[W126 Coupe] SEC Starting Failure After a Massive Downpour

[Mister McGoo]

Hi Figment,

Just a couple of quick comments based on your description:


If starting fluid squirted into the air intake (did you remove the air 
cleaner?) did NOT get a momentary response, the problem is not your fuel 
system. (fuel pump, relay, delivery, injectors, cold start etc)  You 
bypassed all of it with no success.

The problem is likely in the ignition system (barring one exceptional 
situation.)

Do NOT use platimum plugs.  But using them will not prevent starting.  Spark 
plugs are NOT the problem.  The engine will start and run on 7 cylinders and 
what are the chances of all your plugs failing at the same moment?  
Absolutely Nil!  THAT only happens with lawnmowers.

Ditto the cap and rotor and wires.  A cracked cap will arc when wet but will 
likely start when dry.  If the rotor and cap don't look too bad, they are 
not likely the problem.

If the car ran fine when you stopped it, it is unlikely that ALL of the 
ignition wires to the plugs failed at the same time, never to work again 
even when dried out.

FIRST check to see if you have a spark at the plug.

If no spark, check connections on the high tension wire from the coil to the 
centre post of the distributor cap.  If in doubt replace the wire with 
another... even a used one temporarily.

Check the wires from the ignition control module, and the green wire 
connecting to the distributor.

If everthing appears to be OK but you still don't have a spark, see if you 
can "borrow" an ignition control module from someone to switch to check.  (I 
don't know what year/model you have)



The exceptional condition.............

Question:  IF you definitely DO have a spark at the plugs, and IF starting 
fluid directly into the air intake does not bring any response, and NOW that 
your battery is fully charged.........., does the engine seem to turn over 
too fast?

-Bellamy



>From: a figment of the imagination <figstir at yahoo.com>
>Reply-To: figstir at yahoo.com,Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists 
><mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>
>To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com
>Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] SEC Starting Failure After a Massive Downpour
>Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 18:46:33 -0700 (PDT)
>
>Hi all,
>
>Well, I got cooled off yesterday when Nature brought
>to me and the nearby world a torrential rain storm
>that flooded the roads and drenched my SEC.
>
>Well, it was simply parked in the parking lot the
>whole time.  After leaving work, I tried to start it,
>but with no luck.  The engine turned over and for
>about 10 secs the engine ran but then died.  It did
>this two more times until my battery was thoroughly
>drained (it was low to begin with).
>
>After getting my battery recharged at Autozone, I
>tried to start the engine again, but without any luck.
>  I tried jumping it with the help of others 3X, but
>only to be left with a cold cranking turning engine
>but no start.  I then bought some more gasoline and
>filled the tank to 1/2 full (it was near reserve to
>begin with).  I threw in some Gumout Fuel Injector
>cleaner in there, as well to see if it could help
>clean out any injector based source of the problem,
>but both of these procedures failed to start the car
>as well.
>
>I then bought a new battery, but that failed.  Next, I
>bought some Pyrroil brand Starter Fluid and sprayed it
>up into the air intake, but still no luck.  I checked
>the dizzy cap and rotor points: all were good after a
>little scraping of some carbon.
>
>I was left stranded all night and only this morning
>was able to get a wench truck to tow me home.
>
>Right now, I'm working on replacing the fuel filter
>but after pulling this off, I don't think this will
>fix my problem.  My fuel pump checked out as working
>after directly connecting it to a 12-volt battery at
>the auto parts store.
>
>The only thing I haven't done is check if the coils
>are creating a spark.  (BTW, I replaced my spark plugs
>with Bosch Platinum about 1 month ago).....so I'm left
>without any ideas about how to get my SEC going
>again.......
>
>Is there any possibility that water got into the fuel
>system or that water did something to keep my car from
>starting?
>
>-figment of Friday the 13th, ugh!
>
>
>P.S.  I have owned this car for 4 months now (during
>which time I have completely rebuilt it) and have had
>a similar problem after driving through flooded
>streets in a similar downpour in June.  Back then, I
>replaced the battery and waited until the temperatures
>rose to 70 F, before it would turnover and start.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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