My car 1987 300e has a frustrating intermittant problem (often once a day but sometimes every few days) engine shuts off usually within the first 3-5 minutes after starting. I occurs mostly under load but a few times on decceleration. It then turns over but will NOT restart till I wait about 2-3 minutes. After that the car runs great..

Its has 250k miles and I did change the fuel filter recently. Problem went away for a week but now is back again.

Thank-you!!
Dave

See if you can get another coil and try it. I had the same problem with my 300E. That fixed it.
Anziani

'87 300E 200K
'95 E420 110K

My '86 300E had very similar symptoms just recently. In my case, the problem was the fuel pump relay. I took it apart yesterday and examined the solder connections with a 10X magnifier. I found three definite and two possible cracked solder joints. You have to look very closely. These cracked joints are often responsible for intermittent operation of a relay with the problem getting progressively worse. The relay is only 2-3 years old too.

I resoldered the cracked connections as well as any others which looked suspicious. I then reassembled the relay and sealed the base with flowable silicon windshield sealer. After sitting all night, the relay is again ready for action. My original relay failed after only 20 years of service . I repaired it the same way and I keep it in the trunk for a spare. It came in handy when this latest relay failed.

I don't mind buying new parts if they'll last awhile but a new fuel pump relay, on line, runs from about $100 to $200. If they are going to fail so soon, I'll try to do a repair.

__________________
1986 300E
1993 Volvo 940 Wagon
1984 Volvo 240 (daughter's)
1976 Dodge 1/2T pickup, gas hog

Few years back, I had the same problem. My fuel pump was the culprit. Anyways, better check other car parts such as bad oxygen sensor; fuel filters; low transmission fluid; weak spark. This are some of the most common reason why cars stalls. Good luck

* Would be useful to know whether you have spark after the engine stalls, cranks, but fails to start. Prepare a roadside quick-test for the next time it stalls (unless you can make it happen in your driveway) and just carry the test tools with you. Then open the hood and quickly check for spark while it cranks and won't start (before it starts again).

__________________
ASE Master Tech
Quality Enterprises
Mercedes Svc. & Restoration
Sheridan, IN
317.769.3536

Thanks for the tips! I wish I could check for spark or attempt to hear the fuel pump BUT this has been ONLY happened on the road often in traffic and a few intersections.

It happened again today and the engine just dies instantly. I pulled over and tried to start it once..cranked but didn't fire. About 1.5-2 minutes later it started and ran strong.

My 87 300E had this similiar stalling problem a few years ago. One day it got to the point that I couldn't restart it after it stalled. Ended up getting towed to a shop and they changed the cap & rotor. Pull yours and visually check it and maybe you'll save yourself some headache and shop cost.

* Dave, you've described the engine shut-off as "instantaneous". So I'm interpreting that to mean that the shut-off is like someone just turned off the ignition while you were driving. When the engine shuts off in traffic, with the key still in the on position, I'm assuming that all the warning lights come on. If the warning lights didn't light up in that situation (key on, engine off), it would take the diagnosis in another direction.
* When you loose fuel pressure, for whatever reason, an engine runs worse and worse over some seconds and then dies. It doesn't die instantly like it does with a loss of spark. With 250K it certainly wouldn't be a bad idea to spend some preventive maintenance money on coil, cap, rotor and even fuel pump relay. These parts, with the possible exception of the fuel pump relay, deteriorate with use and have a higher replacement history in general. The only parts to cause you a little more replacement difficulty will be the cap and rotor since you'll probably want to remove the fan shroud and fan for access.
* I would, however, put my bet down on an intermittant problem with the crankshaft position sensor. Catching the CPS acting up is tricky. But unless you know what the ignition is doing after the engine shuts off, you're really just guessing (you're even guessing after you know what the spark is doing, but you've narrowed down the possibilities).

__________________
ASE Master Tech
Quality Enterprises
Mercedes Svc. & Restoration
Sheridan, IN
317.769.3536

Robert...your description of "instantaneous" is perfect! It happens fast and yes the warning lights come on a few seconds later - as I'm pulling off the road.

I think i'll change the coil first and go from there. I'm really curious now to find out exactly what part is causing this. Is CPS also called the reference sensor under the engine electrical parts??

Thank-you everyone for all the help!!
Dave

hello i was just woundering did the coil fix your vehicle i have a 1989 230e
whitch does the same things stall now and then

simon

Yes, a new coil for about $90 fixed it. My mechanic now suggests a coil replacement at 50K on 300E's. He was skeptical at first.
Anziani

Sorry,
I meant 150K not 50K
Anziani