S-Class (W140) 1991-1999: 300 SD, S 350TD, 300 SE 2.8, S280, 300 SE 3.2, 300 SEL 3.2, S320, S320L, 400 SE, S420, 400 SEL, S420L, 500 SE, S500, 500 SEL, S500L, 600 SE, S600, 600 SEL, S600L, 500 SEC, 600 SEC

1992 MB 600SEL ASR/engine cranks, but doesn´t start

Old Sep 18, 2020 | 01:55 AM
  #1  
EuroMerc600SEL's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
1992 MB 600SEL
1992 MB 600SEL ASR/engine cranks, but doesn´t start

Dear Members,

I´m a new member in desperate need of help. I´m starting my first thread, hoping that I can collect as much information as I can to get my car back on the road.

Here´s the story:

I just bought a 1992 MB 600SEL a few days ago and decided to enjoy my car and drive it home across Europe. The previous owner reported he had had some issues, like soft close doors not working and for some reason sometimes the ASR kicked in when taking off, but only left rear wheel and when pressing the Winter Tyre button the ASR switched off and no issues while cruising. He had replaced the wiring harness under the hood and changed all the liquids by the book.
One day I was driving on a highway and traffic slowed down. Once the traffic picked up speed again, I also had to accelerate a bit harder to keep up and suddenly the transmission downshifted quite violently (thumps) and then nothing felt right anymore (limp-home mode). The rpm was limited to around 2400 and unable to maintain highway speed cause the car just didn´t want to accelerate. Going uphill the engine was struggling hard. Using cruise control, I was able to maintain some kind of speed and so I drove to the nearest gas station and switched off the engine to see it would reset. Initially it felt like it was back to normal so I took off again, but at highway speeds, it was obvious the issue was not resolved. When going up hill again, the speed started to drop like before, but this time, when going downhill, the engine suddenly just stalled - just switched off without any warning. It cranks and cranks and cranks, but doesn´t start. First I thought maybe I flooded the engine pushing it up the hill in limp mode and it just drowned and stalled. I performed the flood procedure, but no use. Strong gasoline smell was there, but the engine just cranked, no signs of starting up.

The car was towed to a Merc technician and they spent a whole day trying to figure out what was was going on with the engine. First they said the car didn´t have any spark, fuel pressure was OK. Then they said the spark was there, but compression was low. (how low, value?? no-one explained). How they measured it, no-one explained.....mind that the car had been sitting for almost 12-13h before they did anything so the engine was not at working temp like Merc suggests for the comp test. What they came up with was that I needed a new engine....timing chain shifted, engine bent (all that happened in Southern Europe, so the verdict was given using Google Translate)

I checked the fuses in the trunk and the one´s under the hood, driver´s side, seemed OK. Didn´t have time to get to the relays or the coffin box. Throttle bodies seemed to be working (the electric motor spinning sound).
I have the Rick´s Merc Code Reader, so I got the car pushed to a parking lot and decided to read the codes myself and this is what I got:6. ASR – Codes 13 (Stop lamp switch ASD/ASR). 30 (CAN data line to electronic accelerator/cruise control/idle speed control module). 4 (Left rear axle vehicle speed sensor signal) – ABLE TO CLEAR

7. EA/ISC/CC – Codes 2 (EA/CC/ISC control module (N4/1) or Safety contact switch (M16/1s1) or Stop lamp switch or Cruise control switch or Actual value potentiometer or Starter lock-out/back-up lamp switch or engine speed signal or vehicle speed signal or closed throttle position switch or safety relay in EA/CC/ISC control module.
3 (Right EA/CC/ISC actuator (left cylinder bank) (M16/1)).
5 (Stop lamp switch (S9/1)).
13 (Left EA/CC/ISC actuator (right cylinder bank) or actual value potentiometer (M16/4r1 or M16/4r2) or actuator motor (M16/4m1) or magnetic clutch (M16/4k1). NOT ABLE TO CLEAR


8. Base Module/Brake Assist – Codes 6 (Electromagnetic a/c compressor clutch blocked). 10 (Voltage supply for LH-SFI control module interrupted. Voltage supply for fuel injectors interrupted) 11 (Voltage supply for accessory equipment control module interrupted). 12 (Voltage supply for ABS control module, ABS/ASR control module or ASD control module interrupted). 13 (not used). ABLE TO CLEAR


12. Speed Sensitive Power Steering – Codes 3 (Left/center rear axle speed sensor signal). 4 (Right rear axle vehicle speed sensor signal) 5 (Diffident vehicle speed signals from right and left rear axle sensor).
7 (Inductive speed sensor, transmission faulty) 9 (Short circuit at speed sensitive power steering valve)
11 (Volts supply at speed sensitive power steering control module) ABLE TO CLEAR


20. Pneumatic System Equipment Model 140 – Code 6 (Manifold vacuum assist, air demand too high, leakage)



23. Anti-Theft System ATA – Code 15 (Counted 15 but that doesn´t seem to come up from the faults list. Maybe I made a mistake and it was 14 lights I should have counted. 14 - Alarm activated, brake circuit). ABLE TO CLEAR


The car is now on a trailer and will be home next week. Hopefully, with Your help, I can get some more information on what could have happened and when the car arrives, I can start troubleshooting the hell out of it to make it work again.


Thank you for reading!

Brgds.

Last edited by EuroMerc600SEL; Sep 18, 2020 at 02:16 AM.
Reply
Old Oct 16, 2020 | 02:19 PM
  #2  
e reyes's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 48
Likes: 4
140 208; e 38
try replacing fuel pump relay K 27 in the diagram the relay is in the rear fuse box in the trunk
part number 001 542 83 19 i had similar troubles and new relay solved the issues
Reply
Old Oct 16, 2020 | 03:20 PM
  #3  
EuroMerc600SEL's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
1992 MB 600SEL
Originally Posted by e reyes
try replacing fuel pump relay K 27 in the diagram the relay is in the rear fuse box in the trunk
part number 001 542 83 19 i had similar troubles and new relay solved the issues

thanks for the tip. Unfortunately the issue was a bit more complicated. Engine lost lubrication, cylinder walls scraped which made it lose compression. Pistons destroyed as well. Looking to stroke the engine to 7.3, but finding a suitable crankshaft is a PIA. If anyone knows the dimensions of a W221 s600 crankshaft, please do share.
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:
You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:14 AM.

story-0
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-1
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-4
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-6
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Slideshow: From bulletproof sedans to surprisingly tough SUVs, these Mercedes models proved that the three-pointed star can go the distance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-08 09:55:49


VIEW MORE