W163 ML270 CDi Cold Start Problem

[Stuie]

Hi all
Having a problem starting in the cold. Changed the heater plugs beginning of December so its not that. However the heater plug light on the dashboard stays on a while when its this cold once its started. Went out to it this morning and it turned for ages (plenty of juice in the battery) but would not fire. Had to leave it with the battery on charge. Its not the first time its done it recently. Seems directly linked to how cold it is as once we get a warmer day and i've re charged the battery it fires.

 

[wemorgan]

On my diesel it helps to turn the key, wait for coil light to turn off, but then wait another 2-3 seconds. It's starts a lot easier then.

On my wife's petrol Smart car it had the same symptoms as yours. The car had not been started for 1 week, so i put it down to the battery electrolyte being very cold.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/electronics/80858-cold-battery-acid-poor-starting.html

HTH

 

[Stuie]

Slight progerss

Ok, the plot thickens. It won't start with easy start. The alternator is giving full charge. If i put a booster on the battery it will start but while the temperature is this cold the glow plug warning light stays on for a fair while after it fires. Even though the plugs are new.

 

[AndyPCD]

Hi

I would be inclined to say the seals on the plastic pipes are allowing the fuel system to suck in air this is why it doesnt start

 

[Stratman]

I'm thinking your battery is on the way out. That would also account for the glow plug light staying on as they're not getting up to temperature.

If you can, have the battery load tested when it's really cold.

 

[Stuie]

It is the original MB battery, so its 6/7 years old. I'll try and get it load tested.

 

[alexmoon]

Stuie, check my thread below as we could have a similar issue. "When temp goes below zero my 270CDi won't start in the morning. In past two weks I have had both batteries replaced, the thermostat, and glow plugs. If temp is zero or above it starts first time in morning. If it gets to minus two or below it won't start. There is plenty of life in batt and starter motor cranks strongly even in sub zero. I should add that it fires up with Easy Start. Have now spent £600 in two weeks to solve this problem but back to square one! Common denominator is it doesn't like sub zero temps. Once started it runs beautifully and will fire up very easily for rest of day. At my wits' end now! Any help much appreciated, bearing in mind that problem only occurs at sub zero."
Note the cash I've spent to no avail. Beware!

 

[AndyPCD]

I cant see it being the battery as if the battery were weak it would turn over slowly and then die.

i would go for the seals another guy on here has the same car and had his none starting and he has had the seals replaced and its fine now and cost him £50 all in to have them done

 

[Stuie]

No Fault Registered

Have just checked for faults on diagnostic. Nothing registered.

Are we talking about replacing the fuel injector seals?

I loosened the fuel pipes and the fuel is only dribbling out rather than spraying out as it should on turnover.

Still thinking its a battery issue, cos if the battery is not in peak condition, it's not powering the hi pressure fuel pump adequately to make it fire.

 

[AndyPCD]

One thing would be to check the actual value of the fuel system while cranking it.

No the small plastic fuel pipes have rubber seals on them and they perish.

But the high pressure pump is mechanical and has no electrical feeds to make it run its is run by the engine turning over

 

[Stuie]

OK Willow. Thanks for that.

 

[corned]

OK I know this isn't a really helpful post, but is anyone else here rather surprised at (or has anyone else noticed) how many 270CDIs are not seemingly able to cope with the current conditions? Or is it mere coincidence?

There seem to be a lot of posts/threads relating to non-starting 270CDIs on here...

 

[AndyPCD]

OK I know this isn't a really helpful post, but is anyone else here rather surprised at (or has anyone else noticed) how many 270CDIs are not seemingly able to cope with the current conditions? Or is it mere coincidence?

There seem to be a lot of posts/threads relating to non-starting 270CDIs on here...

To me i think it is a coincidence i think these engines are just coming to that age where certain things will start to go wrong and the cold weather is just highlighting the situation at the moment

 

[scorps]

ml270 cold starting

Same problem here on my 2000 ml only happened since the cold snap !

 

[pugmerc]

Hi - having the same issue with a 320CDI auto estate - wont start and battery goes dead even though brand new and high capacity - did start when engine covered in a blanket under the bonnet but took it off when car in the garage and left for a couple of days - wont now start so battery on overnight charge and waiting for anyone with photo's of fuel pipe seal locations so can warm with hairdryer to test that theory of cold seals !! Anyone who can help ???

Thanks

 

[Doosh1]

Have a quick look to see if you have air in the fuel line when cranking (When its struggling to start) May take 2 of you to do this. Easiest place is from the fuel filter to the pump under the plastic engine cover. Just bought a non starting 2002 ML270CDI which has had loads of major components change for poor starting and turned out to be fuel line O rings! Took a days fault finding to find it though.. Cold weather certainly exagerates the problem.

certainly sounds fuel related as any otehr problems are recorded in the diagnostics.

 

[Rory]

OK I know this isn't a really helpful post, but is anyone else here rather surprised at (or has anyone else noticed) how many 270CDIs are not seemingly able to cope with the current conditions? Or is it mere coincidence?

There seem to be a lot of posts/threads relating to non-starting 270CDIs on here...

I haven't run mine for a few weeks but need to use it this week so yesterday I broke though the snow and ice and got in.

It was a little sluggish to turn over but started more or less instantly.

 

[E300dave]

hi all was gonna say the same as above didnt start my ml since dec 28 started this morning straight away ....

 

[Nealenet]

ML 270CDI cold starting woes

I'm new to this forum but I was searching for some answers to my ML's starting issues. Since the cold weather hit my ML has refused to start several times. Mine is an 02 version and has just gone over 100k. The first time I called the AA and they diagnosed a fuell leak which had damaged the timing belt. Ihad just had the car serviced at a main dealer so I was a bit cheesed off that this hadn't been picked up. Cost me £900 in new bits. I also had an issue with the gear box refusing to change out of first gear. This corrected it self if you switched off the engine and restarted. Two weeks later and I still have starting issues from cold and still a temperamental gear box. Merc want £1500 to replace an electro-hydraulic shifter in the gearbox and fit a new battery.

I now have no confidence in the dealer to get to the bottom of this issue and i am going back to John Haynes a Merc specialist in Worthing. But I am going to get him to check the fuel pipes and seals first.

Sorry to go on so long.

 

[A GORDON]

Ml270cdi

I too have recently also been having intermittent reluctant starting issues with my year 2000 ML270CDI.
Recently, especially from a cold start, or if the car has been running for some time and has got quite hot, engine will turn on start, fire up after a few seconds, then immediately stall!!
When this happens, it will require a significant churn for 20 seconds, before it shows any sign of ignition, and sometimes does not at all, and will have to be left for some time, before a re-start has any effect!!!
Very frustrating, because when the fault appears, first start nearly always works, and then stalls almost immediately!! It's after this point that re-start proves very difficult!!
Any suggestions / advise from sufferers with similar experiences?!
Thanks