200 TE Auto cutting out suddenly !!!!!!!!!

[David Kelly]

Hi, i'm hoping someone can suggest a possible reason why my Merc 200TE Auto keeps cutting out and losing all power whilst i'm driving, there is no warning this is about to happen, when it happens and i bring the car to a stop, if i leave it a few minutes and start it up, it's fine and i can carry on but it's happened a few times now, in January i had a new fuel tank fitted, could this be related to my recent problems and does anyone have any suggestions on what it could be or am i facing a big garage bill

 

[john lang]

Sounds like you might have a vacuum in the tank because the tank vent is not letting air in.
Is there a sound of air entering when you remove the filler cap ?

 

[David Kelly]

yep, when you take the filler cap off there is that whoosy noise, but it is still doing it, what else could it be ??????????

 

[MotardMan]

If it makes the whooshy sound, then ytou have a vacuum problem. Buy a temp filler cap from a garage, the sort that just pushes in, and run the car. These are not airtight enough to pass an MOT, but stop the fuel from sloshing down the wing of the car. If the problem goes away, you know you need another filler cap.

 

[NormanB]

MM You have me worried now!! :?

I have had my vehicle some while and the fuel cap has always 'whooshed' - but the car runs fine and has never conked out.

 

[Spike]

Me 3!

 

[David Kelly]

ok, i'm confused now, should it whoosh or not :?:

 

[MotardMan]

Whooshing

LOL!

Mine whooshes, but only when the tank is nearly empty. I guess to eliminate a vacuum problem, ideally you need to run the car with no filler cap, so there is zero chance of the vacuum forming. However, this would be messy and dangerous, so I suggested the emergency filler cap to test the theory. I guess the reason our cars whoosh, is that there is a permissable amount of vacuum allowed for the fuel system to fubnxction right. If you have a weak pump(s) or a blockage somewhere in the fuel lines, the vacuum may inhibit delievery of the fuel to the Fi.

If your system is healthy, then the small amount of vacuum that builds in the tank should not be a problem. I would not be surprised if was designed like that to reduce hydrocarbon emissions for the USA.

The breather in the filler cap must be "calibrated" to allow a certain level of vacuum to build in the tank. Sorry if all I have done is confuse the issue here!

 

[jaques2k]

hmm, usually if you don´t have the tank top-filled, the fuel in the tank makes fumes when you´re driving and the fuel is mixed. These fumes makes a wooshy noise (air/fumes is pushed out through the filler hole) when you open the filler cap (usually quite a big woosh if your tank is almost empty. This woosh is absolutely normal and nothing to worry about. A tank should also have a breather hose/hole with a one-way vent, so some air letting in (when the tank is emptied) and not letting fuel out (that´s why the fumes don´t get out until you open your cap), so if that´s not clogged or stuck (very, very unlikely), you don´t need to worry about vaacuum in the tank. I guess your fault is somewhere else in the fuel distribution line, maybe the pump or something. This is just my opinion, correct me if I´m wrong!

 

[sunil sood]

i must say that i agree with jacques that the whoosh sound is normal on opening the fuel filler cap.

also, there is a charcoal cannister fitted in the fuel system which is designed to pick up and absorb fuel vapours on the return feed line to the tank from the engine on the 190e, 1993 car.

this is supposed to be changed at 72,000miles or every 4 years as per the maintenance booklet.

anybody done this service on their car?

 

[Andy]

Hi all


Too put your mind to rest about "whooshing noises". They shuld all do it. If they don't you most likely have a worn fuel filler cap. As for the cutting out. With out looking at it I would say its either the fuel pump relay or the over load protection relay. Both situated behind the black plastic cover behind the battery.



Hope this helps.

Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[David Kelly]

Hi
Thanks for the replys, i very much appreiciate it,

Andy, i will have alook at what you have suggested.

Watch this space :lol:

 

[joe bloggs]

Agree with Andy, go for the overvoltage relay first (the one with the fuse on the top) as the fuelpump relay usually gives trouble when trying to start car. Also its cheaper.

The whoosh is a design thing, partial vac is allowed to build up in tank to prevent fuel running out in an accident, must be coincedence that it was ok before tank was fitted.

 

[David Kelly]

just to update.....the car will not start now, it was turning over and would just about catch (if you know what i mean) but would then just cut out, but now it just turns over but will not start, i have a mechanic coming across sat morn, and i've relayed the info i recieved so far, so fingers crossed he will be able to sort it for me.

I'll let you know........

 

[David Kelly]

Hi, both relays were checked, and one is not doing the job, i think it's the over voltage thingy one, i took both off and put them back one at a time, one made whirly sound and one didn't.
How much are these relay pumps and do you think it's worth replacing both at the same time
I know this doesn't make much sense, but i'm trying...(yes i know very trying)

 

[Rog_E]

Hi David.

My car has almost identical symptoms!

I have changed:
Distributor cap, rotor arm and HT leads.
Fuel Pump relay.
OVP.
Fuel pumps (2 off).
In that order.
The OVP lessened the symptoms but I still have the occasional cut-out, some times the car just 'stutters' (at 40mph the car can be felt to decelerate/accelerate alternately.
When the car does stall it restarts almost straight away and the symptoms have gone.
It is worse on the drive home after work than going to work!

Not sure what to try next as the parts are getting more expensive, I'll go for the coil but the ECU's are in the hundreds of pounds.

You can get a fuel pump relay from:
http://www.gsfcarparts.com (£68 ) or:
http://www.eurocarparts.com (£55.65)

The OVP relay (part No 201 540 37 45) I could only source from Mercedes and cost me £70 approx).
Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[andy_k]

if you need or think you need an ECU

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2414465083&category=10398

No connection to me I spotted it whilst browsing

Andy

 

[David Kelly]

Right, now i'm worried big time......rang the local mercedes dealers and gave them the part number of the relay (well i hope it is and i'm not about to make a fool of myself )

These are all the numbers off the bit which is not working (both relays situated behind battery) hope this makes sense!!!!

0280800124
0035454932
KE000412V4ZYL

It has JETRONIC written on it, and is made by BOSCH

It's a black box shape about 4" x 5"-6"

Cost from garage £500, please please tell me this ain't what wrong

 

[Rog_E]

Hi David.

The Jetronic is the Fuel Injection ECU!

The OVP relay is mounted on the left under a black cover (viewed from drivers seat) behind the battery and has a red top with a fuse under a clear plastic flap and is 1.25 " square (I have one beside me on my desk as I type!!).

The fuel pump relay is the aluminium cased relay on the left (as you look at it from under the bonnet it is on the right behind the battery).

They can be a little difficult to pull, I had to take out the relay alongside to get a grip on the fuel pump relay.

 

[David Kelly]

Thanks for that Rog, i was having a mare thinking that was the prob, anyway i have taken the correct peice off and am going armed with it so i know exactly what i am looking for.
Watch this space.......