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Car Forum / Mercedes-Benz Cars / January 2008

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W202  - C180 - starting

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Bernard Rother - 21 Dec 2007 16:01 GMT
Hi there,

Just recently I've been having endless problems starting  the C180. (
Not weather related, average temp here is around 28C ) If the car is
parked on a level site there is no problem but just let her be on a
slope, either way, then it takes forever. The battery is a new Bosch and
swings the starter without a prob. Fuel pressure is ok according to the
mech who left a guage attached over night. He removed the aux fuel pumps
in the tanks and cleaned them. ( He suspects those, but at R1500 a piece
we are exploring all other avenues first )

I have to turn the ignition key about 19 times ( pumping the fuel pump
19 x ) and then she'll fire. After the initial start she'll fire first
time every time after that until parked for about 15 minute or longer
and then we start all over again.

Engine harness replaced.
Volt Reg & brushes replaced.
New Bosch battery.
Fuel tanks drained & refilled.
Injector cleaning fluid added to fuel on 4 instances.

Reaaaaaaly looking forward to some hints and ideas.

Thanks guys.

Bernard.
-->> T.G. Lambach <<-- - 21 Dec 2007 18:52 GMT
You don't say if there's a difference between a cold start vs. a hot start.

I'd like to know the fuel pressure when car is parked on an incline and
when parked on a level surface.

I'd also like to know if anyone checked the fuel pump relay (switch for
fuel pump(s)). Has the motor ever died while driving? If YES, this
becomes more of a suspect.
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© 2007 T.G.Lambach. Publication in any form requires prior written
permission.

Bernard Rother - 22 Dec 2007 13:50 GMT
> You don't say if there's a difference between a cold start vs. a hot start.

> I'd like to know the fuel pressure when car is parked on an incline and
> when parked on a level surface.
>
> I'd also like to know if anyone checked the fuel pump relay (switch for
> fuel pump(s)). Has the motor ever died while driving? If YES, this
> becomes more of a suspect.

Thanks T.G.

No difference between a hot or cold start. If I switch it off and then
immediately restart then it's fine ... but cool morning or hot afternoon
I still battle.

I did a pressure test about a month ago with the car parked on a sloped
driveway, nose up. By morning the pressure was zero.
Anthony ( MB trained mech ) did a pressure test on Thursday night while
the car was parked on the level work bay. There was a slight drop but he
said it was still within specs. He said he had no problems starting
while it was on the level.

Don't think he checked the fuel pump relay but he removed the fuel
sender units & cleaned them for me. Will follow up on that on Monday.
I can hear the fuel pump "whizzing" for a few seconds each time I hold
the key in the start position.

NOW .... for something interesting !! I've been parking nose down since
last night and spent the day driving around town looking for parking
bays with a fall .. all nose down. The car has started first time every
time ... starter motor hardly has a chance to swing and she's purring.

Park nose up and it's a no-go. Tank is 3/4 full .. no leaks or petrol
odours. Car runs beautifully otherwise and has never died on me.
He also did a CO2 test .... think he said .5 @ 3000rpm.

Did I mention I put an aluminium non return valve near the outlet of the
fuel filter .... thought the fuel was draining back into the tank due to
a faulty non return valve in the pump.

After reading my post I think I'll put smaller tyres on the front and
bigger ones on the rear ... may also raise the rear suspension ....(
Tongue in cheek )
-->> T.G. Lambach <<-- - 22 Dec 2007 18:53 GMT
Reminds me of diesels with similar problems due to air seeping into
their fuel supply.

I suggest you check the fuel pressure regulator (on the fuel rail). I
suspect it is allowing air from the intake manifold to seep into the
fuel rail when the motor is elevated so the fuel rail eventually fills
with air. Since the fuel pumps run only about a second each time you try
to start the motor it takes some tries to expel that air from the fuel
rail before the motor can run.

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© 2007 T.G.Lambach. Publication in any form requires prior written
permission.

- - 24 Dec 2007 23:02 GMT
I second the advice on checking the fuel pressure regulator.  These are
known to go bad on the w202.
megabyting@gmail.com - 10 Jan 2008 05:16 GMT
> I second the advice on checking the fuel pressure regulator.  These are
> known to go bad on the w202.

I have a second though which the fuel pump relay can also cause this
kind of problem. A little green box sits next to the battery. While
getting a helper to start the engine,  you tap the top of the green
box with the handle of a screw driver. If the car starts, 99.9% the
fuel pump relay needs to be replaced.

Keith
 
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