[W126 Coupe] Car doesn't start, just had service

[Iain Gunn]

100 degrees is no big deal, your expansion tank wasn't empty so you didn't 
loose all your coolant. It is not uncommon for the coolant to go down a bit 
after the system has been drained, as air pockets will fill after the engine 
is run a while.  Put a volt meter on the battery to see that it is at 12 
volts, if less than 12, the battery is toast. Try jump starting it and if it 
starts, put a volt meter across the battery an see what voltage its running, 
should be around 14 Volts. If its low, 12 v or less, give the alternator a 
smack and see if is goes up or jumps. If it does, probably the brushes in 
the alternator need done.
Worst case scenario, if with a good battery, and the engine reacts the same, 
you may have a blown head gasket and coolant has entered the cylinder and 
you are hydraulicing again a piston.
Iain
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Vedat Iplikci" <saveks at superonline.com>
To: "Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:08 PM
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Car doesn't start, just had service



> Oisin,

>

> If the starter makes half a turn then stops dead, the first thing to check 

> is the battery. Try to jump start from a known good battery. It should 

> spin as long as you keep the key at start position.

>

> If the engine still doesn't start, hope the problem is elsewhere, for if 

> you had made 20 miles with an overheated engine then you are in trouble 

> because not only the head gasket, but the cylinder heads, valves and maybe 

> even the camshafts are toast as well. Don't ask me how I know....

>

> Vedat Iplikci

> 1987 560 SEC Euro

>

>> -------- Original Message --------

>> Subject: [W126 Coupe] Car doesn't start, just had service

>> From: "Oisin Margey" <omargey at cadence.com>

>> Date: Tue, March 25, 2008 6:56 am

>> To: <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

>>

>> Hi,

>>

>> just got my 420SEC serviced which included replacing the thermostat as

>> guage had not been working properly.

>>

>> Drove home, no problems, noticed when i got home temperature was 100

>> degrees, so running a bit hot.

>>

>> Did a short journey the following day with no problems but forgot to

>> check temperature.

>>

>> Left it for 2 days, came back and car won't start. All lights come on,

>> all electrical equipment runs fine. When i turn the key

>> it sounds like a half a turn and then just stop dead.

>>

>> When i look under the hood i noticed that the coolant / anti-freeze

>> overflow(expansion)  tank is empty in the top section and has coolant in

>> the lower

>> although still way below the level marker.

>>

>> I'm worried that the mechanic may have forgotten to put coolant in or to

>> top it up while doing the service.

>> Also worried that i damaged the engine by running it hot, although it

>> was for a short time only, maybe 20 miles.

>>

>> Here are some questions i have, any help greatly appreciated.

>>

>>

>>

>> The low coolant level probably explains the high running temperature.

>> Why is the coolant low if its just had a service ?

>>

>> Engine won't start.

>> Even with low coolant level the engine should still start right ?

>> I replaced the battery about 5 months ago.

>> Are these 2 totally separate problems ?

>> The garage has assured me that if they have missed something they will

>> put it right, however the owner has already stated that these are 2

>> separate problems.

>>

>>

>> The car was running perfectly before i left it in,

>>

>> thanks everyone !

>>

>> Oisin

>>

>> The MB Coupes Website!

>> W126 SEC Mailing List

>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>>

>> The MB Coupes Website!

>> W126 SEC Mailing List

>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>>

>>

>

> The MB Coupes Website!

> W126 SEC Mailing List

> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>

>

>

> -- 

> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.22.0/1342 - Release 

> Date: 3/25/2008 10:26 AM

>

>