Hello there on the forum. I own a 1994 E-420 MB with 129K on the odometer. I have just come back from visiting some old friends and my wife has had a problem with her MB. She has told me that he ABS light started to come on a little for the last 3 day's, and now she has told me that the car will start and then die right away. I can start it but it will not keep running, what should I look for in this situation?? Fuel filter was just changed, No idea where to start looking. The car is in our garage right now and I can not keep it running long enough to pull it out of the garage. Could this be a bad sensor or what?? Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for any and all imputs for this problem and all help will be checked out. Thanks for any and all your help. Ben
Hello again, just got in from the garage, I found two codes here are the code #'s. Code # 6 and Code # 15. I can start the car but i have to keep hitting the gas pedal to keep it running, also the ABS light keeps going on and off. The Car will not idle at all, unless I keep the gas pedal depressed. I hope that this latest check will make it easier for someone to help me out. I have no idea now where to start looking, any diagrams or pictures would be greatly appreciated, the MB has been running great until this happened all of a sudden. Help please. Ben

This is common problem, caused by a faulty fuel relay, located next to the battery (behind the firewall)

The battery for the E420 is located in the trunk of this vehicle, not near the firewall or under the hood. and if it is the fuel relay, is this under the dash board that you are talking about, and if it is just about where under the dash is it located.?? I surly appreciate your reply, do you know where I maight get a diagram of the position of this fuel relay and of course the part number if it is available. Thanks a lot for your reply. Ben

The battery on the 300's is between the two firewalls near the passenger fender (under a plastic cover) right next to it are two relays, one for the fuel, which causes the exact problem that you are having. Sorry but don't know about the location of the 400's adn therefore if the rleays wer moved also, but the problem is so common that the relays are carried by the 800# service trucks. A call to the 800 or your local dealer should help. Because your vehicle isn't running the service truck should check it for free, I think, and charge you for the rleay..

The battery, as Ben said, is in the trunk on the V8 124's.

Sounds like the throttle motor to me........

Gilly

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Gilly, Thanks for the info. Could you possibly tell me where the throttle motor is located on the E-420 and also the location if I need it the fuel relay, is this the same relay as the fuel pump relay, if it is I do not think it would be this relay because I can keep the automobile running by keeping the gas pedal down for a higher RPM other than idle speed. I do beleive that you may be right. Just do not know where the throttle motor is located. Thanks, Ben

It's buried in the intake manifold. You take off the cover over the intake manifold and the mass airflow sensor is under the cover, the throttle motor is under the mass airflow sensor.
The fuel relay I would say they meant to say fuel pump relay, and I believe this is over on the right rear side of the engine compartment, although on this particular car it may have what is called the MAS module instead of a fuel pump relay, but I agree, ti doesn't sound like the problem to me either.

Gilly

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Some random thoughts:

1. For what it's worth, the fuel pump relay on the 400E is under the rear seat, on the right side.

2. Seems to me a simple test of that relay, and the fuel pumps, is to turn the key to the "run" position and listen for the familiar sound of the fuel pumps in front of the right rear tire.

3. I don't know what those codes represent, but might be helpful to know them.

4. I wonder if the ABS light coming on is due to the low idle speed, which in turn is causing low alternator output? I've read that low voltage can cause quirky malfunction lights.

5. What about basic, simple stuff, like condition of the plugs, distributor caps, and rotors?

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Steve
'93 400E

400E, Both distributer caps and rotors were changed last month along with the spark plugs. The code #6 says idle speed control inoperative, (test electronic accelerator) code 15 says wide open throttle information defective (test LH-SFI unit) Does this help you out any??

Sorry, out of my league, but I BET someone here knows ...


If you don't get some specific info on those codes in the next day, you might want to post it as a separate thread -- something like, "Help with interpreting codes #6 and 15, 400E" or some such, and the electronic/diagnostic gurus on the site will likely see it and respond.

Good luck!

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Steve
'93 400E

I'm sure this is not the conventional approach but if it was me I would remove the ABS control unit and the ABS warning light bulb in the instrument panel. The brakes will still work fine and you've at least isolated the problem to some degree. Of course I live in Phoenix where ABS brakes are essentially worthless. But once you get the car running right you always hook everything up again.

The ABS isn't going to make the engine die.....

Gilly

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On the M104 W124, OVP and the Fuel Pump Relay can cause problems like this.

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Zafar
94 E320 58000 Miles

Hey guy's, If I can keep the automobile running, by giving it more gas, I can't beleive that it would be the fuel pump relay. The car will sit there and run with my foot on the gas pedal, but it just will not sit there and idle at all. I can put the transmission in gear and keep my foot on the gas to keep it about 1200 RPM, and the car will keep moving?? Just have to really find out just what the codes mean #6 and # 15 and exactly where everything is located to try and repair a very funny problem. I surley appreciate all of your imput, but still going crazy trying to get to the root of the problem. At least I have Gilly on my side.

isnt there an idle control circuit/ valve/ switch or something. if the car runs fine at anything but idle id suspect that.

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