Starter turns engine over but car will not start?

[Stevie A]

Hi, please help if you have any experience or clues to the following problem:

W201 190E 2.6 Auto
The starter motor turns over but the car will not start. I changed the coolant pump two weeks ago and had the same problem. After spraying some wd40 into the coolant temp sensor and tdc sensor area the car started after a long turn and a bit of spluttering.

I have driven the car over about 1000 miles since with no problems apart from two random stalls while stationery. I hadn't driven the car for a few days and went to start it and the non-starting returns. The two consistent factors are that it has been sitting for a few days in damp conditions when the non-starting problem has occured.

I am thinking something is damp and will check the distributor tomorrow. Here's something strange though: When turning the starter over, when turning the key off it sounds like the engine fires for a moment.

Anyone got any ideas why it is not starting? Would a damp OVP relay cause this? Any other damp ignition parts that could cause non-starting? Please help.

 

[190D]

Sounds like dampness spray cap & leads with WD40

 

[Mikesmerc]

Would replace the HT leads with new ones. Is it when you release the key from the starting position it fires?

Mike

 

[Stevie A]

Mike - Yes, when I release the key from the starting position it sounds like it fires briefly. Why is that?

 

[Mikesmerc]

Sorry to say Steve, but I have the same problem with my 1990 560SEC except my one gives a muted backfire/rumble and hessitates on full acceleration when running. I have gone through the painful wallet experience of replacing plugs, ht leads, dizzy cap, rotor, fuel pumps and filter and still have the problem.
Not sure if we have the same problem. Was going to look into the crankshaft position sensor and EZL unit next as I have concluded that the ignition has advanced itself, confirmed with a strobe light at idle, sparking too early.
Sorry If I gave you false hope on my last post.
Regards
Mike

 

[Stevie A]

Good News

For reference for anyone doing searches. The non-starting problem on my 190E 2.6 car has been solved - it was a badly worn distributor cap and rotor arm. The distributor was wet too. The car recently stalled twice when stopping at a roundabout and to park recently so if your car has stalled a couple of times and is hard / impossible to start - check the distributor cap first. Cheers for help.

 

[Mikesmerc]

Good to hear Steve, if only my one was that simple.
Mike

 

[Estimator]

W201 190E 2.6 Auto

Hi I have had a similar problem with starting, motor will run well as long as I don't let it stand for more than 3 days without starting. If I have done, when I try to start it, it will cough and splutter and can stall when stopping at halt signs. Thereafter the motor will run very well until I let it stand again. Recently I have been unable to start it regularly and at the moment it will not start at all.

I have checked the fuel delivery right through to the injectors which is perfectly ok, also checked the plug sparks and plugs themselves all to no avail,so I am stumped. Does anyone have any ideas which I might try.

Regards,

Don

 

[kth286]

after it has been standing a while take the plugs out and look into the cylinders with torch to see any wetness that may indicate injectors leaking.

 

[Estimator]

Thanks for your suggestion David I will look at that. What effect would leaking injectors have on the starting? Could my problem have anything to do with pump pressure ie. not enough pressure to open injectors.?

Don

 

[brandwooddixon]

On these older cars, always worth checking distributor cap and rotor ram.
It's common for dampness to get inside and either inhibit the spark or corrode the contacts.
Check inside the cap for track marks.
Also I prefer to use a contact cleaner rather than WD40 on areas such as lead to cap and lead to coil connections - once had an intermittent misfire and stalling on an old car that turned out to be gunge in the coil/ht lead socket caused by over use of WB40.

 

[kth286]

Thanks for your suggestion David I will look at that. What effect would leaking injectors have on the starting? Could my problem have anything to do with pump pressure ie. not enough pressure to open injectors.?

Don

It causes flooding of the cylinder/s, thus too much fuel.