Dana, you might want to state your location in your profile. There might be a member nearby who could offer help.
Fuel problem 1985 380se W126
Hello everyone, my name is Dana, my husband Jerry and I love our older Mercedes cars. My gem is experiencing problems that we just cannot figure out, any and all help will be so greatly appreciated. Fuel problem started with car hesitating here and there on take off. Fuel relay went, we replaced it, was running fine, then she would stop running, like it ran out of gas, had the fuel filter replaced at the local shop, it was the original filter, on the way home she was hesitant and then picked up and ran fine, like no problem at all. Went for another test run and she started hesitating so bad, got her back home, where she quit running, she would start, run for a second and then quit again, then she wouldn't start at all. The next day she started fine, ran fine, took a short run, started hesitating, made it back home, where she quit running, tried to start her, she would turn over, run for a sec, then quit, then she won't start at all. Let her sit for a day she starts right up and then repeats the same symptoms.
Car has only 149K and this is crazy but we had no problems whatsoever with her running, then we had to replace the water pump when I had the car out of town, a friend of the people I was staying with(for a funeral) replaced it, a very knowledgeable mechanic, boy that was a job, anyways she made the 3 hour trip home no over heating, but she would hesitate when trying to get up to speed. Three months ago was when we had to replace the fuel relay when it went bad and the fuel problem just started getting worse, went onto the forums and the cheap fix(we live off of SS retirement and are raising 3 grandchildren) was the fuel filter, replaced it and now the problem is worse and listed above. Its like she has a fuel gremlin that we can't figure out and can't afford a shop to try and figure it out. She does have spark, we made sure it wasn't an electrical problem. We would appreciate any help and thank you! Sincerely, The Gates Family VIN WDBCA32C2FA143214
Car has only 149K and this is crazy but we had no problems whatsoever with her running, then we had to replace the water pump when I had the car out of town, a friend of the people I was staying with(for a funeral) replaced it, a very knowledgeable mechanic, boy that was a job, anyways she made the 3 hour trip home no over heating, but she would hesitate when trying to get up to speed. Three months ago was when we had to replace the fuel relay when it went bad and the fuel problem just started getting worse, went onto the forums and the cheap fix(we live off of SS retirement and are raising 3 grandchildren) was the fuel filter, replaced it and now the problem is worse and listed above. Its like she has a fuel gremlin that we can't figure out and can't afford a shop to try and figure it out. She does have spark, we made sure it wasn't an electrical problem. We would appreciate any help and thank you! Sincerely, The Gates Family VIN WDBCA32C2FA143214
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Dear luckymike, I have in my profile that we live in Delmar, DE which is southern Delaware about a mile before the Maryland line, our town motto is "Delmar, The Little Town Too Big for One State" hence the name Del for Delaware Mar for Maryland, we were even a 2000 dollar Jeopardy question a few years back, no contestant got it right, lol but it was exciting news for our little town! Still down with a pulled back, as soon as possible and wIth the great help from this amazing community hopefully we will get Pearl-our 1985 380se(I name all of our Mercedes, they run better when you talk to them, LOL) back on the road, Sincerely, Dana
Dana, I don't see your location in this thread but now that you've mentioned it, perhaps someone in the area will speak up.
If you look at my post, you'll see under my response that I'm in Norcal, SF. I don't see similar in your posts, FYI.
If you look at my post, you'll see under my response that I'm in Norcal, SF. I don't see similar in your posts, FYI.
Dana has location in the profile if you click his screen name
mike you have it in your signature Line at the bottom of each post you make
mike you have it in your signature Line at the bottom of each post you make
I get it now. Thanks, tusabes.Dana has location in the profile if you click his screen name
mike you have it in your signature Line at the bottom of each post you make
Hi Community,
My back is finally better so hubby and I went to change fuel pump, but before we did I went to start her and nothing, put her on a battery charger, an hour later just a clunk when you turn the key. The buzzers and lights make noise, but he engine will not even attempt to turn over, it just "clunks"(clunk is the best adjective I can think to describe the noise) Jerry, my husband is at his wits end and says thats it, I know the head gasket is blown??? which doesn't make sense to me, but he is done(agitated) and says he isn't sinking anymore money into her. I on the other hand love this car and am hoping its something easy like the stater went(but we didn't have any starter problems whatsoever before hand) So I am going to literally go bang on the starter with a big ol' wrench!!! LOL, gotta try and keep happy through all of this, I really wish the neighbor would put that annoying constantly barking dog in the house, its hard to concentrate with that noise. I always thought that if a starter was going bad it would give you warning before it completely quit, like clicking noise?? Grasping at straws here, I can't imagine not having this car. Any suggestions?, any help would be greatly appreciated!!! Thank you as always, Sincerely, Dana
My back is finally better so hubby and I went to change fuel pump, but before we did I went to start her and nothing, put her on a battery charger, an hour later just a clunk when you turn the key. The buzzers and lights make noise, but he engine will not even attempt to turn over, it just "clunks"(clunk is the best adjective I can think to describe the noise) Jerry, my husband is at his wits end and says thats it, I know the head gasket is blown??? which doesn't make sense to me, but he is done(agitated) and says he isn't sinking anymore money into her. I on the other hand love this car and am hoping its something easy like the stater went(but we didn't have any starter problems whatsoever before hand) So I am going to literally go bang on the starter with a big ol' wrench!!! LOL, gotta try and keep happy through all of this, I really wish the neighbor would put that annoying constantly barking dog in the house, its hard to concentrate with that noise. I always thought that if a starter was going bad it would give you warning before it completely quit, like clicking noise?? Grasping at straws here, I can't imagine not having this car. Any suggestions?, any help would be greatly appreciated!!! Thank you as always, Sincerely, Dana
I would start by confirming the battery is properly charged and then removing, cleaning and reinstalling the battery terminals. And I'd hit the starter, too!
Your battery isn’t charged enough or won’t hold a charge. Most small battery chargers take 12+ hours. One hour is nowhere near enough
yes it’s possible your starter is sticking too . Your positive battery cable would get hot if your starter is sticking and you are just getting a clunk
and a head gasket had nothing to dowithit . Your husband is not thinking clearly
yes it’s possible your starter is sticking too . Your positive battery cable would get hot if your starter is sticking and you are just getting a clunk
and a head gasket had nothing to dowithit . Your husband is not thinking clearly
HI Community, Dana here, sorry I haven't posted any progress on my baby lately. I do NOT believe hubby when he says that the head gasket is blown, his reasoning does NOT make sense! One thing I do know is that I need to let Pearl, my beloved 1985 380SE go. Jerry, my hubby, has shown a lot of decline in his thinking lately, had him to his Dr. and he says that comes along with strokes, being fine one day and then not so fine the next, well his good days are getting further apart so final decision is to sell Pearl and Diamond, Diamond is the twin car to Pearl that we bought to part out to fix Pearl. I would like to take this post to THANK everyone in the community whom took their time to help us, that kindness these days seems to be non-existent and then we were so fortunate to have this community show us such great kindness, its restored my faith in the human race, honestly! So thank you everyone, esp. all of you who replied to my posts, thanks so much! Sincerely, Dana
P.S. When hubby wasn't home, I try to jump start Pearl, had good connections, all bells and whistles went off when key was turned on and just a small clunk when I tried to turn her over, definitely the starter, when I told hubby this he says that we really need a Mercedes Benz station wagon because of all of the children, which we do. I am just having a hard time listing Pearl for sale.
Sorry to hear about your hubby, Dana. Going through similar with my Mom right now. Good luck.
Aw I'm sorry to hear that too. The last thing you need is a troubled car though, feel free to list her on here if you need.
People can be pretty harsh with cars for sale so just bear that in mind. Probably holds true when listing one anywhere to be honest.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do though.
People can be pretty harsh with cars for sale so just bear that in mind. Probably holds true when listing one anywhere to be honest.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do though.
I’m so sorry to hear about the health issues . I wonder is delmar DE where you are located is anywhere near where Mclare lives now ?
maybe he or a member nearby can help with your car . I am sure it’s something simple and not a head gasket
maybe he or a member nearby can help with your car . I am sure it’s something simple and not a head gasket
Lucky Mike, so sorry to hear about your Mom. The best advice I received about stroke victims was from a nurse at the neurologists office, she told me "If you think this is frustrating for you, just think how frustrating it is for the stroke patient" So when I get frustrated with hubby I take a deep breath and try to be kinder. Good luck with your Mom, I pray she gets better. Sincerely, Dana
HI Community,Hello everyone, my name is Dana, my husband Jerry and I love our older Mercedes cars. My gem is experiencing problems that we just cannot figure out, any and all help will be so greatly appreciated. Fuel problem started with car hesitating here and there on take off. Fuel relay went, we replaced it, was running fine, then she would stop running, like it ran out of gas, had the fuel filter replaced at the local shop, it was the original filter, on the way home she was hesitant and then picked up and ran fine, like no problem at all. Went for another test run and she started hesitating so bad, got her back home, where she quit running, she would start, run for a second and then quit again, then she wouldn't start at all. The next day she started fine, ran fine, took a short run, started hesitating, made it back home, where she quit running, tried to start her, she would turn over, run for a sec, then quit, then she won't start at all. Let her sit for a day she starts right up and then repeats the same symptoms.
Car has only 149K and this is crazy but we had no problems whatsoever with her running, then we had to replace the water pump when I had the car out of town, a friend of the people I was staying with(for a funeral) replaced it, a very knowledgeable mechanic, boy that was a job, anyways she made the 3 hour trip home no over heating, but she would hesitate when trying to get up to speed. Three months ago was when we had to replace the fuel relay when it went bad and the fuel problem just started getting worse, went onto the forums and the cheap fix(we live off of SS retirement and are raising 3 grandchildren) was the fuel filter, replaced it and now the problem is worse and listed above. Its like she has a fuel gremlin that we can't figure out and can't afford a shop to try and figure it out. She does have spark, we made sure it wasn't an electrical problem. We would appreciate any help and thank you! Sincerely, The Gates Family VIN WDBCA32C2FA143214
We ended up selling Pearl and Diamond to a wonderful gentleman whom is fixing both of them up and giving them to his son and daughter. He loves the older Mercedes for their reliability and their safety factor. We ended up buying an1985 300TD Wagon, beautiful car, runs strong, drives great until pulling into the driveway forward gear just stopped working, reverse is fine, but forward just stopped so we coasted into driveway and there she sits. I am going to post about this problem in another post. I just wanted to say thank you so much for all of the help that the community offered me with my Mercedess", THANK YOU, Sincerely, Dana and Jerry Gates
21 - 35 of 35 Posts
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