Author Topic: My car is not starting! Any ideas?  (Read 2481 times)

col320ce

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My car is not starting! Any ideas?
« on: October 15, 2016, 22:57:59 »
My 1964 230SL has suddenly stopped starting. I thought it was the battery but I have tried a good one from another car.
I get 12.2V on the existing battery. I hooked a good one up in parallel (12.5V) and not able to start.
Fuel pump supplies at >1L/15 seconds (looks more like 1.5L in 15 seconds.  Fuel tank was re cleaned and lined a few months ago so there should be no rust in the fuel lines now.
I've checked a few spark plug leads for a spark - they are sparking every 0.9 seconds during attempted start-up - This feels a little slow to me??
I've pulled a fuel line off from the injector and its getting fuel.
I'm really not getting any life when starting, at one point I was getting a little rumble but mostly not.
It makes no difference if I use the accelerator (I normal need to press the accelerator to get it going).
The only thing I think I have done since the last start up is remove and put back in a non functioning Thermo Time Switch but I don't think it has worked the whole time I have had the car. And I re wired the boot light.
Recent new things - cylinder head rebuild, ignition contacts, alternator, voltage regulator, linkages and valve clearances done, re torqued cylinder head. But was working after all of these.
Any thoughts?
Thanks for any help ...
Col

1964 230SL
1965 250SE coupe
1993 320CE Sportline

cabrioletturbo

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Re: My car is not starting! Any ideas?
« Reply #1 on: October 16, 2016, 02:38:32 »
Check points and condenser/capacitor?
Igor
1965 W113 230SL, Ivory with Black

col320ce

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Re: My car is not starting! Any ideas?
« Reply #2 on: October 16, 2016, 03:57:15 »
Checked those...  Thanks...
... then thought the only thing left is that I flooded it...
Pulled a spark plug and it was soaked in fuel. Pulled the rest and blew air in the holes...  Hey presto...
Not sure the cause... I think the battery is on its way out... 
I'm surprised it didn't dry out over night??
Col

1964 230SL
1965 250SE coupe
1993 320CE Sportline

Tyler S

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Re: My car is not starting! Any ideas?
« Reply #3 on: October 16, 2016, 15:08:30 »
Is it possible the malfunctioning thermal time switch allowed the cold start valve to flood the engine? Maybe disconnect it untill you get a replacement.
1968 (67) 250sl. 4 speed manual. DB180 Silver
1955 220 Cabriolet A. White Grey
2019 E450 Wagon. Majestic Blue
1936 Ford PU Flathead V8. Creme on tan interior.
1989 Volkswagen T3 Westfailia Campmobile. Dove Grey (blue)