Engine won’t start - C220 CDI CLASSIC SE - 208.203, OM646.963 engine.

[alexanderfoti]

The engine is seized. The dash wouldnt dim that much if the solenoid was engaging without powering the starter motor.

You need to see if you can turn the engine over with a socket on the crank pulley. I suspect diesel/oil/a foreign body has entered the cylinder(s) and is preventing the engine from turning over. It will be firm but should spin over with a bar.

 

[alexanderfoti]

And the continuous alarm sound from the engine?

An actuator making noise, they all do that at end stop, normal.

 

[NBurns]

The engine is seized. The dash wouldnt dim that much if the solenoid was engaging without powering the starter motor.

You need to see if you can turn the engine over with a socket on the crank pulley. I suspect diesel/oil/a foreign body has entered the cylinder(s) and is preventing the engine from turning over. It will be firm but should spin over with a bar.

Okay. I am guessing that this should be done after removing the battery terminal connections, correct? What about the starter motor suggestion? This sounds a bit serious. Should I be worried if it is the engine seized?

 

[RhodieBill]

Was it running fine before you started the work, ie turned it off? If so I find it hard to believe that it is seized from stationary...??? An Engine usually, well to be honest has to be running to "seize", unless it's been sitting for years with water getting into the cylinders and rusting up everything.

 

[NBurns]

Might be worth getting a Haynes manual from eBay , there's a lot of useful info in them when you are floundering

Already have one . not as helpful as one might assume . sadly!! :-/

 

[NBurns]

Was it running fine before you started the work, ie turned it off? If so I find it hard to believe that it is seized from stationary...??? An Engine usually, well to be honest has to be running to "seize", unless it's been sitting for years with water getting into the cylinders and rusting up everything.

The history of this major work was after a major turbocharger failure plus injector failure back in November of last year. I then decided to get a cheap old bangar to get going again while I decided what to do with this Mercedes (repair it or scrap it). It wasn't until the old bangar then failed it's Mot that I decided I HAD to repair the Mercedes after all and how difficult could it be. I started 6 weeks ago having never done anything as complex as this in my life. However with my engineering background I thought "How hard can it be?!!!" Well, yes, it has challenged me to limits and beyond, and I have learnt a heck of a lot from doing this. Also made me realise that I should have tackled mechanics years ago.
The engine bay was covered in oil, carbon and muck from the turbo failure. So I got covered in oil and muck for most of the last 5 weeks. Thankfully that phase has now finished. And the Mot is booked for next week now. This week was supposed to get the engine running again for the first time in 8 months ish!! So I was a bit gutted when nothing happened and I heard the horrible 'Clunk' and alarm sound. Just want her back on the road again after all the work I have done.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Okay. I am guessing that this should be done after removing the battery terminal connections, correct? What about the starter motor suggestion? This sounds a bit serious. Should I be worried if it is the engine seized?

You can leave the battery on. It could be starter ,but if the engine turns that rules it out straight away.

Its probably hydrolocked from fluid getting into the cylinders, so dont worry too much straight away.

 

[NBurns]

You can leave the battery on. It could be starter ,but if the engine turns that rules it out straight away.

Its probably hydrolocked from fluid getting into the cylinders, so dont worry too much straight away.

“Don’t worry too much straight away “?!!! Are you sure?!!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[alexanderfoti]

“Don’t worry too much straight away “?!!! Are you sure?!!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

yes

 

[umblecumbuz]

Seized? Hydrolocked? A remote suggestion, but worth investigating - any port in a storm!

When you removed the injectors, was the car left for any length of time with the injector holes unprotected (or even plugged with rags) - and outside in the weather? If so, rainwater ingress is a possibility. Otherwise, on an engine that has remained static for several months, I cannot see either diesel or lubricating oil getting into the cylinders in sufficient quantity to cause hydrolock.

As the injectors have already been removed and reinstalled, it is an easy job to remove them again and then try to turn the engine over. If it then turns without any quantity of fluid being ejected from any cylinder, there is no evidence of hydrolock.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Seized? A remote suggestion, but worth investigating - any port in a storm!

When you removed the injectors, was the car left for any length of time with the injector holes unprotected (or even plugged with rags) - and outside in the weather? If so, rainwater ingress is a possibility. Otherwise, on an engine that has remained static for several months, I cannot see either diesel or lubricating oil getting into the cylinders in sufficient quantity to cause hydrolock.

As the injectors have already been removed and reinstalled, it is an easy job to remove them again and then try to turn the engine over. If it then turns without any quantity of fluid being ejected from any cylinder, there is no evidence of hydrolock.

Well, seized, as in wont turn over for any reason, rather than mechanically stuck permanently.

Op needs to see if its just stuck from non use (would be suprised).

We don't know how the old turbo failed, potentially by pumping oil into the inlet?

 

[NBurns]

Right. Decision made. Will first look at starter motor and give that a tap. If that doesn’t work then I will attempt to crank the engine by hand. I really do not want to take the injectors out again.
Results to follow.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Capra]

The history of this major work was after a major turbocharger failure plus injector failure back in November of last year. I then decided to get a cheap old bangar to get going again while I decided what to do with this Mercedes (repair it or scrap it). It wasn't until the old bangar then failed it's Mot that I decided I HAD to repair the Mercedes after all and how difficult could it be. I started 6 weeks ago having never done anything as complex as this in my life. However with my engineering background I thought "How hard can it be?!!!" Well, yes, it has challenged me to limits and beyond, and I have learnt a heck of a lot from doing this. Also made me realise that I should have tackled mechanics years ago.
The engine bay was covered in oil, carbon and muck from the turbo failure. So I got covered in oil and muck for most of the last 5 weeks. Thankfully that phase has now finished. And the Mot is booked for next week now. This week was supposed to get the engine running again for the first time in 8 months ish!! So I was a bit gutted when nothing happened and I heard the horrible 'Clunk' and alarm sound. Just want her back on the road again after all the work I have done.

My mate is a butcher, with that he should be able to do brain surgery!! Like anything it's experience, good mechanics train for years and still some are not very good. If you need the car on the road why not ask someone with more experience, it will save you time, and might even save some money!!

 

[NBurns]

Neither tapping the starter motor nor cranking by hand had any result. And now there was smoke coming from the right side of the engine just under where the fuel filter is. I hope that wasn’t the starter motor?!!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[NBurns]

My mate is a butcher, with that he should be able to do brain surgery!! Like anything it's experience, good mechanics train for years and still some are not very good. If you need the car on the road why not ask someone with more experience, it will save you time, and might even save some money!!

I have been wondering that. I was actually attempting to save as much as possible by doing most myself. Now I don’t know what to do. No Clunk anymore just the high pitched alarm.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Capra]

I have been wondering that. I was actually attempting to save as much as possible by doing most myself. Now I don’t know what to do. No Clunk anymore just the high pitched alarm.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Might save your sanity, I'm all for having a go but, with some of my road bikes in the past I have ended up buying the tools making a mess, and it costs me more in the long run. Now with experience I can do all apart from stripping down shocks.

 

[umblecumbuz]

So it turns over by hand?
That would rule out either a hydrolocked or seized engine.
And if you really have smoke coming from the starter motor area, that would suggest a dodgy starter motor, as it's obviously getting power and activating the solenoid when you turn the key.
This is becoming more mysterious.

 

[NBurns]

So it turns over by hand?
That would rule out either a hydrolocked or seized engine.
And if you really have smoke coming from the starter motor area, that would suggest a dodgy starter motor, as it's obviously getting power and activating the solenoid when you turn the key.
This is becoming more mysterious.

No. I did attempt to crank it by hand. The crankshaft moves just 10cm and that's it. We also tried turning the key while I was pulling on the crankshaft. It moved about 20cm and stopped. Then I asked the girlfriend to try again while I hand turned and that's when I spotted the smoke coming from under the fuel filter area.
Getting a bit depressed by this all now. Having spent almost £1000 now on parts, new tools, and loads of cleaning and degreasing stuff. I was really hoping she would start today. :-( I have moved the Mot yet again. Now next Tuesday. If there is anyone near me that maybe could have a look for me and tell me what this is. Bearing in mind I really cannot afford much more as I am already in debt and with a very low income. The car is currently in the SO30 2FL area if there is anyone local,.....Please?!
This is a veteran of the Royal Navy submarine service who has suffered severe depression and Ptsd asking for help now. I need this car working to get back on the road again and get some money coming back in to clear these debts.

 

[Wighty]

No. I did attempt to crank it by hand. The crankshaft moves just 10cm and that's it. We also tried turning the key while I was pulling on the crankshaft. It moved about 20cm and stopped. Then I asked the girlfriend to try again while I hand turned and that's when I spotted the smoke coming from under the fuel filter area.
Getting a bit depressed by this all now. Having spent almost £1000 now on parts, new tools, and loads of cleaning and degreasing stuff. I was really hoping she would start today. :-( I have moved the Mot yet again. Now next Tuesday. If there is anyone near me that maybe could have a look for me and tell me what this is. Bearing in mind I really cannot afford much more as I am already in debt and with a very low income. The car is currently in the SO30 2FL area if there is anyone local,.....Please?!
This is a veteran of the Royal Navy submarine service who has suffered severe depression and Ptsd asking for help now. I need this car working to get back on the road again and get some money coming back in to clear these debts.

Did you try and move the crankshaft with a long bar ? With car in neutral ?

 

[NBurns]

Did you try and move the crankshaft with a long bar ? With car in neutral ?

I don’t have a long bar. And yes the car was in neutral. Needs to be as i haven’t put wheels back on yet.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk