300E Sportline Edition Stalling

I'm been having some problem with my 1993 300E Sportline. From time to time it stalls on me when ever I'm about to stop or sometimes in idle. the engine just suddenly dies on me, sometimes I don't even know that it stalled already. and when you try to start it wouldn't. you have to wait from 1 to 5 minutes before it would start again with no problem. I brought it to the dealership and they told me that the electronic engine actuator is malfunctioning. so i had the mechanic change it and the relays that are burned out. After all those expenses and work it still stalls on me. I've going back and forth to the shop for the last 3 weeks. Does anybody have a solution or even an Idea what's wrong with my Car? Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'm really getting frustrated and sometimes I'm in the middle of an intersection when it decides to die on me.

Don't know if this applies to the 300Es, but I had a 1984 190E that did the same "stalling-at-intersections" routine. I had a complete service done, but when driving home from the shop it stalled at the first light. I stopped at the MBZ dealer a few miles down the road and had a tech do a test drive with me. He knew exactly what it was -- a faulty Fuel Pump Relay. Seems the originals were not hermetically sealed and contacts got corroded from moisture seepage. Popped the new (and improved) relay in and I was on my way (tho' $125.00 poorer). But, that money was well worth it to not being embarassed with my 190E AMG stalling in traffic.

Hope this helps!

Brian

[stevebfl]

Lots of posts on this problem.

Believe me it isn't going to be easy to diagnose unless it happens quite frequently. I probably diagnose this problem 1-2 times a week.

The problems can include any of these pieces, Idle valve, idle switch or adjustment, decel switch, air flow meter (potentiometer) and even the speed sensor on the back of the speedo. Things like fuel pump relay are rarely the problem as that problem usually occurs on start-up or at any time. For it to shut the pump off just at idle would be a real coincidence.

The worse that can happen here is to jump from one tech to the next. Hopefully you have had someone that knows what he is doing but if the problem is intermittant and you don't want to play musical parts then stick with the guy who looked at it the first time. If not you will pay for basic testing over and over. Don't loose the preliminary testing that you have already paid for.


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Steve Brotherton
Owner 24 bay BSC
Bosch Master, ASE master L1
26 years MB technician

[ss109]

O2 Sensor...

[Benzmac]

This is one where Steve and I will agree to disagree I hope. I have had several 103 engines that will die on the road or while at idle. One of 2 things would fix it...A fuel pump relay (could be verified by opening and inspecting the solder connections most of the time) or the over-voltage relay getting hot and going open....I have had many including my wife's car.

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Benzmac:
Donnie Drummonds
1981 280GE SWB
1987 16V
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
SERVICE MANAGER FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM

[stevebfl]

Where's my head of course the overvoltage protection relay is the number one failure here. I guess I was thinking of all those intermittant weirdo's when the OVP relay doesn't cover it.

As to the fuel pump relay, definitely a common problem but not at idle and usually not while running. Most every one I've seen has been an intermittant "no start" or easier; a permanent no start.

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Steve Brotherton
Owner 24 bay BSC
Bosch Master, ASE master L1
26 years MB technician

A year later but Thanks guys for all your reply Specially to Donnie Drummonds of Benmac. It was the overload protection relay that was causing the problem. too bad that I did not listen to you sooner 'coz I also talk to other mechanics and they contrdicted you theory but after a couple of thousand dollars and a lot of agravation. I learned my lesson to listen to you, Thanks
3.2Sportline