ENGINE DIES WHILE DRIVING

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BENZO - 04 Oct 2005 02:39 GMT

1988 MERCEDES 260E WHILE DRIVING IT FAST OR SLOW HOT OR COLD SOMETIMES THE
ENGINE JUST DIES. WHEN THE CAR FINALLY STOPS, I TURN THE KEY OFF AND TRY
TO RESTART. AFTER 2 OR 3 TRIES IT FINALLY STARTS AGAIN.DOESN'T HAVE
PROBLEM STARTING COLD, JUST AFTER IT DIES. THE DEALER REPAIR SHOP SAID
COULD,NT PIN POINT PROBLEM SPECIFICALLY, BUT SAID THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP &
ROTOR, PLUGS, ARE WORN DOWN. COULD THIS CAUSE THIS TO BE HAPENNING? COULD
THE CAP AND ROTOR BE LOSING CONTACT,CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DIE FROM TIME TO
TIME? $600 REPAIR BILL, DONT WANT TO PAY IF THIS DONT FIX THE PROBLEM?
PAID $150 JUST TO HAVE LOOKED AT. OR COULD THIS BE THE TIMING BELT OR FUEL
FILTER GOING OUT? IT DONT SEEM TO HAVE ANY PROBLEM DRINKING GAS! HAVEN'T
HAD ANY ENGINE PROBLEMS EXCEPT THIS ONE. I WISH THE PROBLEM WOULD JUST
HAPPEN FOR GOOD SO I CAN PINPOINT AND FIX IT, INSTEAD OF NAGGIN ME. TRYING
TO HOLD OFF ONE MORE YEAR BEFORE GETTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THANKS FOR YOUR
REPLY!

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saeef - 04 Oct 2005 03:48 GMT

> 1988 MERCEDES 260E WHILE DRIVING IT FAST OR SLOW HOT OR COLD SOMETIMES THE
> ENGINE JUST DIES.

I would check the fuel pump relay and fuel pump itself.

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Pete Stephenson - 04 Oct 2005 04:33 GMT

> I would check the fuel pump relay and fuel pump itself.

...and the caps-lock key, but I doubt that's related to the car
problems. :)

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Pete Stephenson
HeyPete.com

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T.G. Lambach - 04 Oct 2005 04:40 GMT

There's a relay - a big switch - that turns the electric fuel pump ON
and OFF. If the relay opens the fuel pump stops and the motor stops,
period. Your car's fuel pump relay is suspect - due to these very
symptoms and its age - they get tired.

That a professional repair shop would be mystified by this problem is
unbelievable, we see this here weekly! They're trying to pick your
pocket, IMHO, and my compliments to you for resisting saying "fix it" -
regardless of cost.

The relay isn't cheap but can be bought on-line from various parts
suppliers. It just plugs in.

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SW - 04 Oct 2005 20:35 GMT

Check Fuel pump and gas cap. I had a gas cap that did not allow air intake
into the tank and pretty soon the vacuum disallowed gas to the engine.

> 1988 MERCEDES 260E WHILE DRIVING IT FAST OR SLOW HOT OR COLD SOMETIMES THE
> ENGINE JUST DIES. WHEN THE CAR FINALLY STOPS, I TURN THE KEY OFF AND TRY
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> TO HOLD OFF ONE MORE YEAR BEFORE GETTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THANKS FOR YOUR
> REPLY!

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