What have I done to my car? Poor starting W124.

What have I done to my car? Poor starting W124.

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Dazed and Confused

Original Poster:

979 posts

81 months

Thursday 10th August 2017
quotequote all
Mercedes 300 24V.

Have had an ongoing problem with poor running and cutting out if the car hasn't been used for a few weeks. Lumpy running at low revs has been the issue. You could be certain once the car had been left for 30 mins it would start again and carry on with no drama. Not anymore.

The problem has become a lot more common in regular use, no easy start after half an hour and it's become a real bh to start, will run for a short while then you're back at square one again trying to get the damn thing started. Annoyingly things seem to have got worse since I fitted a new set of leads. I'm regretting taking the old ones to the tip.

The RAC chap came out and got it going (he said it was a fairly common problem on these with the distributor known to get damp), I got myself home but have been struggling to get it going ever since.

So far...

New leads, distributor and rotor, plugs.

Any ideas gratefully received.

Cheers

Bri957

264 posts

222 months

Thursday 10th August 2017
quotequote all
It's worth checking the OVP relay (including the fuses on it).

I ordered a new one from Rockauto, for a fraction of the cost from any UK supplier.

Dazed and Confused

Original Poster:

979 posts

81 months

Thursday 10th August 2017
quotequote all
Thanks Bri, I am very much running out of ideas so I will give that a look.

Nice one!


Dazed and Confused

Original Poster:

979 posts

81 months

Friday 11th August 2017
quotequote all
You Sir, are a genius. Took the OPV out, cleaned up the slightly cruddy terminals. Now starting better than it has for quite some time.

Well done and thanks again.

beer



Mignon

1,018 posts

88 months

Friday 11th August 2017
quotequote all
Good result smile

Dazed and Confused

Original Poster:

979 posts

81 months

Friday 11th August 2017
quotequote all
It certainly is. The car has been driving me insane. Also noticed it runs more smoothly with the air filter off, so have ordered a new one.

Cheers.