cowsurgeon
Active Member
Dear all,
(re: 1980 350SL)
Time for the 6 monthly question list (have found that 6 months driving usually brings out a few problems!). Malcolm, I suspect it'll be your knowledge I call upon again! NB: sorry - this is a bit long winded!
Firstly I've recently been having problems with starting up (starter motor turns engine over but it has difficulty catching) and the engine noise sounded a little rough. After a trip to the garage they diagnosed a knackered fuel injector on number 1 cylinder head, and after replacing it, it sounds much sweeter (power feels better too - but maybe that's my imagination!) However, it still has difficulty catching, not first thing in the morning, but after 20mins run and then half an hour parked, ie: when coming out of the shops. I wondered if I was flooding the engine so have tried starting with no accelerator pressure, with slight pressure and with full pressure in varying combinations, but to no avail. Have noticed that it only takes 3 or 4 attempts before the battery starts to die, and ended up being stranded yesterday. What I'm asking is: could the whole prob be that the battery isn't carrying anough charge to allow the engine to catch, or is it that another problem is stopping the engine catching and causing the battery to drain by repeated starting attempts? Is it starting first thing in the morning because of the rich mix due to the auto-choke and not later on as the mixture is normal? Can anyone help? Is anyone still awake after reading this lot?
Secondly, I know Malcolm has also experienced the problem of leaking door pillar seals and damp floor mats, but after this has now started on the passenger side I'm thinking of replacing the door seals. Has anyone had this problem and replaced their seals and if so, has it rectified it or is it just the same and probably a design fault?
Many thanks for your time!
Cheers,
Chris
(re: 1980 350SL)
Time for the 6 monthly question list (have found that 6 months driving usually brings out a few problems!). Malcolm, I suspect it'll be your knowledge I call upon again! NB: sorry - this is a bit long winded!
Firstly I've recently been having problems with starting up (starter motor turns engine over but it has difficulty catching) and the engine noise sounded a little rough. After a trip to the garage they diagnosed a knackered fuel injector on number 1 cylinder head, and after replacing it, it sounds much sweeter (power feels better too - but maybe that's my imagination!) However, it still has difficulty catching, not first thing in the morning, but after 20mins run and then half an hour parked, ie: when coming out of the shops. I wondered if I was flooding the engine so have tried starting with no accelerator pressure, with slight pressure and with full pressure in varying combinations, but to no avail. Have noticed that it only takes 3 or 4 attempts before the battery starts to die, and ended up being stranded yesterday. What I'm asking is: could the whole prob be that the battery isn't carrying anough charge to allow the engine to catch, or is it that another problem is stopping the engine catching and causing the battery to drain by repeated starting attempts? Is it starting first thing in the morning because of the rich mix due to the auto-choke and not later on as the mixture is normal? Can anyone help? Is anyone still awake after reading this lot?
Secondly, I know Malcolm has also experienced the problem of leaking door pillar seals and damp floor mats, but after this has now started on the passenger side I'm thinking of replacing the door seals. Has anyone had this problem and replaced their seals and if so, has it rectified it or is it just the same and probably a design fault?
Many thanks for your time!
Cheers,
Chris
