I have a 1989 190E 2.6 Automatic
About a month ago I turned my car off after some highway driving, a
couple minutes later I tried to start it again and, at first... I had
to keep turning the key on and then off, nothing, then some ticking,
then it slowly it started to turn over... and eventually started. The
strange thing is that the wiper came on for one pass when the car
started.
For the last couple of weeks, it has been a hit and miss thing.
Sometimes I turn the key and get nothing, other times "tick",
eventually there is always a slow turning over that eventually starts
the car. The wiper does one pass for 99% of successful start ups that
take more than one try, I have also notice a mild sulfur (rotten egg)
type smell.
Yesterday I couldn't get anything more out of it than a feeble and
unsuccessful attempt at turning over... again the light sulfur smell.
The battery strength seems fine, the alternator seems to be fine.
Any ideas? I would say starter of solenoid, but this wiper thing is
leading me to guess that there is a short. Can anyone help? I
appreciate whatever advice you can give.
Tiger - 12 Jul 2006 22:34 GMT
Your starter is gone. Go to autozone to get a lifetime starter... or you can
buy online for rebuilt Bosch rebuilt starter... only rebuilt by Bosch...
don't buy other.
DGC - 12 Jul 2006 22:45 GMT
> Your starter is gone. Go to autozone to get a lifetime starter... or you can
> buy online for rebuilt Bosch rebuilt starter... only rebuilt by Bosch...
> don't buy other.
Thanks... I've been looking at other problems you've solved so I'm not
going to doubt you... I was wondering though if you can explain why the
wiper is moving. It is what made me worried about short somewhere.
Thanks again for the help though. I'll get a new starter.
Tiger - 12 Jul 2006 23:32 GMT
I am not sure about wiper... maybe somehow the circuit sent some feedback to
trigger your wiper. I really don't know about that. Sometime the wiper relay
act funky when going bad... but somehow I think your starter did it.
DGC - 13 Jul 2006 18:44 GMT
Well thanks again Tiger.
How difficult would you say changing it myself might be. I have pretty
basic mechanical skills. I've changed a couple alternators before and a
starter once on an 89 pathfinder, but I haven't even gotten the car up
on jackstands yet to have a look.
DGC - 13 Jul 2006 22:41 GMT
I had another look before diving into the starter and, as it turns out,
it was the battery.... problem solved for now.