C200 1997 starting issue

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Curlyboy

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Hi all from NZ :)
Have a c200 97 4 cylinder - bit of an odd fault - wondered if anyone had any idea's ?
Battery was flat so charged up and ran fine for 50 km stopped for 5 hours
went to start and it caught but died like no fuel
went to start again and nothing
rested it for a while and it would catch and run for a sec then die like no fuel
Flat to the floor no start at all
let the pump go for a while prestart and nothing doing still
rest it for 5 minutes and it will catch again - but die
Pumps ticking away - good fuel pressure to the motor
theres spark to the plugs and all the electrics and fuses working as before
so maybe a sensor or fuel metre ?
scratching my head a little :)

so anyone have any idea's ? Thanks
 
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bigasotonuk

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Hi,
It does sound like a fuel pump relay problem as it has two sources of supply one at ignition on/cranking then once it catches it transfers to another different supply.
When running the relay gets its supply from the ECU I think.
Depending on the age/spec of your car you could have an OVP relay, which if fitted is by the ECU with one or two fuses fitted in the top worth checking.
Just a thought, does the car have an immobiliser? As my 97 C230k gives similar symptoms when the immobiliser won't switch off.
 
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Curlyboy

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thanks

that sounds like a good place to start - is a w202 motor with 200k on it - has an immobilizer - definitely sounds like it could be the "when running" fuel feed - will also check the relay at the battery as it was getting panel beaten on the right rear corner and they may have damaged a wire or the rear relay using the jack to push out the rear corner again in the boot from the pillar behind the battery
Not sure if its got an OVP relay - but will check that too and the fuses - - new to these so will have to hunt out the ECM location (lol)
the key was only working on the button if held real close so I thought the battery in the key just dying - but will check the imobiliser as well - as it may not be getting full dissable from the key being so flat
thanks so much for the ideas
cheers
 

television

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To check to see if fuel, just loosen the pipe that goes into the pressure regulator and see if fuel comes out when cranking
 
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Curlyboy

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Hi and thanks very much for your input re this problem - turned out to be the wiring loom
Indi was very quick to say it was because this one came from Singapore but apparently a lot of German ones have the same fault. Took of the plugs cover on top of motor to discover wires to plugs hard as nails on this 97 - gave them a little move ( very gently) and she fired up immediately. problem solved - or at least identified - ( expensive the looms to replace ) can re do the wiring at the top section inexpensively - but if its hard and brittle at the top it'll probly just be as bad all the way through - Luckily bought cheaply and can break it up for parts when wiggling will no longer get it started any more (lol)
Anyone know of inexpensive looms for a c200 97 w202 - do let me know :)
cheers for your quick assistance
 

bigasotonuk

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Hi,
There was a loom repair piece you could buy from MB for the six cylinder engines with this fault as it was very common on the six cylinder engines, though with the 4 cylinder almost unheard of in the UK.
if the repair piece is not available then you could buy the required connectors separately and get some good quality cable and make up the repair piece yourself, which seems to be a solution used over here on the six cylinder engines rather than the expensive replacement loom.
I would,nt try starting it till you have sorted it as it can damage the ECU.
You could always cut your connectors off with a small bit of cable still on them and solder new cables to them, could be a cheaper way.
 
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Curlyboy

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awesome

Thanks -will try the local MB dealers to see if they have a plug end loom fix
and as you say if worst comes to worst will redo the wiring myself keeping the plug ends throughout
Any suggestions as to where to see a wiring diagram for the w202 loom ? (just so I know what im letting myself in for (lol) ?
dont mind spending the time on it - good car apart from this loom issue
yes I respect the ECU is a very fussy thing in these

suspect the looms made in china are more likely to harden up and go brittle than those you see in UK and its hotter here - but looking at threads around starting issues, maybe its worth giving the wire casing around the loom engine end a squeeze as a matter of course to see how hard it is on most all MB's which fail to continue running from start - maybe more common that you think as my specialist here recon's its happening to a lot of older merc looms regardless of origin
thanks so much - if anyone can point me to a loom diagram would be great cheers
 
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television

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What part of the loom is failing, the high tension or the low tension ECU pert
 
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Curlyboy

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not gotten in to it yet - just moved the encased wires around the plugs ( had a plug in a lead and it fired up when looking for spark) was a case of dont muck with the wires until a shop looks at it :) as they were as hard as - haven't checked even the rest of the loom yet - hoping to this week - she's tucked up in the garage for a bit :)
 
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