Sudden engine cut-off

[clika]

Yesterday had a rare and unpleaseant experience. Just finished reversing into parking lot at Brent Cross & my engine died before being switched off. Electrics were fine, starter motor rotates, but no ignition. Went to shops & came back in 20 min & it started no problem. After pulling of and a few miles away I am stuck with my engine off once again. No warning lights, nothing. Then 15-20 minutes later, no problem, the engine fires up. This morning drove for about 25-30 minutes, seems ok, but I am bit restless now. There is no guarantee that similar won't happen again. God forbid at high speed. What on earth could that be? Engone overheating (does not look, feel or smell like it), faulty termostat, fuel pump failure, spark plugs (changed a year ago), ingnition etc etc etc? Has anyone experienced anything like that before? Please let me know. Thanks in advance.

 

[Dieselman]

You need to find if the fault is ignition or fuel related.
I doubt the engien will stop when revving, it sounds like a fault that manifests itself at idle then the engine can't restart.

Possible sensor failure or ECU over-heating or low fuel pressure causing airlock due to heat.

 

[shandy]

Clika, If you let us know which car you have you may get more response. Sounds like an electrical problem , the fuel pump relay and over voltage protection relay are the first things to look at when the engine cuts without warning but can start and run normally after a short time. In your case I would look at the fuel pump relay as your engine was obviously up to operating temp. at Brent Cross and the OVP relay normally gives problems during warmup.
Hope this helps and you get more response to you query.
Geo.

 

[Vlad]

If its a Merc fitted with the M104 engine ie a 2.8 or a 3.2, then it sounds very much as if its the OVP relay which starts to fail as they get older...the internal soldering starts to crack and cause random faults, normally when starting from cold or when they get hot, typically in the outside lane of the motorway....suddenly the engine cuts out....not nice!!!

Very easy to replace and cost about £50 to purchase.

 

[clika]

Thanks for your replies. It's a E-class, 6 cylinder 2.4 litre, 1999, 5 door-saloon.

Yesterday parked near local Sainsbury's, came back in 15 minutes - it won't start. Couple minutes after perfect ignition. This morning no probs. Drove 45-50 min in traffic (a bit nervy experience).

Any ideas as how to proceed? My mechanic suggested computer diagnostics, but these guys are not cheap. Just to have a look they ask around 100 quid w/o actually doing anything.

 

[Ian B Walker]

Sounds very much like an ECU problem to me. Hope not as they dont come cheap new.

 

[miro]

Yesterday had a rare and unpleaseant experience. Just finished reversing into parking lot at Brent Cross & my engine died before being switched off. Electrics were fine, starter motor rotates, but no ignition. Went to shops & came back in 20 min & it started no problem. After pulling of and a few miles away I am stuck with my engine off once again. No warning lights, nothing. Then 15-20 minutes later, no problem, the engine fires up. This morning drove for about 25-30 minutes, seems ok, but I am bit restless now. There is no guarantee that similar won't happen again. God forbid at high speed. What on earth could that be? Engone overheating (does not look, feel or smell like it), faulty termostat, fuel pump failure, spark plugs (changed a year ago), ingnition etc etc etc? Has anyone experienced anything like that before? Please let me know. Thanks in advance.

Locate the crank angle sensor and if you spray it with a fine mist of water and if the engine starts up replace the sensor.

I really have no idea which car this is for but I know the problem and solution is very common. Your passage fits the bill quite well.

This is one type of fault which does not show on the diagnostic.

 

[jgevers]

I agree with Miro.

Most likely to be crank sensor. This is a normal inductive sensor that normally shows the first signs of failing when hot.

Cheers

 

[kth286]

clika

Yes - crank angle sensor.

Regards

 

[clika]

Looks like temp related as i was stuck once again 20 minutes away from ****nal-Juve kick-off! All 4 times so far happened when it runs idle. When temp drops to around 81-82 engine starts. After the match drove with my windows open & max heater.

where can I locate the sensor on 99' E-240?

 

[Vips]

Ok, here goes nothing. I had a BMW a few years back and I had the same problem as you have. Never happened when the the car was in motion. It will cut out whilst it was on idle or waiting in traffic and refuse to start until about 15-20 mins later. The problem was the air flow meter which I replaced and never saw the problem again. You may not have the same part but it could be the MAS, if that is what's replaced the air flow meter. Any one correct me.

 

[clika]

Crank sensor it was! GBP 20 for a "brain scan" (just to make sure, but as predicted no faults registered), GBP 60 for a part and GBP 100 for labour (checks mainly). Thanks to all for very useful advice, which saved me time and most definitely a lot of money had I gone to MB. Btw, MB sells quite a lot of these little thingies.

 

[allenhouse]

Thanks for the help on this forum

My S500 conked out at 80 mph on a dual carriageway last week - very scary experience! No warning at all, just "closed down"...I recalled reading the posts here, and it turns out that it was the crank angle sensor that failed, so back on the road quite quickly. Still, not a pleasant experience to be driving along and the engine turn itself off with absolutely no warning...

 

[jagmad]

Crank Angle Sensor E280

Crank sensor it was! GBP 20 for a "brain scan" (just to make sure, but as predicted no faults registered), GBP 60 for a part and GBP 100 for labour (checks mainly). Thanks to all for very useful advice, which saved me time and most definitely a lot of money had I gone to MB. Btw, MB sells quite a lot of these little thingies.

I have an E280 estate 1994 model which keeps cutting out without warning, usually when overtaking on the outside lane of the motorway. I stop the car and 1 to 2 minutes later she starts with no problem and it runs without problem for miles. Based on posts in this forum I am assuming my problem is the Crank angle Sensor (hopefully!!)
I have checked my Haynes manual and my (Ebay) disc based service manual but can only find reference to Crankshaft position sensor, one fitted just above the starter motor and the other to the upper right front of the engine.
Can anyone clarify if these are the same components and if not where the Crank Angle sensor is fitted and what is involved in replacement other than using MB!!

 

[Dieselman]

Your fault sounds more like a fuel starvation issue as it only happens when under heavy load. Check the fuel filter.

 

[Vlad]

If you search under OVP or my listings you will find an article I wrote on OVP's....over voltage protection relays....I'm 99% confident that this will be the solution to the problem you mention, especially as your car is fitted with the M104 engine...its a common problem on these cars.

 

[jagmad]

Your fault sounds more like a fuel starvation issue as it only happens when under heavy load. Check the fuel filter.

Thanks that was my first thoughts and I replaced the fuel filter two weeks ago and problem remains the same. Choice now is OVP relay or Crank angle sensor. I have already ordered the crank angle sensor so I will post results after fitting it.