E-Class (W124) 1984-1995: E 260, E 300, E 320, E 420, E 500 (Includes CE, T, TD models)

260 E Won't start...

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Old Jan 16, 2007 | 11:23 PM
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From: San Diego
German Taxi (1987 300E)
Unhappy 260 E needs help...

I'm hoping that someone can give me ideas before I have to sell this car (I really don't want to do that)



(She looks exactly like that)

At any rate, what has happened is, there are times when it just won't start. The alternator is new (the owner before me put it in...that was about four months ago), I bought a new starter and a new battery for it. According to the mechanic, what he thinks may be happening is that the transmission isn't going into park, and we all know a car won't start unless it's in park or neutral. When this occurs (once a day for the last week!) I literally have to shake the car multiple times before it starts up again.

Has anyone had a similar problem? I don't want to part with this car, but I am afraid that I may have to...

Last edited by fernan_b; Jan 17, 2007 at 12:20 AM. Reason: changing image
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 01:35 AM
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A wise man once said....."check your OVP relay."
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 01:38 AM
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German Taxi (1987 300E)
Originally Posted by NorCal124
A wise man once said....."check your OVP relay."
Right as you were replying (no joke) I found the thread from shangoof where he was told of the OVP. Sounds like a 124 vd =P

Thanks! I'm taking her to MBZ tomorrow. I was looking at the photos I took for the "ad" I was about to post on ebay to sell the car, but I realised I'm too much of a fanatic to do that.
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 01:49 AM
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You don't need to take it to a MB tech to check it out. Its located behind the battery right next to the ECU. Its a silver colored relay w/ a red top that has a clear plastic cover on it. It covers a 10 amp wedge fuse. You usually never have to replace the entire relay, just the fuse inside it.
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 02:35 AM
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German Taxi (1987 300E)
Dude you are right, right, and way right. It's next to the ABS thingy? My ABS light has been on for the better part of a month!
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 02:58 AM
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From what I can recollect its in the vicinity of the ABS sensor connector but I don't know if its next to a ABS relay or something. Usually when the ABS light comes on it means the sensor has gone out. The thing is its hardly ever the sensor that breaks but the crusty old wiring leading to the sensor deteriorates. You can still operate the vehicle safely without the ABS working, you simply just won't have ABS. Unless you'd be willing to cough up a good chunk of change for parts and labor you're better off without it. This is just my experience though, have a mechanic confirm it before you go disconnecting anything.
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 08:32 AM
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is a German Tank
IT should take you no longer than 5 minutes to do.

Disconnect battery
pull battery out
remove plastic (black) wall you see behind battery
replace fuse inside flip-lid

Done.
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 10:53 AM
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Originally Posted by shadowgriffen
IT should take you no longer than 5 minutes to do.

Disconnect battery
pull battery out
remove plastic (black) wall you see behind battery
replace fuse inside flip-lid

Done.
They don't call you Captain OVP for nothing!
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 10:58 AM
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is a German Tank
Originally Posted by mgw_300e
They don't call you Captain OVP for nothing!
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 03:25 PM
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German Taxi (1987 300E)
Originally Posted by shadowgriffen
IT should take you no longer than 5 minutes to do.

Disconnect battery
pull battery out
remove plastic (black) wall you see behind battery
replace fuse inside flip-lid

Done.
GRRR! I called a master mechanic, and he laughed at the fact that I'd replaced EVERYTHING...before the OVP =P
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 03:29 PM
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is a German Tank
Originally Posted by fernan_b
GRRR! I called a master mechanic, and he laughed at the fact that I'd replaced EVERYTHING...before the OVP =P
Bummer =/ that's not really funny...

Hey man to answer your pm my headlights are Ebay projectore STYLE reflectors.



-Hen
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 03:45 PM
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Originally Posted by shadowgriffen
Bummer =/ that's not really funny...

Hey man to answer your pm my headlights are Ebay projectore STYLE reflectors.



-Hen
Hey Henry, are those Italian headlights?
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 04:58 PM
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1994 White an Grey E320 "Shado"
Originally Posted by mgw_300e
Hey Henry, are those Italian headlights?
Did they come with fettuchini?
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Old Jan 17, 2007 | 05:34 PM
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Originally Posted by DarkHand
Did they come with fettuchini?
no, rotatore.
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Old Jan 18, 2007 | 08:21 AM
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is a German Tank
Originally Posted by mgw_300e
no, rotatore.
ah, portabellisimo!

lamparas fantasticas de Italia!
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Old Jan 22, 2007 | 12:55 PM
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German Taxi (1987 300E)
thanks, y'all! she now starts even better than she did before--and the horrid abs light went away.

'Course, now she's got another common mercedes ailment...the flaring tranny...
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Old Jan 25, 2007 | 05:40 AM
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From: Gilleleje, Denmark
W124/250D 1990
Start problem W124/300TE

Hi fernan_b.

Just to go a back in time; you wrote that the MB could not start, was it the ignition that did 'nt work, or did'nt the engine rotate at all ?

I have a similar problem with W124/300TE 1989, sometimes (often) it wont' ignite, and again other times it wil. Once it have started, there are no problems at all, and if I shut it down and tries to start it again, it rotates but will not ignite.
Then suddenly it will, and suddenly it wont'........but again the problem is ONLY during start sequense, regardless if it's cold or warm.

Does anyone have any suggestion ?

Thanks in advance.

Brgds JBN
(Denmark)

Last edited by JBN; Jan 25, 2007 at 05:43 AM.
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Old Jan 25, 2007 | 08:09 AM
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is a German Tank
Originally Posted by JBN
Hi fernan_b.

Just to go a back in time; you wrote that the MB could not start, was it the ignition that did 'nt work, or did'nt the engine rotate at all ?

I have a similar problem with W124/300TE 1989, sometimes (often) it wont' ignite, and again other times it wil. Once it have started, there are no problems at all, and if I shut it down and tries to start it again, it rotates but will not ignite.
Then suddenly it will, and suddenly it wont'........but again the problem is ONLY during start sequense, regardless if it's cold or warm.

Does anyone have any suggestion ?

Thanks in advance.

Brgds JBN
(Denmark)

read this entrie page and you'll find some answers.
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Old Jan 26, 2007 | 03:25 AM
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From: Gilleleje, Denmark
W124/250D 1990
Hi.

Regarding the starting problem of the 300TE:

Due to no ignition at all between coil and distributor, coil measured ok,
EZL unit mearsured to receive 12V and ground ok, HT lead between coil and distributor replaced ok, and even the final properbly cause; the crank position sensor replaced w/o success, I finally solved the problem :

I got a used ignition module (EZL unit) from a used car shop, and after replacement of the unit, there have not been any problems what so ever.

Brgds JBN
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Old Feb 6, 2007 | 10:57 AM
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260E
off topic but when my cars off the voltage is about 11.4v when running its 12.6v...this is probably an inaccurate reading coming from my beltronics radar detector..LOL but is that ok? i cant read the service manual as my cars sittin goutside somework shop waiting to be examided wether i need a new radiator or hoses..as it overheated today..
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Old Aug 6, 2009 | 02:01 AM
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German Taxi (1987 300E)
Wow--I guess it's true; we don't learn from our past. I am now encountering the same problem with my 300E. Time to replace the fuse! Thank goodness this thread was archived.
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