would be ok. I am just leary of it because of the start-no-start history of the last month and want to check everything I can.
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  #6  
Old 05-17-2007, 02:29 PM
Newbie 190E Owner
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4
It's Alive

After the success with the OVP relay last night I did some more cleaning and reseating of relays and connections.

Then I waited till just a bit ago and tried it again. Turned the key and as soon as the starter had the engine turning, it started right up. Now it is running so smooth it stood up to the nickle test. You know where you stand a nickle on its side on the radiator and it stays there with the engine running.

Next I backed it out of the garage and started to go down the street. I didn't hit the gas very hard at all, but the one-two upshift elicited a high pitch squealing noise from the rear of the car. It was something I have never heard before from this car. You know, something like the sound when tires are moving faster than the pavement they are running on. That's right, with only pressing the gas pedal halfway down, this little car got scratch.

Now I have to worry about replacing the tires if my son borrows it again.

I wasn't sure if something was wrong at first, but when I tried it again and floored it from a standstill, I got the same results only the force pushing me back in the seat was somewhat greater. Great enough that I broke a spring in the seat and the remaining piece poked me in the posterior.

Thank you for all the help in getting it running again, now how does one replace a seat spring? Is there an easy way besides taking the seat coompletely out? Guess I better look at the DYIs again.

Thanks
Robert

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