[W126 Coupe] SEC Starting Failure After a Massive Downpour

[Mister McGoo]

figstir;

A couple more comments......

Don't spend a lot of time on the high tension wire.  If a replacement 
doesn't instantly do something, then the original was likely good.

But yes, the condition of the green wire from the module could be a problem.

Glancing over your first message I notice you said that after the rainstorm 
the car started "for ten seconds" before dying and did that a couple of 
times.  Ten seconds would be a long time... obviously it had fuel, air and 
ignition.

I suggest you go back to your original idea of the starting fluid.  Be sure 
you take the air cleaner off and apply the fluid right into the intake horn. 
  (If you don't have the starting fluid you CAN use a dribble of gasoline.)  
Just pour or squirt the fuel into the intake and turn the engine over.  If 
you have any ignition (spark) at all, the engine will fire for a couple of 
seconds.

If it doesn't fire, you have confirmed that you DON'T have any spark.

AND if you don't have a spark and IF you have a known good spare ignition 
module (the SAME module part number) switch them.  The ignition module is 
the most suspect component from what you have said.  That's the easiest way 
to tell if the module is shot.

Don't look anywhere else until you do this.

By the way, spark plugs are cheap.  Once the car is going again buy yourself 
a set of Bosch W9D plugs.  Bin the platinums.  The ignition system likes the 
OEM because that is what it is designed for.  Believe Mercedes, not Bosch or 
Bob's GoFasterShop.

The '82 380, being the first of the series, has a couple of quirks but I 
like them.  I have one too.

Good luck.

-Bellamy.