Starting issue help!
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From: Northern Seattle, WA
1997 Mercedes Benz C36 AMG
Starting issue help!
My 97 C36 AMG with 158k on it is having an intermittent starting issue, the place I bought it from is now kinda scratching their heads about it.
Intermittently when starting it you hear the starter, you feel it roll over once and then nothing. It acts like you just didn't turn and hold the key long enough. There's a new battery in it so it's not that. Has 1/2 tank of premium gas.
Sometimes it'll start up the first time, sometimes will take up to ten tries start. But the kicker is When it starts it runs just fine!
Happens more often once it's warmed up and has been driven a few miles.
Any ideas what the hecks going on?!
I heard it could be the cps? It doesn't stall or anything while driving though.
Intermittently when starting it you hear the starter, you feel it roll over once and then nothing. It acts like you just didn't turn and hold the key long enough. There's a new battery in it so it's not that. Has 1/2 tank of premium gas.
Sometimes it'll start up the first time, sometimes will take up to ten tries start. But the kicker is When it starts it runs just fine!
Happens more often once it's warmed up and has been driven a few miles.
Any ideas what the hecks going on?!
I heard it could be the cps? It doesn't stall or anything while driving though.
Last edited by Atown206; Feb 18, 2015 at 10:26 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 17
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From: Northern Seattle, WA
1997 Mercedes Benz C36 AMG
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From: A.D., U.A.E
2000 (W202 C200) & 2000 (W202 C55)
Never Mind..
,
Fuel pump/fuel pump relay/fuel filter/bad or dirty injectors/bad CPS/MAF hot film went bad/dirty throttle body/bad battery/bad starter solenoid/alternator regulator went bad, all these could cause bad starting..!
do you replace any of these recently..?
,Fuel pump/fuel pump relay/fuel filter/bad or dirty injectors/bad CPS/MAF hot film went bad/dirty throttle body/bad battery/bad starter solenoid/alternator regulator went bad, all these could cause bad starting..!
do you replace any of these recently..?
Thread Starter
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From: Northern Seattle, WA
1997 Mercedes Benz C36 AMG
I haven't! I just bought the car maybe a month ago. I checked the cps, the things full of oil and so is the wiring connectors. I have a feeling it's the cps now.
But It probably wouldn't hurt to replace the fuel filter as well! Lol
How do you suggest I safely clean the fuel injectors on these?
But It probably wouldn't hurt to replace the fuel filter as well! Lol
How do you suggest I safely clean the fuel injectors on these?
Last edited by Atown206; Feb 19, 2015 at 02:52 AM.
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From: A.D., U.A.E
2000 (W202 C200) & 2000 (W202 C55)
The car cranking but not starting isn't..?, is your battery good..??,
when you switch the key in position 2, do you hear fuel pump sending fuel ...???,,
are all interior/exterior lights working with the car OFF..????
ZAYED,,
when you switch the key in position 2, do you hear fuel pump sending fuel ...???,,
are all interior/exterior lights working with the car OFF..????
ZAYED,,
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2015
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From: Northern Seattle, WA
1997 Mercedes Benz C36 AMG
All lights work with car off and just but a new battery in it a week ago.
The shop I bought it front just spend three hours of diag time testing the wiring harness and said everything tests okay. But they just don't know where to go with it now. (Not a Mercedes shop). I'd bring it to a specialty shop or MB dealer but it's
On the dealer I bought it from's dime. (so of course they rather their own shop figure it out.)
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1999 C43 AMG, 2005 E55 Wagon
fuel, air, and spark. highly unlikely it's not getting air, so that leaves fuel and spark.
the fact that it runs normally sometimes indicates fuel supply is most likely fine.
that leaves spark. for some reason it's not getting spark at random. likely cause is some failing sensor, also sense it gets worse when it's warm. on pre-update cars they had an OVP relay that caused exactly this situation most of the time. afterward, it's CPS and a few other things cm60k said.
the fact that it runs normally sometimes indicates fuel supply is most likely fine.
that leaves spark. for some reason it's not getting spark at random. likely cause is some failing sensor, also sense it gets worse when it's warm. on pre-update cars they had an OVP relay that caused exactly this situation most of the time. afterward, it's CPS and a few other things cm60k said.
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From: A.D., U.A.E
2000 (W202 C200) & 2000 (W202 C55)
^Agreed with Sulaco^,
is C36 got that OVP relay..?, i thought it comes in 96 only, but i'm not sure about that..!,
did you test if there are fueling delivered in fuel rail, did you listen to fuel when turn the key to position 2...??
ZAYED,,
is C36 got that OVP relay..?, i thought it comes in 96 only, but i'm not sure about that..!,
did you test if there are fueling delivered in fuel rail, did you listen to fuel when turn the key to position 2...??
ZAYED,,
Thread Starter
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From: Northern Seattle, WA
1997 Mercedes Benz C36 AMG
It's hard to hear when I put the key in and turn it I just hear the car beeping and the climate control flap open.
I was able to et it started today but noticed at idle the RPM tach seems to me constantly moving between 700-800rpm will occasionally drop to 600 then right back up. also noticed there is a bit of an extra vibration to the car. Only happens at idle or park. Not sure if this is normal.
I was able to et it started today but noticed at idle the RPM tach seems to me constantly moving between 700-800rpm will occasionally drop to 600 then right back up. also noticed there is a bit of an extra vibration to the car. Only happens at idle or park. Not sure if this is normal.
Thread Starter
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From: Northern Seattle, WA
1997 Mercedes Benz C36 AMG
I do occasionally smell a fuel smell near the fuel door after the cars been driven a bit. Not sure if it related? May just need a new fuel cap.
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Thread Starter
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From: Northern Seattle, WA
1997 Mercedes Benz C36 AMG
So I unplugged the MAF it ran steady RPM seemed a little more steady, still had a little play but not as much, then after a good 45seconds swiftly die. But with it unplugged car seems to start everytime. (Not sure if it's a fluke because of how intermittent the starting issue is or if it's in fact the unplugged unit).
Thread Starter
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From: Northern Seattle, WA
1997 Mercedes Benz C36 AMG
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From: San Diego
2004 E55
Stick with a genuine Bosch MAF. Have you tried cleaning your current one to see if it helps? I still recommend replacing even if it does help.
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From: A.D., U.A.E
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^^+1^^,,
Don't go with these crap sensors, just go with OEM or Bosch only,, clean it may help but will not cure it, plus less performance...!!
ZAYED,,
Don't go with these crap sensors, just go with OEM or Bosch only,, clean it may help but will not cure it, plus less performance...!!
ZAYED,,
Thread Starter
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From: Northern Seattle, WA
1997 Mercedes Benz C36 AMG
I don't have any. Just made an order so now waiting for it to arrive. (Be about a week) in the mean time how do you suggest I clean out the MAF? Any special do and donts?
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From: A.D., U.A.E
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