Gman91932

I just had my car washed. I dorve a few minutes to the cleaners and then stopped. Whn I got out of the car I heard a odd sound as if some small moter was still running. It seemed to be coming from under the cover (where in old cars covered the carbeurator) . It would not stop. The car then would not start. light and radio came on. however this small moter kept going and seemed to be smoking. I tried to find pliers to undo the battery. Just as I found some pliers the sound stopped. But the car still wont start!
is it the starter? or just what could it be????
thanks in advance
Gman91932

Jer

A W124 is not an old Mercedes and doesn't have a carb. Therefore, your location of the device is hard to pinpoint. Please tell us where this cover is located (or send a pic) so we can better help you.

Gman91932

the sound that I heard was under the hood of the car. It "seemed" to be coming from underneath the BIG oval cover that snaps on all around. bit I could not get it open becasue I needed a screw driver. after opening the the clips. I am not sure this is the place. where the sound originated from. However there seemed to be light smoke coming from that area. It was not coming from underneath. and it was not coming form the front near the radiator. again coming form the middle to the rear of the cars engine area.
I hope you can help
Thanks

Jer

That big oval cover is the air cleaner housing. The burning smell might be oil getting into the hot wire of the MAF sensor. The oil would come from the valve cover breather.

Gman91932

where is the starter in this car. becasue although all electrical works there is no turnover when trying to start. So the car has lights, radio etc but does not start and does not even click when turning the key.
Thanks

Jer

The starter is at the back of the engine at the flywheel. Check fuses and relays...

Arnie

Does your car have the OVP relay? Most of the time it gets ruined by water. It's located right next to the battery. When it fails, you have no spark, the engine does not start, and the computer does not store any codes. It also may make the funny noise you're refferring to, because the relay clicks on and off hunderd times a second.

dlafever

Specifically the starter is just ahead of the firewall on the left (U.S. driver's) side of the engine, roughly where you indicated the smoke was coming from. The large oval cover is for the air filter, if you remove it by loosening the three 10mm hex nuts you can see the starter underneath the intake manifold.

-D

Jer

Usually when the OVP relay fails the starter will operate, but the engine might not run on its own because the KE control unit will not function.

Gman91932

I having my car towed today. If it is the starter, what is the laboe and labor costs involved. The sound and the smoke may have come the the starter area. I was hgard to pinpoint. Whne the sound kept going and the small amouint of smoke continued, I did not know what to do. IR how long this would last. I was in a panic state.
G

Gman91932

ALso I dont have lights or radio anymore

Gman

Gman91932

One more thing.does the 1988 300e have a starter wit a motor of some kind that will continue after the car engine has been turnedoff that you could hear?

dlafever

Gman, it would seem that you likely have at least a blown fuse or two, perhaps the one in the OVP relay or in the fusebox under the hood.

Once the starter starts the engine it should disengage from the flywheel by interruption of the current to its solenoid (bendix), if it continues to run on its own while disengaged it will certainly smoke itself as it is designed to run with a decent load in short bursts.

From what you have described, it sounds like you might have a faulty wiring harness that is now wet due to the car wash. You should be able to take a pressure washer to your engine and not have these kinds of problems (not true of later model MBs). I suggest that you take it to a qualified mechanic for proper diagnosis.

-D

Gman91932

Well the problem was the Starter!
I had never heard of such a thing as this. I hope I have helped someone by follwing this thread all the way to the finish.

Jer

Glad to hear you had it fixed!! Still sounds like a weird problem. Was the solenoid sticking and wrecking the starter???

Gman91932

no it was not, but It was wierd. Scary too!