I can't get my 230SL's engine to start - after 2-3 years of never letting me down
.
- If I do not touch the throttle pedal and turn the key (after having let the fuel pump pressurise the system for ~10 seconds) then the engine fires for a couple of seconds at low RPM, but then dies - tick over is not self sustaining, and even if I "tickle" the pedal to keep it going the engine cuts out anyway.
- Alternatively, if I press the throttle fully to the floor and turn the key then it roars in to life (maybe 2,500 RPM) , but as soon as I try to reduce the RPM the engine dies.
- If I do either of these more than two or three times I then have to leave it for ~10 minutes before it will fire again.
I had thought that the automatic choke required you to not touch the throttle during start, but the full-to-the-floor method was given to me to use if all else failed (& it did get me started last weekend).
Any suggestions as to what I can look at? The battery is fine, and the fuel tank is half full with reasonably fresh petrol. The electronic fuel pump sounds normal.
TIA