Starting Trouble

[Tom Harrison]

Hi
Can any one give me some advise I own a 1997 C class 250 TD Elegance Estate a real gem of a car but I put my car into the AA at Halfords to have Glow plugs changed just over a year ago the next morning when I went to go to work it would not start so I called the AA they eventually got it going and followed me back to the Halfords Garage I left it with them and when I picked it up they gave me a lode of mumbo jumbo anyway it was ok as the spring and summer came then as the Autumn has come upon us it has begun not wanting to start again if I leave the car for a day and don't use it the next day it plays up I have to keep the key turning over for about 30 seconds at least before it will splutter into life as a precaution I have changed the glow plugs and the 10 O rings on inlet manifold but although fuel economy and performance have improved I still have this starting problem can any one please give me some idea what might be the problem and if any one has had a similar problem

 

[Blobcat]

I would recommend you find an independant Mercedes specialist to undertake your servicing and repairs rather than a generalist. Some members maybe able to recommend a garage near Redditch.

 

[television]

Air in the system is one of the biggest causes,is it OK when used during the day.air bubbles in the return system can also cause it. some people parking on a hill can get a problem in starting the next day if they park the wrong way round, that's caused through air in system.

Malcolm

 

[Tom Harrison]

hi TV yes once it is running it is fine for the rest of the day i park it in my gararge on the flat every night i do have air bubbles in the pipes but i am not sure if they are the flow or return pipes.
Tom

 

[television]

hi TV yes once it is running it is fine for the rest of the day i park it in my gararge on the flat every night i do have air bubbles in the pipes but i am not sure if they are the flow or return pipes.
Tom

That's your problem, you must get rid of the bubbles in both.

Malcolm

 

[Tom Harrison]

thanks malcolm
but how do you find out how the air is getting in and how do you get the bubbles out as i thought it was a self bleed system .just out of interest i always have it serviced by MB dealer this was a one off with Halfords
Tom

 

[Blobcat]

The run back tubes from the injectors can leak, there is a thread going at the moment on changing all the 'O' rings pls have a search on the forum.
Very few technicians in a MB garage will have any experience of a '97 Mercedes. This means you will be paying at ~£100 per hour for them to learn. There are many MB trained mechanics who have setup garages, I would recommend you switch to one as the hourly rate is around half of a dealer.

 

[television]

thanks malcolm
but how do you find out how the air is getting in and how do you get the bubbles out as i thought it was a self bleed system .just out of interest i always have it serviced by MB dealer this was a one off with Halfords
Tom

The reason that it is hard to start is that you can compress air, but not fuel, every connection must be air tight.

Malcolm