E320 (W210) estate won't turn over first time.

[Kallisti]

Every morning for a while now (since it started getting very cold), my car fails in it's first effort to turn over. It starts no problem the second time around.

My guess is a fuel primer?

My mechanical knowledge isn't great, but I'm capable of taking a part out and replacing it. Is there any chance I can avoid being fleeced by Mr. Benz on this?

 

[television]

Is the starter motor turning on the first attempt

 

[Mikey851]

If you are trying to tip start and it just bumps the engine over a bit and then stops you need to lubricate your flywheel. you are supposed to remove the starter and then grease it, but you can just spray some lubricant such as free it onto the flywheel and it will work for quite a while.

 

[ShinyF1]

Petrol or diesel?

 

[Kallisti]

OK, not sure of the answers, but here goes..

1/ Yes, the starter motor turns, probably for about 5 seconds before giving up Tip start, so it's deciding itself.
2/ Fits your description. I'll have a go at this as soon as I work out where the flywheel resides - good old deatali.ru should help there
3/ Diesel.

Cheers, if anyone else has a flash of inspiration in the meantime, all answers welcome.

 

[Kallisti]

Can't find anything resembling "Free It" - what type of lubricant are we talking? Also, from having a quick look, is the flywheel in question the one in front of the engine block, just behind the grille?

It looks heavy enough to be a flywheel

 

[MB TECH WARRINGTON]

it does not sound like your flywheel, this was a common fault on the petrol v6 engines not your cdi,

possible cause could be injector/injectors leaking off, when they first start to leak off it just takes longer to start, eventually it will not start as the leaking off injector/injertors deprive the cdi system of the pressure needed to start,

 

[Kallisti]

Sigh, front suspension spring just cracked the other day. I suspect ice forced it to an odd position, then let go suddenly, it was also a pretty rusty looking spring.

The electrics are crap - they're chewing through lights pretty randomly ever since they replaced all the rusty panels, I suspect it's dodgy connections made once they had to remove/replace all the plugs and the wires were in bad state.

Still can't get the rear seat to fold down, can't see any way of fixing that as the dog barrier/luggage screen seem to be riveted on.

Managed to puncture the rear wash tube making a mess of the whole cleaning fluid system.

Left/right panels on the speedo display don't even show a glimmer of information anymore.

Anyone wanna buy an E320, it's in great condition (honest), only 3 previous owners.

 

[Xtractorfan]

Diesel.. are you waiting until the pig tail light goes out before attempting to start the car from cold.. CDIs will start ok without the heater plugs but it really does help these cold mornings to wait until the light goes out before starting

 

[Kallisti]

Yeah, I'm a traditionalist and always wait for the coil pre-heat to go out. makes no difference. Slightly worried that MB TECH above is right, yet another fault. On the bright side, MB are only going to charge me about £115 to replace the broken spring, that's one less fault to worry about.

 

[Kallisti]

Well, problem diagnosed, if not solved

High pressure fuel pump has sprung a leak. Cost to replace, along with hoses, about £620. Bugger. Seriously contemplating getting rid of it now.

 

[television]

Well, problem diagnosed, if not solved

High pressure fuel pump has sprung a leak. Cost to replace, along with hoses, about £620. Bugger. Seriously contemplating getting rid of it now.

Have you spoken to the firms that recondition them

 

[Kallisti]

Might give dronsfield a call to see how much from them, other suggestions? Is this a no-uncommon fault?

All depends on whether I ditch or fix it I guess, if I'm ditching it to a dealer that's just going to put it to auction, not sure I can be bothered.

 

[television]

It is an uncommon fault,,do ask a re builder first and plenty off that service