230CE (1991) Starting Problem

[dl@hannant-lawson.co.uk]

Hi Everyone, Newbie to the board and have been trying to find out if anyone has or had a similar problem starting.

Over a period of time, I have had an intermittent problem starting which over the last 7/10 days had got progressivly worse. I will add a little extra info, although probably not relevant.
About 6 months ago, I had a new distributor cap fitted, this was not linked to the starting problem but was due to a misfire.
About 6 weeks ago I had a new battery fitted and 4 weeks ago the car was serviced. a few days after the service the abs light started flickering and the next day was on constantly. A couple of days after this, on a frosty morning, the car started fine but after about a milr started to cut out when I pulled up at light or a junction. It started again no problem but at the next junction would cut out again. When I drove home after work everything was fine. The following day, car was fine on the way to work, but in the evening, although it started ok, after about 1 minute it felt as though it was only running on 2, it cleared itself pretty quickly and was fine for about a week. the car went back to the garage and they could find nothing wrong. electric were fine, carb was clear as were the filters. As I had a week off and didn't need the car I left it with them so that they could check the starting. It has now got to the stage where even when the car was garaged overnight it would not start in the morning. I have found a way to get round this, take off the air filter and prime the carb with a little fuel. The car then starts fine and continues to start ok when warm. The garage are convinced that this is obviously a fuel issue but don't seem to have the answer except change snesors and pumps one at a time until the problem is resolved. This could be a very expensive method. Please can someone help...........any ideas greatly appreciated. By the way I have checked the carb fuse and also the 10amp fuse behing the battery and can see no loose connections or pipes adrift.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[roofless]

due to the abs light i would think it's the ovp relay 119 in the link http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...=717.413&CT=F&cat=15T&SID=54&SGR=040&SGN=0319

 

[television]

As roofless for the ABS,,this could happen if the car was jump started.

There are easy ways to check out the fuel pumps etc, so check the fuse on the OVP relay and report back.

Welcome to the MB forum

 

[dl@hannant-lawson.co.uk]

Thanks for replies

the car was jump started prior to the new battery being fitted.

Is the relay you refer to the relay on the bulk head near the battery. If so, I have checked the fuse (1o amp) and this looks ok.

 

[roofless]

if you turn the ingnition on can you hear the fuel pump run for a few sec's

 

[dl@hannant-lawson.co.uk]

i will try and listen in the morning n/t

i will try and listen in the morning n/t

 

[television]

Do you have a volt meter so that some test can be done

 

[dl@hannant-lawson.co.uk]

Hi Malcolm, if i manage to borrow one, are the tests easy to do as i'm not over familiar with what is under the bonnet, I have always considered it to be a 'sealed unit'. Joking apart, i know a few bits and bobs but things have moved on since i worked on cards. ie everything had plugs and points and automatic chokes were a new gimic always going wrong on austin maestros.

 

[television]

The relay has 12 volts going in at pin 30 and should have the same on pin 87 though these are hard to get to, are sharp probe on the meter will go in the top of the fuse to test, though jump starting can destroy this relay.
http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...GM=717.413&CT=F&cat=15T&SID=54&SGR=040&SGN=03
The other thing to do is to test the input 12v to the ABS ECU

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...GM=717.413&CT=F&cat=15T&SID=54&SGR=075&SGN=04

 

[dl@hannant-lawson.co.uk]

Morning All,
First of all Roofless, I cannot hear a pump clicking when I turn the ignition on although there is another pump which is continuosly whirring and may drown the fuel pump out.

Secondly, I did manage to start this morning. Albeit did take a little time and when did start took a few moments to get going, seemed to be starved of fuel.

Is it a coincidence that it is a mild day?

Can anyone explain the relevance of the abs light and relay to the non starting issue?

 

[television]

The main difference depends on the ECU in the car, on early cars the OVP relay was only used to protect the expensive ABS pump, later cars mainly those without a separate fuel pump relay the OVP relay is used to protect the ECU and on these starting and Idle can be affected

 

[Smudge]

The fuel pump is the constantly 'whirring' noise you refer too, Merc's don't use the old Solex type clicking pumps!
You need to check the OVP relay that Malcolm refers to, it's a common fault and the ABS light being on points to it's failure, as it supplies both ABS and fuel systems with power

 

[dl@hannant-lawson.co.uk]

Sorted !



Well done guys, OVP Relay checked and found to be faulty. New one fitted and away we go first time this morning.

Thanks everyone for your input and help.

Regards

Dean