87 240dl intermittent starts

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tyler
  • Start date Start date
T

Tyler

LH2.2 jetronic system, manual 5 speed, non turbo.
I have about had it with this car. Seems at times it doesn't want to
start. When it does this, the fuel pump relay doesn't "click",
therefore pumps don't activate. Let it sit for awhile, perhaps it'll
start, perhaps it won't. One mechanic told me it was the flexible air
intake pipe - between air mass meter and air intake manifold- had
holes in it from wear. He replaced it, but didn't change anything.
Another mechanic said it was the crank sensor. Nothing has been done
with that item....yet. Last time we went through this, I drove the car
across town, parked, restarted, drove it back home. It started fine,
ran well. I parked it at home, went back out to go somewhere else, it
wouldn't start. Tried again, it rumbled to an idle, sounding a bit
like it was doing some minor backfiring through the air intake as I
goosed the gas pedal bit but nevertheless, went to idle, and ran fine.
Turned it off, then tried to start again, wouldn't start. It turned
over, but wouldn't fire. This morning it started and ran perfectly.
Every time, when it does start, it runs great. Is it just in need of a
tune up? Or is it the crank sensor after all? Any ideas?
TIA--Tyler
 
Tyler said:
LH2.2 jetronic system, manual 5 speed, non turbo.
I have about had it with this car. Seems at times it doesn't want to
start. When it does this, the fuel pump relay doesn't "click",
therefore pumps don't activate. Let it sit for awhile, perhaps it'll
start, perhaps it won't. One mechanic told me it was the flexible air
intake pipe - between air mass meter and air intake manifold- had
holes in it from wear. He replaced it, but didn't change anything.
Another mechanic said it was the crank sensor. Nothing has been done
with that item....yet. Last time we went through this, I drove the car
across town, parked, restarted, drove it back home. It started fine,
ran well. I parked it at home, went back out to go somewhere else, it
wouldn't start. Tried again, it rumbled to an idle, sounding a bit
like it was doing some minor backfiring through the air intake as I
goosed the gas pedal bit but nevertheless, went to idle, and ran fine.
Turned it off, then tried to start again, wouldn't start. It turned
over, but wouldn't fire. This morning it started and ran perfectly.
Every time, when it does start, it runs great. Is it just in need of a
tune up? Or is it the crank sensor after all? Any ideas?
TIA--Tyler
Click to expand...

Perhaps a silly question, but have you checked the fuel pump relay and the
fuse box?
 
My Mech. recently told me after telling him the same symtoms, it was my
starting module and a new harness to the ignition switch. It seems it has just
worn the contacts where it plugs in. Temporary fix for now but I'm looking a
about a $1000. fix.
I think its better than walking home at some inopportune time.
 
Rojo2G said:
My Mech. recently told me after telling him the same symtoms, it was my
starting module and a new harness to the ignition switch. It seems it has just
worn the contacts where it plugs in. Temporary fix for now but I'm looking a
about a $1000. fix.
I think its better than walking home at some inopportune time.
Click to expand...

How about just splicing in a new plug if it's just worn contacts?
 
James Sweet said:
How's the engine wiring harness? If it's original it's likely in pretty bad
shape.
Click to expand...

Not sure, never got that far. Sure worth exploring, though. Thanks!
 
My Mech. recently told me after telling him the same symtoms, it was my
starting module and a new harness to the ignition switch. It seems it has just
worn the contacts where it plugs in. Temporary fix for now but I'm looking a
about a $1000. fix.
I think its better than walking home at some inopportune time.
Click to expand...
Oh man....if that's the case, is it worth the hassle? I've had the car
for almost 2 years, have about $950 in it so far, including purchase
price. Oh wow.
The probable cause you've described sounds most promising as the fix
for this possessed vehicle. Hoping it might be just the ignition
switch, though.
Thanks for the information.-Tyler
 
Got the car back the other day. Five days now, starts runs great.
Mechanic found no fuse in #4 slot, put one in, but observed car would
start run with or without it. He was checking in-tank pump while car
was running, disconnected it, pump/car still ran (?). He checked
engine harness/wiring, said all looked good. He replaced the pump
relay again. The pump running while hot wire disconnected spooked him
a bit, but he couldn't find anything else wrong. He said he couldn't
find any weird wiring, either. It is possessed, no doubt. We'll see
how it goes from here on.
Thought an update might help someone. Thanks for all your inputs.
Tyler
 
Tyler said:
Got the car back the other day. Five days now, starts runs great.
Mechanic found no fuse in #4 slot, put one in, but observed car would
start run with or without it. He was checking in-tank pump while car
was running, disconnected it, pump/car still ran (?). He checked
engine harness/wiring, said all looked good. He replaced the pump
relay again. The pump running while hot wire disconnected spooked him
a bit, but he couldn't find anything else wrong. He said he couldn't
find any weird wiring, either. It is possessed, no doubt. We'll see
how it goes from here on.
Thought an update might help someone. Thanks for all your inputs.
Tyler
Click to expand...

I can't believe the intank pump was still running with the wires
disconnected, but it's only necessary in conditions where the fuel gets
warm - this is primarily on hot days with a low fuel level. The car
runs fine otherwise without the intank pump working. (Unless you have
the common split hose above the intank pump in which case you need more
than a half tank of fuel.)

Good luck with the rest of the problem.

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

NOTE: new address!!
Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)
 
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