Intermittent fail to start

[mercman149]

A curious problem has started with my (until now) very reliable 190e.
It has started to require 3 or 4 turns of the key to get it started, whether the engine is hot or cold.
I have had the plugs out when the problem is present and they appear to be dry. Surely when starting from cold the plugs should have some petrol on them and atleast be damp.
The distributor & leads seem fine too.
Has anyone any ideas as to what could be causing this?

 

[Jimmers]

Don't know about the 190, but my 260 had a similar reluctance which eventually turned into total refusal to start.

Turned out to be the fuel pump relay, so it might be worth checking.

 

[mercman149]

Thanks Jimmers,
Have just been out to check the fuel pump as you suggest. The car is in 'won't start' mode just now and I can hear the fuel pump priming etc, so I don't think it's that.

 

[74merc]

I had the same problem with my E320 although it was very intermittent ( 4 times in 18 months). Eventually it wouldn't start at all one morning. My mechanic diagnosed it as a faulty OVP relay.