Car Doesn't Start Randomly HELP
 

Ive been having problems getting my car started about once every 2 or 3 days. The the starter turns the engine over about 15 times or so and then stops. I wait about half an hour and then it starts up fine but the check engine light comes on. Then the check engine light turns off a few starts later. The battery is giving the car plenty of power so thats not the problem. I put some fuel cleaner in the gas and it worked a bit better. Its been doing this for about 3 weeks now and im so tired of the expensive repairs that i dont want to take it into the shop again.

Oh and it decides not to accelerate now and then when you stop or slow down in which case i have to turn it off and restart it. And sometimes it stalls out completely when i stop and wont restart so i have to push it off the road and wait about half an hour to start it up.


I dought that anyones had this many problems with their c classes but advice on any of the above would be appreciated.

I'm going to take a stab here. I'm wondering if you have some type of vacum leak somewhere. How is the idle when the car is running?

Other than that, perhaps you have an electrical issue, in which case I will be no help.

Try taking off the top panels of the engine covers. Take some WD-40, and spary it LIGHTLY around the hose connections, particularly around your Throttle Body and MAF. If the idle increases, you have a vacum leak, and need to replace or tighten the hose.

If you take some pics of your engine bay, I mayb be able to help you a bit more, with where to spray.

Like you I don't think it is your battery.

E

Try changing your crankshaft position sensor.

There are a lot of expensive parts that can cause your problem, and some inexpensive ones too. The MIL means that the computer has encountered a problem it cannot rectify with adjustments within its range. Some auto parts store will loan you an OBDII (Onboard Diagnostics version 2) scanner to read what the computer has recorded as the offending element.

Armed with the codes you can make an intelligent decision about what to fix. It can be the crank position sensor, vacuum leaks, dirty or defective MAF (Mass airflow) sensor, clogged injectors, poor fuel pressure management, filthy air filters, or a stinker coil pack or spark plug.

The folks above made great suggestions, but unless you read the codes, you are wearing a blindfold, which can be trouble for your billfold.:rolleyes:

Moviela,

You made of course the best suggestion. Will he still get a code, even with the CEL showing as off?

When I was having MAF issues, if the CEL wasn't on, the Autozone reader wouldn't show anything.

E

:word: +1

it's the crank position sensor, i posted the same thread 2 weeks ago. i was experiencing the same problems you are. dealer wanted 600 parts and labor, i took it to MBZ motors in winnetka ca, and it was $140 part and labor. since then the cars back to normal