1992 500sel only starts with starter fluid for 5 sec
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Joined: May 2021
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1992 500sel w140
1992 500sel only starts with starter fluid for 5 sec
Help everyone I am new to this forum . I recently got a 1992 500sel from a friend it only has 90k miles on it and it sat for about a year and a half or so maybe 2. So I bought a brand new battery and checked the gas level it was empty so a mechanic friend of mine told me to put 5 gallons or more of 93 so I did and the car turns over fine but does not start . It sounded like it was going to start but didn’t catch . I sprayed starting fluid in the intake and it started and sounded beautiful but it died after about 3 seconds . I’m guessing it’s something with a fuel delivery problem , I’m not a mechanic but I am handy as I am a body man tech . Please help me get this car back on the road . It’s in great shape aside from this problem
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 47
Likes: 8
From: Columbia, SC
'01 C240, ‘98 S320, '97 740IL, ‘06 X5, '87 GTI
That means your spark is good so she’s not getting fuel. Fuel pump is likely not working or not receiving power.
Verify power is getting to pump with volt meter upon cranking. If so, fuel pump most likely culprit IMHO. Before replacing fuel pump..do an output check to verify she’s pumping fuel at all. If that looks good…do the volume/time output test to make sure pump is putting out the proper amount of fuel. Can also do a fuel pressure test tell you the same depending on your tools and/or what’s easier to you. Fuel pumps don’t like sitting with ethanol.
hope this helps give you some direction to get her going. Congrats on getting yourself an awesome MB!
Verify power is getting to pump with volt meter upon cranking. If so, fuel pump most likely culprit IMHO. Before replacing fuel pump..do an output check to verify she’s pumping fuel at all. If that looks good…do the volume/time output test to make sure pump is putting out the proper amount of fuel. Can also do a fuel pressure test tell you the same depending on your tools and/or what’s easier to you. Fuel pumps don’t like sitting with ethanol.
hope this helps give you some direction to get her going. Congrats on getting yourself an awesome MB!
Last edited by steve211; Jun 14, 2021 at 10:07 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
'99 CL500, 2000 C230 Kompressor, '04 ML350
Wonder what came out of that....
I have the exact same problem so far. I am going to put more fuel in the gas tank, also using starting fluid, there is fuel in the fuel ramp, although I am not sure how to actually measure pressure. The fuel pump makes noise though, and it is supplying fuel to the fuel ramp after all. So it would be interesting to know what it ended up being in other similar cars... Mine is a C140 Coupe CL500, engine is the same m119.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 733
Likes: 297
From: New Orleans
2014 GL450, 1992 W140 300SD, 1993 W140 300SE, 1987 E30 Convertible
Ok guys. You go to Harbor Freight and buy 50 dollar fuel test gauge. Connect it to your fuel system and measure fuel pressure. That will tell you if your pump working or not. Suppose to be about 2 bars.
