Most likely CPS, Crankshaft Position Sensor, from the symtoms you described. I know one other person who has had a fuel pump replaced on an 03 C230k coupe. Part is about $100. There are many posts about it, it's an intermediate DIY project. Hard to reach on the 320 C-Class.

FYI, If it is the CPS you can let your car cool down 15-20 minutes and the car should start back up. Another trick is to pour a gallon of water on the CPS itself to cool it down then you should be abale to start it back up without the wait.

Good luck!

 

Thank you for the response but I am not sure if that is what it is. When I took it in to the dealership they said that is what they thought it was but then later said I needed a new fuel pump.

I also sat waiting for a tow for about an hour and when he got there I tried to start it agian just to see and it did the same thing.

 

Could be the alternator, if voltage is too low car will shut off too, but you would get a warning light on the dash display.

Hope you figure it out, sometimes locating the exact problem is tough.

 

As stated before....CPS...common/high failure item with your symptoms.

 

[QUOTE=rpayer;2350922]No kidding! $415 for a little piece of plastic... =QUITE]

where the F is this plastic. I've read all the instructions on this site and benzworld, looked at the pictures (one of an ML and another of a E-Class) and it's not there. I'm about to drop the car off in about 3hrs if I can't find this sh*t. Please, will someone take a picture from their C240. Mine is 2001 and it's not the same as the pictures i've seen. IT'S NOT THERE! I have the engine cover off and had my wife look for it with me. PLEASE HELP!!!

 

http://www.mercedesshop.com/Wikka/M112M113CPS

 

on another page, someone said that the 240s sensor is located in front of the engine. just read this 2min ago. no pictures of the engine and he is off-line. thank you for the effort. i'll try looking in front and see what i get.

 

The only difference in the 240 and 320 engines is the stroke of the crankshaft (longer in 320 = more displacement). The CPS takes the signal from the edge of the flywheel which is bolted directly to the back of the crankshaft. Look at the last photo in the link I posted....the view is from the rear of the engine with the transmission removed, you can see the teeth on the flywheel and where the CPS is located.

 

what am i not seeing?

https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...1&d=1194926937
https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...1&d=1194926937
https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...1&d=1194926937

 

Crankshaft position sensor. replaced mine last month. same symptoms

 

thanks for your help mleskover! found it but there is no way i can get there. the angle, the hoses in front of it, even if i coud get to it, it's not worth me throwing a granade in the engine out of frustration. i'll bite the bullet and pay the $350 for something i know will take them 30min.

 

So, I had had a problem, totally random a few weeks ago.
My C320, at a supermarket we came back out and the car wouldn't start. Turning the key, I could hear the starter turning, but the car would start. I stopped, thought about it, tried again, nothing.

Locked car, shut down, came back a few minutes later. Wouldn't start. Opened hood, looked around (as if there is really anything to SEE) no belts off, tried car again. Wouldn't start. I was JUSt about to call Benz, tried it again and it started.

Okay, got home and the check engine light is on, but the car is starting fine. After about three new starts the check engine light went off.

THen, about a week later the same thing happened, totally random (the ONLY correlation I could think of was that I was plugging something into the cigarette lighter) but the battery is fine.

I locked car, opened car, got it, pressed brake pedal and turned it over and it started fine. So, I think not to much. Need to get service of course

Okay, NOW is where it gets scary. #1 GF was driving hte car last night coming home, she had no trouble starting it. on the WAY HOME, on the HIGHWAY, the car just DIED! No warning, nothing, just engine died.

She pulled over and the car wouldn't start - of course. Whlie calling benz and AAA, I walked her through all the things I could think of.

Jiggle the shifter, press on the brake pedal, turn the key one click and rotate the wheel so it is clear of any locks. The pressing on the brake pedal seemed to do it and the CAR STARTED.

What can this be? What is the best way to figure it out, dealer? The car was IN the dealership three weeks ago for the battery dying problem. It turned out if was the passenger seat sensor, was the old faulty one. that cost me 800$ to replace and repair. Ouch!

 

I had similar problem when I got my Powerchip ECU tune. The car wouldn't start and when it did start sometimes it just died on the road without any warning. I took the car to dealer and they replaced the ECU and everything's fine since.

 

I am pretty sure you need a new CPS (crankshaft position sensor). We had this issue on our ML but i've never had it on the C.

 

wow, ecu would suck. that should be some serious bank.
CPS maybe would be better. I'm going to take it to the dealer and have them diagnose. They HAD it three weeks ago, had to do stuff with the seat sensor problem, maybe they jacked something.

If it is something else, I gotta have my "guy" do it, Im EOL on this vehicle at the moment.

 

Did Powerchip give you a refund at least?

 

Same thing happened to my 2002 C320 about 2 months ago.
If let the car sit for 15+ mins and it will start fine, otherwise it would just crank.
And when it finally started, CEL would come on.
Dealer diag. it as crankshaft position sensor and I had it fix under ext. warranty.

 

Yes, Powerchip gave me a refund on the ECU and dealer cover the rest under warranty and gave me a loaner for a week.

 

Quick update.

Indeed, it was the CPS. Car died AGAIN on me on the way home, dead while driving 40mph. I’m not really sure HOW that is possible.

OOW, (out of warranty) so 500$ at the dealer to R&R. I was worried it was IN the engine. But, not sure if they do 150$ inspection, then 2 hours plus lord knows what the sensor costs, but anyhow it’s done and the tow didn’t cost me anything.


What SHOULD it cost?

I I thought about taking it to my GUY, but it probably wouldn’t have been less than 350$ maybe, and I might as well just get the rig back.

 

50 bucks
http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...ition%20Sensor
and 20 minutes of your time,diy on benzworld.org w210 diy section.
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w210...ghlight=sensor
Same location on both cars upper bell housing,easy diy.
ohlord

 

DIY FTW. Don't pay that much. It's easy.

 

oh SNAP! You gotta love that.

 

CPS sensor is cheap. located on the underside of the engine on the driver side.

it shouts the car off because the sensor trips out and thinks the crank is out of position vs ignition timing etc. so it shut the car off to prevent damages.

 

Yeah, sensor is cheap maybe 120$ list, maybe 70$ To buy,
Labour apparently isn’t cheap. At most likely 125, it’s a 3 hour in and out which includes MAJOR QC. I had called my buddy in Montvale last night, who said the same things as here. Check the CPS. Wish I had read a bit further, but ah well, live and learn.

 

it shouldn't even cost that much. changing the sensor when the engine is cooled is at most 15min job. my service advisor actually did it for me since all the tech was busy and he almost burned himself.