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Starting issue on a Mercedes 190e?
So for a while now my 20 year old 2L W201 Mercedes has been really hard to start in the morning. It turns over absolutely fine, but refuses to fire, until it gets the message that I'm not giving up. Then it misfires for a good few minutes (seriously I think it's down to like 2 cylinders) before eventually it warms up and becomes absolutely fine.
Also, the ABS warning light comes on, but again has been known to turn off again when the car is warm - as the problem has developed, though, I've been noticing the light on for more and more of the time.
After much, much research on the Internet, it looks like it's either the Over-Voltage Protection relay, or the voltage regulator in the alternator. Would I be right in thinking of these things, and are there any more likely suspects you could think of?
And if it is one of the above components at fault, how should it work and how is it causing the above effects by not doing so now?
Things I know it's definitely not:
Spark plugs (changed them, no effect on problem)
Distributor cap (just paid an extortionate amount for a garage to change that, to no avail either).
Any help at all would be appreciated, even if it's only reassurance by someone who has a clue what they're doing. Thanks in advance :)
As I understand it, if the OVP relay goes up the spout, it stops sending power to the ABS system, resulting in a dash warning light. I'm really hoping it's this; I've heard new sensors are expensive and I'm not made of money - one problem at a time :P
The distributor cap wasn't expensive; paying some nerk the thick end of a hundred quid to do something I could have perfectly well done myself was the painful (and, in hindsight, retarded) part. Well, really I paid for them to "diagnose" the starting problem, but since they obviously didn't do that...
Clarification is now "spitting the dummy". When did that happen, because I missed the memo about it. I want help, not verbal abuse. I can quite readily get that from my family.
Perhaps you don't think I'm quite "your sort" of people, but then why not just be on your way instead of rude. There's being an elitist snob in private, and then there's publicly being one, which rather tells it's own story, too. Git.
2 Answers
- Anonymous9 years agoFavorite Answer
Can't see it being either of the things you suggest tbh, and the ABS light is probably something else, like a sensor ring.
Sounds more like a fault in the ECU causing a misfire or a lack of fuel. Don't suppose that car will have a modern OBD socket so all you can probably do is substitute a known good ECU and see what difference it makes. Check the fuel pump and relay and depending on your abilities you could also check the fuel feeds to the injectors, a Haynes manual will probably tell you how many ccs of fuel they should deliver.
Might be worth checking the coil too but ignition faults on modern cars that are even halfway properly maintained are rare nowadays.
EDIT: There's no point in worrying about the ABS light if the thing won't start.
If you're 'not made of money' I suggest you ditch the Merc, they can tell when a poor person is driving and break down accordingly. (The fact you think that replacing a dizzy cap was expensive tells its own story)
You're asking for advice and suggestions, don't spit the dummy when you get some....
- Anonymous9 years ago
Sorry matey its very old and probably has so many worn parts that they just will not do what they should anymore. I would get a compression test done and thats okay look at the fuel delivery