W201 - 1985 190E - Start-Run problems

[rmichal]

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