190e won't start....Please help!

[Nickc]

Hi, I recently bought a 1987 190e (2.0 auto) and I was very happy with the car (my first Mercedes) until two days ago when I took it to a local garage to have the exhaust emissions checked (the car needed slight throttle to start 'cleanly' when hot, OK when cold). The technician found he was unable to adjust the mixture and the engine was running lean.

He suggested I bring the car in to have the injection/induction system cleaned out before attempting to adjust the mixture again. He cleaned everything, and upon reassembly the car refused to start. (I beleive it started momentarily then faltered)
It has since been disassembled and they have established that fuel is reaching the fuel distributer or fuel pressure regulator but is not reaching the cylinders! Apparently the injectors are clean. The car was running beautifully when I dropped it off at the garage.

Any ideas?
Also, does anyone know how much a secondhand fuel pressure regulator and fuel distributor cost?
Thank you for any info and thanks for such an impressive web site.

 

[Nickc]

anyone?

 

[13022]

That sounds a bit suspect to me... I'd check out your rights with the Citizens advice centre first of all! A lot of cars like a bit of throttle when starting from hot anyway  (my 190e does) ...

How much faith do you have in the garage that you used? Is it possible that they don't know what they're at?

 

[Matt Crooke]

Hi Nick.
I may be wrong here, but im almost certain that the mixture on the 190e (in fact any fuel injected car) cannot be adjusted....this is the job of the engine management system and not a bloke with a screwdriver.

From what you say, it sounds like he may have fiddled with something that he shouldnt have. Would it be possible for you to go back to the guy and ask him exactly what it was he adjusted. you may be able to rectify the problem yourself. One other point to note. For someone who has never seen the engine of a 190e before, because they have mechanical fuel injection rather than the norm that is EFI, when you take the air filter off, you could confuse what you see before you as a carb..where in fact it is Bosch fuel injection. I hope he hasnt done this and turned or adjusted something that sholdnt have been moved.

Let us know how you get on.

(ps. sorry if im waffling for England here, just got back from "a swift half after work" if you catch my meaning!

 

[Andy]

Hi Nick,

Sounds like your chose technician dosn't know what he's doing. The emissions are adjustable. If the 3mm allen key won't turn for what ever reason. There is a kit which can be bought and the adjuster replaced. I think he's caused your problems and would take it back to him to sort it or a full refund.


Sorry I can't be of further help.

Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[Nickc]

Thank you all for the replies, they're very much appreciated.

The garage I go to is one that I have been using since 1984, when I got my first car, so I trust them totally. They have always been most efficient and accomodating.
This makes it all the more embarrasing in a way!

Yesterday they tried a substitute Fuel Pressure Regulator and a different Fuel distributor from a vehicle that works. The car still refused to run! Today, the original fuel inj. parts have been replaced and when I called in this afternoon, they were still trying to start the car, whilst altering the mixture screw(with the allen key) so I imagine they feel the fault lies there as Andy suggested.

I will keep you all posted in case anyone has a similar problem!

 

[Nickc]

The car now runs!!

I was hoping to divulge some profound info that would solve other peoples woes, but apparently after taking the fuel inj. system apart to clean it, the tune up needs to be done from scratch and if it drifts too far it is difficult to start the engine in order to tune the car!

This is what I have been told anyway. The sad thing is that the car started more easily and idled more smoothly prior to the engine tune up - it's quite a lumpy tickover now.

C'est la vie!

 

[kiwi_bloke]

you can adjust the mixture!

As far as i know you can adjust the mixture on the 190es.....i thought id just say this for interests sake....my 88 190 allows you to do so....theres a hole through the air cleaner for an allen wrench


cheers

josh

 

[joe bloggs]

Tell him to check the Idle valve rubber hose under the inlet manifold, they have a habit of popping off if the engine backfires through the inlet (as can happen on first start up after work on the fuel system), car draws too much air. Also slacken an injector nut, is fuel reaching this far?. ........sorry just noticed you got it started, give it a good run and have the Co rechecked.