72 280se Starting issue
 

it has a 4.5..

The car starts just fine then stumbles and dies seconds later much like a carbed car would if the choke was stuck. Any ideas?

Clean the trigger points in the base of the distributor, check the grounds on the injectors, replace fuel filter, check the fuel pump and relay for proper operation.

I'd bet on the trigger points.

Peter

Does anyone have a link to information on the trigger points? I am new to the Benz world so even though I can build a rockrawler w/ ease I have no idea about the trigger points. I searched and what I could find was people stating the "it's your trigger poInts" but no "How TO' on cleaning them. Thanks in advance!:D

Pull the connector off (lower part of distributor, remove cap, note rotor location (dizzy can be installed at any locatoin, it's not keyed!), and remove the 5 mm hex socket bolt, then pull distributor.

Trigger points are held in by two screws, just pull out.

Use some carb cleaner (no methylene chloride!!) or brake parts cleaner to wash all the oil out of the points. Don't try to remove the plastic covers, they will shatter.

Dry off, put a bit of rubbing block grease on the rubbing blocks, and re-install the points.

Re-install dizzy and set the timing close and see what happens.

If you are picky, set the engine on TDC #1 first.

Peter

Another thing to check is the ballast resistors on the drivers fender up front -- if you have a bad connection on the running one (first one in series), it will start since the first resistor is bypassed to give better spark, but die when you let off the key and both resistors are switched in.

Peter

Thanks for the info! This car was a charity auction car and it drove in just fine. The guy who bought it thinks that someone changed the plug wires around or maybe moved something else so that the car would not run and there fore be put in the towaway group and go for way less so the guy could pick it up cheap. Apparently happens all the time.:rolleyes: . Anyway where can I find a good manual for this thing?

Manuals kick up on eBay once in a while (around $100) and the CD offerec here on FastLane has the whole thing including the 4.5L M117 engine supplementary manual.

I don't think swapping the plug wires around would do this, but fouling the ignition points might. So would screwing with the cap and rotor. Take a look, they aren't exactly cheap, buy sorta necessary!

Peter

It is interesting. If you just start it and let off the gas to let it idle it dies shortly after. If you start it and PUMP the gas it will "POP" like a mini backfire a little from the intake and struggle for a little while. My interest has been peaked and I think I might just have to take it off the guys hands.

Trigger points.

Peter

much thanks for the information, I'll stop talking now and get to wrenchin.:p