300TE Problem!

[Tim300TE]

Hi

I have a 300TE H reg. Now, It's been off the road for nearly 3 years...gathering moss. I've come along to start it up again and
no luck. Turns over OK but nothing. So, I replaced plugs, leads battery, cleaned it up but still no luck. However, I had the RAC out for another car and asked the guy if while he was here if he'd look at the Merc. With a booster and mucking about (air filter off) he managed to get it started. Since then I've never managed it!!!

Does anyone have any advice or experiance of this problem?

Tim

 

[GazCaff]

Your petrol may have gone off. Try draining the fuel tank and changing the fuel filters and try again with some fresh petrol.

Welcome btw.

 

[Tim300TE]

Thanks for the advice, when I changed the fuel recently I thought
it might flush out the old crap, didn't think about the filters. I'll change the them and see whats what.

Do you know why the RAC man managed to get it going with a booster?
I've got the correct battery, I've even tryed jumping it.

 

[Dieselman]

Because he had plenty of power to get it to spin faster to raise compression a bit and he also sprayed some easy start down the manifold.

At least you know the ignition side works Ok, unless there is a weak spark stopping starting.

Try winding it ovr and dribbling new petrol down the intake. If it spits back with flame just wind it over to suck it into the engine.

Quite possibly the old petrol has gummed up the injection head so it isn't delivering fuel and the old petrol will have expired as previously said.

 

[Tim300TE]

Good point! he did spray something into the inlet - maybe a bit a false hope there.

What's a good way to clean the injectors? and is there a way to clear out the old fuel without buggering them up again?

When he got it running, I took it for a spin and it started to choke when I
put my foot down. After about 10 minutes it become really erratic and cut out all together never to start again.

If it was a weak spark, what could cause it?

 

[Brian WH]

Good point! he did spray something into the inlet - maybe a bit a false hope there.

What's a good way to clean the injectors? and is there a way to clear out the old fuel without buggering them up again?

When he got it running, I took it for a spin and it started to choke when I
put my foot down. After about 10 minutes it become really erratic and cut out all together never to start again.

If it was a weak spark, what could cause it?

Now you say you took it for a run, then it doesn't sound like spark plugs or electronics.

Fuel starvation is what stopped it on the run and you will now need to check the filters, change the fuel and hope that the injectors and lift pump are not blocked.

 

[Dieselman]

It probably ran on the cold start valve when cold then as it warmed that shut down so there was no fuel being delivered.

Just go back to basics and check the spark followed by fuel delivery at various points.

 

[Tim300TE]

Thank you for all your advice. Sounds fairly basic -fuel and spark.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Great Forum....

Tim

 

[nick mercedes]

Hi

I have a 300TE H reg. Now, It's been off the road for nearly 3 years...gathering moss. I've come along to start it up again and
no luck. Turns over OK but nothing. So, I replaced plugs, leads battery, cleaned it up but still no luck. However, I had the RAC out for another car and asked the guy if while he was here if he'd look at the Merc. With a booster and mucking about (air filter off) he managed to get it started. Since then I've never managed it!!!

Does anyone have any advice or experiance of this problem?

Tim

Dizzy cap, it's always the dizzy cap with 103s...

 

[Tim300TE]

Hi Nick, you think the dizzy cap! would you know where I can get one.....can you supply? I may as well change it anyway even if its a fuel issue.

It's a 300TE 4MATIC

 

[Dieselman]

Just take it off and dry it out to start with. When the engine has stood then is fired back up all the moisture condenses on the cold cap.

Just check it.

 

[MangoMan]

Dizzy cap, it's always the dizzy cap with 103s...

Hi Nick, interesting you should say that because if I leave my car, (w124/300e-24), un-used for a few days and then use it, it runs perfectly until I stop, (switch off), not the first time, but the second time, then it won't start, or will start but won't let you engage a gear, (stall).

I figured it's moisture getting inside the distributor cap! Everytime! (3 times now) Take it off, wipe it dry and perfect, till the next time????

Now I know the theory behind this, but is this a perticular issue with this model? Is there a trick? (water dispersant)? Or should I just use it more?

Another thing, the seal around the distributor looks ok, so how is the moisture ingressing?

Thanks, Bill.

 

[MangoMan]

Yeah, it's got me 'stumpted' too.

 

[Dieselman]

Sounds daft but try drilling a hole in the distributor cap to allow the warm wet air out.

 

[MangoMan]

To be honest I had actually thought of that, but I don't think it's the answer. I'm just really confused as to how the hell the moisture gets in there in the first place. It actually happened once on my 300CE.

Strange?????? Thanks anyway....

 

[nick mercedes]

Hi Nick, interesting you should say that because if I leave my car, (w124/300e-24), un-used for a few days and then use it, it runs perfectly until I stop, (switch off), not the first time, but the second time, then it won't start, or will start but won't let you engage a gear, (stall).

I figured it's moisture getting inside the distributor cap! Everytime! (3 times now) Take it off, wipe it dry and perfect, till the next time????

Now I know the theory behind this, but is this a perticular issue with this model? Is there a trick? (water dispersant)? Or should I just use it more?

Another thing, the seal around the distributor looks ok, so how is the moisture ingressing?

Thanks, Bill.

They just seem to wear out and give all sorts of strange symptoms, often cold starting fine, but conking out once warm and a few miles from home and refusing to start.

Or just refusing to start alltogether, never seems to happen on 102s...

 

[nick mercedes]

Hi Nick, you think the dizzy cap! would you know where I can get one.....can you supply? I may as well change it anyway even if its a fuel issue.

It's a 300TE 4MATIC

Try cleaning it up, but they're not all that expensive now at German and Swedish.

 

[Tim300TE]

Hi Nick,

I'll give it a go. Its been driving me nuts this one. I took it off the road because of tapping sound and a delay between gear shifts. Took it to a local garage in Cirencester and was told it was knackered and to scrap it. The same Garage also told me I needed to have a cylider lined (hence the tapping when cold)which they could do for £1600.00????.........Then the RAC bloke told me it was a load of old pony and that it sounded perfect. Think I may have over filled the gearbox...would this cause problems like delayed shift?

I did notice that the front passenger spring was cracked....would this be an easy replacment for me to do?

Thanks for the advice. This forum might just save the car from the scrap heap

 

[Ian B Walker]

I did notice that the front passenger spring was cracked....would this be an easy replacment for me to do?

Thanks for the advice. This forum might just save the car from the scrap heap

If you have a spring compressor it is easy, however some here will say you can do it without a compressor. Be warned though, if they slip out you will get used to hospital food.

 

[television]

I would slacken a union where the fuel goes into the injection pressure regulator, turn to Key2 for a second to see if petrol sprays out. do not crank the engine as you do not want a spark around. If fuel comes out you will know that the pumps and filter are OK