cig3

I bought a 1997 E320 with an engine that had been severely over heated. The car would run after the over heat but lost the two rear cylinders. Only ran in limp mode. The car sat for a year in my frinds shop before I bought it.

The car was maintained by a friends shop including the following.

new rad. and hoses after overheat
new trans less than 5000 miles
new brakes and tires
ETC.....

So I purchased an engine thru my friends shop from alocal dismantler. Looked very nice when it showed up. All accessories and harness included.

Pulled the old engine and installed the new one. Put in a new battery

Now for the problem.... Engine turns over and has fuel pressure but NO SPARK.

I've swapped the Crank and cam Pos Sensors from the old engine and even tried changing one of the coils. Still nothing.

We scanned the OBD-II with a Modas (Snap-On) scanner and find no codes. I'm stumped. Next is to call the stealer. Last resort.

Any ideas

sosh

Looks like you got what you paid for.

illmeth0d

Probably did all this , but double check all the relays , fuses , wiring harness connections. Make sure you have proper ground , you said you replaced the battery double check that. Test all the ignition modules , starter.

Try to isolate the problem. You already know its no spark so you can kind of pin point the source.

cig3

What kind of coment is that?

Do you feel the car should have been scrapped?

Should I have purchased a $4000.00 remanufactured engine for a $4k car?

sosh

My comment makes financial sense. I feel that this vehicle should have been scrapped. Its certainly not worth putting in a new reman engine nor do I feel its worth doing what you are doing. You really have no clue about the health and history of the junk yard engine you are installing and in many cases they are junk. Its likely that you will have to go thru this proceedure again and again. My take is that you have wasted your money and efforts. Still does not run does it??

socalsounds

Wow- World Series win and you're full of **** and vinegar, arn't you? I would like to say, though, that if the motor was relatively affordable, there's nothing wrong with trying to resurrect the old girl; you come off as if everyone can own a 4Matic and an ML500- this is, sadly, not the case. This guy's a prospective new member- just seems a bit terse, with all due respect.

Anyhoo, for our motor friend, I would suggest buying a service manual first (good CD ones available on the 'bay, quite inexpensively), and a good multimeter. Run down each and every lead on the engine harness, and check your ECU connections- if you're not getting codes OR spark, something is not connected, trust me. And good luck- its good to see someone put a little love into a car in a disposable world. When I served in Iraq two years ago, we staged from Kuwait; in the less populated areas, rich fellers will simply park their 2006-2007 MB on the side of the road when it wasn't running right and call a ride- and they never go back. I kid you not.

Chris

illest

If all else fails buy this engine

cig3

Thansk for the vote of confidence. I love to have a project. I've owned (4) BMW's including an 1989 M6 which I bought as a project. After riding in my uncles 1998 SL600 I said I would own an MB and here I am. The engine I purchased was thru a dismantler that my friends shop deals with all the time. I came with a 90 day warranty from time of installation.

I will take a look for the service manual. Just keep plugging.

Thanks

illmeth0d

Don't mind the comments some people think this is a Rolls Royce board or something. Lets not forget these cars are taxis.

Plenty of great engines are sourced from junkyards, some people drive off the dealer lot and get rear ended and totaled.

You got a warranty just keep at it. I've done many engine swaps , you have to go over everything a million times , wires , vacuum , coolant lines but when you get it started its like you really just brought it to life.

Some people take it to the dealer to change a wiper blade.

socalsounds

Some people take it to the dealer to change a wiper blade.



* heh heh heh * I was actually at the stealer last week to purchase a brake light switch (oddly enough I didn't need it- the one in the car had simply popped loose) and was trying not to die laughing as some wanna-be midlife crisis type with his wife, both over-clad in Ed Hardy T-s and jeans were asking if someone could set his stereo so it would "sound good", you know, all that EQ and stuff. And check the air, too. Hmmmmmpph!

I just about yacked.

cig3

Todays events.

I checked the coils and harness. All good.

Fuel pressure key on 45-47lbs.

Checked every ground, cleaned and di-electric greased.

Still nothing.

Did notice that when I lock and unlock with the Fob that I get red/green lights at door sensor. Nothing at the mirror.

When I put the key in the ignition not lights on the mirror either.

Any ideas???

hcetzneb

Did you try doing a reset on the alarm??? Also just a comment im a 12year vet of one of these "stealerships" you guys refer to. its funny to me that you "backyard mechanics" always ask ??? and usally some that is a mb tech or someone with dealer exp. is willing to help just a statement

ohlord

very rarely does an mb tech chime in on the forums.And most issue have been resolved by backyard mechanics long before and for far less than the hacks that only know how to plug in an SDS and replace a part instead of repairing it.That is the intent of diy member forums.Iv'e seen more costly mistakes and miscalled diagnostics on w210's from service technicians at dealers to even wonder why you would be insulted
$880 for a mass air sensor the customer did not even need. Service tech wrote up diagnostics $670 for an ambient temp sensor that runs $17 and ten minutes labor and the real problem was an evap temp sensor and I diagnosed her car by phone and told her and her 12 year old son how to replace it for $37 for the part and an hour of their time.
If you can't stand the heat,remove feet from fire.

hcetzneb

your refering to hacks at a dealer..im completely admiting there are numerous ones there but for the few that try to help and truely like cars and moding them... and dont mis diag things and try to be fair i thinks its rude of you...
and last time i check this is a fourm so i can give my opinions too..As for the backyard guys im the first to give everyone props... why dont you come down to my dealer i got a 216 cl with some can issues and a 199 alr with a stalling problem in my bays right now... but i must not have any clue of what im doing

hcetzneb

....and last time i checked my dealer is who sets labor rate/ hours/part prices/diag charge not me !!!!!! im just fixing cars ........ every ocupation has its down falls do we yell at the cheif at a pricey resturant for the expansive food....do you yell at the doctor for the hospital bill lots of babies on here just feed up with it

ohlord

rates,and I don't pass judgment on all service techs but those guys did write up the work orders and the service writers passed on the bills to the billing dept for presentation to the customer.Not all are hacks and you just offering a suggestion to help,prove the point.Just as all back yard mechanics do not fall into the category of having to need mb support for problems.Some of us have 40 years of hands on racing and building experience with the make that makes up for a bit of on the job education.
Peace.
I understand the position you are put into,you need to open your own shop

MARK CUMMINS

I Worked for MB as a TECH..and Trust me Im NO HACK!

Also I Can do a lot with the SDS OTHER than read codes

I Still do diag the old way 3 C s Cause/Cure/correction

Time to locate a Hack er ah Tech with a SDS and spend some time under values...There you can source the spark issue

hcetzneb

right on mark

ohlord

not say they were all hacks,Mark,and you know that.Just as all shade tree mechanics need not rely on MB diagnostics or an sds to solve an issue.A hhs ,a multimeter,and some experience can often diagnose the problem walking in the door.And it appears we agree on that issue.
Overhead needs to be covered but when a mass air sensor goes out the door diagnosed,installed,reset for $880 serves neither the customer,the salesman,the tech,nor Mercedes.
I never make blanket statements and say they are all hacks.
I do take exception when someone comments
"its funny to me that you "backyard mechanics always ask ???and usally some that is a mb tech or someone with dealer exp. is willing to help just a statement"
I'm pretty busy just racing and building and helping members gratis, turning them into a better diy'r keeps one more old Mercedes on the road brings me some joy.Seeing them ripped bothers me.
I know a self taught Ferrari mechanic that world class Ferrari owners bring their cars to have restored.Backyard does not mean backward.

cig3

I agree that not all deals have tech's that are hacks. I use the term Stealership lightly.

At 34 years old I've been involved in auto racing, offshore boat racing and car rstoration since I can remember. We always build our own everything. Hobbies as we call them.

This being said I like to try everything I can to diagnos a problem before I go to a deal or repair shop. Luckily I have a friend with a really nice shop with (4) great tech's to get out of a jamb.

After a week of asking questions and trying everything we agree that a star machine is the solution. We should have an answer in the next day to when an MB tech can get to the shop to get me back on the road.

01BlackE320

Wow, and to think this guy was just asking about a spark. Quite a thread.
Well I for one am anxious to find out the resolution. Do tell how you make out with the star machine. And ohlord, why don't you race down Grand Ave in Baldwin and help me change my plugs. Long Island misses you. :-)

hcetzneb

the funny thing is i used the term backyard just as slang.. i know lots of guys how are very good mechanics that dont do that as there job.. and your breaking ***** on that... but right when a senior member backs me alittle you agree with him and give me a shot ....

ohlord

more shots.A good mechanic is a good mechanic.And i know the position you are put in.Also understand the position some of these owners are put in when they trust they are getting the straight skinny and come to find out they really got the skinny straight
And it is a bunch of them.

cig3

Well, car is at the dealer for diagnosis. They got the car to run twice for about 20-30 seconds then is quits. No spark. Tech seems to think it is a module cannot remember which. They are going to try that today.

cig3

Diagnosis from dealer is the Throttle Control ECM is bad. Thye said if they tap on it the car will start and run. Once it is shut off you have to go thru the process again to get it running. Runs perfect after that.

Anyone know where I can get part number 0235452432 for less than the deal $1100.00?

Thanks

A.B.