W202 C280 V6 starting Problem - HELP!!!!!

[BIG Sean]

Got an irritating reliability problem with my c280 - sometimes won't start even though engine turns over? What could it be?

My thoughts;

• Transponder? - surely she wouldn't let me take her out of park?
• Immobiliser? - is this not the same as above?
• Starter? - get the 'n-n-n-n' 'n-n-n-n-n' 'n-n-n-n-n' like she's trying to fire up but won't

It is truly intermittent but has happened four times in ten days - happens after short runs, after being left for a couple of hours, an hour, a half hour and it is getting to be a pain in the @rse

Not very mechanically minded - not for one with all these electrics anyway [have changed an engine in a Chevette though!]

Any help or thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in anticipation

Sean

 

[Alps]

possibly the single point ignition module, wait for more replies!

 

[tinkypot]

I had a similar problem with my car. If you tried to start it, the car would start, or cough once or twice then start.

Damn imbarrasing when starting up at the petrol pumps

It turned out to be a worn flywheel inside the starter motor or something similar. I bought a replacement starter.


Alex

 

[BIG Sean]

c'mon guys - help me out - don't fancy a 'diagnostic' visit to the stealers - anything else I can prompt my spanner twirler on would be a great help!!

 

[miro]

c'mon guys - help me out - don't fancy a 'diagnostic' visit to the stealers - anything else I can prompt my spanner twirler on would be a great help!!

You are about due for a crankshaft angle sensor. Cheap insurance !

 

[BIG Sean]

Got an irritating reliability problem with my c280 - sometimes won't start even though engine turns over? What could it be?

My thoughts;

• Transponder? - surely she wouldn't let me take her out of park?
• Immobiliser? - is this not the same as above?
• Starter? - get the 'n-n-n-n' 'n-n-n-n-n' 'n-n-n-n-n' like she's trying to fire up but won't

It is truly intermittent but has happened four times in ten days - happens after short runs, after being left for a couple of hours, an hour, a half hour and it is getting to be a pain in the @rse

Not very mechanically minded - not for one with all these electrics anyway [have changed an engine in a Chevette though!]

Any help or thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in anticipation

Sean

Still struggling with this - however I have worked out that it is only happening when engine is warm [only 2miles from work when stopping for a quick destressing pint on way home from work ] and has cooled down for around an hour - she's ok after 10mins, 90mins, all night........................ BUT NOT 60mins !!!!!!!

Does this help anyone's thought processes? anybody else had similar problems?

 

[Vlad]

1) Crank shaft position sensor is my bet
or
2) Over Voltage Protection relay.....could be starting to break down and normally shows up by random electrical problems, ie hard starting from cold or not wanting to start shortly after starting the car from cold....ie popping down to the shops, shutting the engine off before its got really warm and then coming back to it and trying to start the engine

 

[BIG Sean]

Thanks Vlad - is the crank angle sensor an adjustment or a replacement?

Likely cost?

 

[Dieselman]

Thanks Vlad - is the crank angle sensor an adjustment or a replacement?

Likely cost?

Replacement.

I think it could be fuel pressure related. If the pressure is low the fuel boils in the injector feed line while the engine is off.

 

[BIG Sean]

Thanks Dieselman,

Does you mean I will have to replace the angle crank sensor and sort the fuel pressure - would a very good mechanic with plenty of MB repairing/servicing experience(so I'm told, by a mate) [without MB diagnostics] be able to tell that fuel pressure is low? and come to that be able to sort the crank sensor? or do I have to take it to the MB dealership for a major rip off - quoted me £480[less 10% ] for a service on a car that cost me £3800!


No wonder you guys call them Stealers! - on this note can anyone recommend a good specialist with proper diagnostics [not the ebay crap] near Bolton/Manchester???

 

[shandy]

My bet would be the ovp relay , tall silver relay with one or two fuses on top , in front of the ecu's in the right rear compartment under the bonnet. Known to be a faulty part and will break down eventually due to faulty internal soldering.
Mine caused stalling after 2-5 minutes running but would run ok when fully warmed up.
First check the fuses as they do blow and cause the syptoms described but if fuses ok I would change the relay , £50 from ECP and 5 mins to change.
Geo.

 

[paresh]

This happened to me about nine months ago.

I have a W210 E240 V6. The car would not start but the engine kept turning over. So it probably wasn't the battery. Mostly happened on warm days after a short run. I left it for a while and the problem got worse. Occassionally the engine would just cut out whilst waiting in a traffic queue or at road junctions. Very embarrasing!!. I would then try to start the car and if I was lucky it would start after a few attempts. If it would not start I had to let the car cool for a while (10-20 mins) and it then usually started. I got a few funny looks sitting in the car with hazards on holding up traffic on a single lane road!!!


Eventually it would not start at all. I had an indy friend of mine have a look at it. Turned out to be the crank position sensor! Had this replaced and thankfully I have not had a problem since.

The sensor is a dealer only part that has to be ordered. Cost is around £90.00. You could replace it yourself. The sensor is located at the rear of the engine. It is quite an awkward part to get at so the indy replaced it for me. About an hours work.


Hope this helps

 

[BIG Sean]

Looks like at least some of you were right [fingers crossed] I had it in for service £351 for a B at Peter Michaels in Bolton and asked them to sort - they said Crank Sensor as some of you did - had it done today and not let me down yet!

Thanks collectively for all your responses/thoughts/likely causes

Regards
Sean

P.S. Do MB ' stealers ' menu price these days - my lass got quoted the same price at MB Bolton for her A140 as I did for my V6 C280 - £480 - half the engine therefore presumably half the oil/plugs etc and the time to fit????

 

[BIG Sean]

Sorted

Been to Oxford for the weekend and she's not let me down once - obviously was the Crank sensor - well worth the £150 to fix.

:bannana: :bannana: :bannana: :bannana: :bannana:
:bannana: Now loving being a:bannana:
:bannana:MB driver!!!!:bannana:
:bannana: :bannana: :bannana: :bannana: :bannana:​

 

[miro]

The sensor is a dealer only part that has to be ordered. Cost is around £90.00. You could replace it yourself. The sensor is located at the rear of the engine. It is quite an awkward part to get at so the indy replaced it for me. About an hours work.


Hope this helps

I was doing this job on a boiling hot engine that burnt my arm twice and it took 40 minutes without a hoist.

The hardest part was finding the reverse-torx socket the right size. My first guess was a good one. It is quite small.