[W124] RE: [Mercedes] Intermittent Starting Problem

[J Hirsch]

The "problem' is not so much Mercedes related as generic car related
Could be starter  has some  worn gears and is turning too quickly.
 From what you write sounds like the starter has  one two worn  teeth  
on the gear.
If it only happened when car was hot,then the starter is worn
keep cruisin
Jay H
On May 10, 2006, at 11:47 AM, Stadter, Jim wrote:

> Paul wrote:
>> On my '93 320CE, I often get a no start situation, other times it's 
>> fine...
>> Symptoms are that starter will spin normally, but no fire whatsoever. 
>> I've
>> tried pushing the accelerator to the floor (in case it was flooded), 
>> but no
>> luck. Try say a dozen times and give up before I flatten the battery. 
>> Come
>> back 1/2 hour later, it starts first time (but sometimes doesn't)
>> The temperature (of the weather, or the engine ) seemingly doesn't 
>> make any
>> difference, it's the same cliff-hanger hot or cold......
>> Hope I'm describing something that has happened to other members and 
>> they
>> have found a cure ?
>> If not, I guess I'll have to start a thorough diagnosis the hard 
>> way.....
>
> Paul,
>
>   This was recently posted on another list and sounds like it may be 
> applicable.
>
> Jim
> '89 190E 2.6  217Kmi
> '94 E500
> Austin, TX
>
> --
>
> Hi All
>
> We have an 1980 TE280 which displays an irritating hot start problem.
>
> When cold the motor cranks over and fires on the 3rd rotation, everyone
> is happy!
>
> However when the motor has warmed up to operating temp, the motor needs
> to turn over 10
> to 30 times before it fires.... This is especially true if you leave
> the warm motor for 10/15
> minutes before the restart attempt.
>
> I am replacing the fuel filter today, to ensure the feed line is
> unrestricted.
>
> I have not checked fuel pressure or any of the thermo timers, as yet.
>
> Hopefully wishing someone has that edition of the Star magazine that
> mentioned this
> problem, and I cant find, or is aware of the issue....
>
>
> Thanks.
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 8 May 2006 18:44:42 -0400
> Subject: Re: [Mercedes] Hot Start Problem W123/M110
>
> We had a similar problem on a 78 450 SEL that I corrected by adding a
> switch that I could activate the cold-start valve with.  The switch was
> wired so that it could only be activated when the ignition switch was
> in the start position.  There is an old tech note somewhere with the
> details.  Bottom line is that when the engine is cold all is well.  If
> the engine has been off for only a couple of minutes, all is well, if
> the engine has been off for more than as few minutes, but not long
> enough to actually get cool again, then it has a restart problem.  The
> tech note said that the problem was related to vapor lock and that is
> why activating the cold-start valve (which supplies fuel and chokes the
> engine) works.
>
> BTW, all I did was to mount a small horn-type button high up on the
> left foot rest.  All it did is provide a ground to the cold-start valve
> (which opens the valve only when the ignition switch is in the start
> position).  When the car had problems starting, I pushed on the switch
> while starting -- It always worked.
>
> Good luck.
>
> ---
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