[rgnprof]

If you have read thru some of my previous posts you know I've been trying to troubleshoot this car for a while. Most recently, I got the car running after messing around with the ECU and the mixture, etc...Got it started, drove it around for a couple of minutes, it started sputtering and finally died and then would not start. Took it to a shop in OKC and they've been troubleshooting for almost a month - no kidding! Have not been able to get it started...

Called me last Friday with a diagnosis - bad fuel distributor and they want $1900 to fix it.

First off, I'm not overwhelmingly confident about the diagnosis. Replacing a fuel distributor is within my skill level, but I'm not sure about the fine tuning after I get it installed.

Any thoughts? German Star has a rebuilt unit for $475, and there several on ebay - but I'm leery of that...

Thanks, ryan

 

[magicbigdaddy]

You should talk with the shop and ask them how much their price is on the FD? If they say they were quoted a very high price then let them know that you found one from GermanStar for $475 and go from there. Nothing wrong with good honest communication. Good luck.

 

[ps2cho]

If you are interested, I'll sell you my rebuilt distributor by CIS Flowtech for $240...its been sitting in my parts box too long now and I want it to go to someone who can use it.
Full disclosure - the plunger is not stuck and can be manually manipulated fine, however does not "spring" down when compressed. I "believe" its because there is no fuel pressure behind it though as its been in a ziplock bag for too long and all fuel has evaporated.

I'd probably want someone else can confirm if that makes sense before I sell it (to you, or anybody)

 

[rgnprof]

Bosch part number 0 438 101 044? I would be interested, if you - or someone - could confirm the plunger issue...

I talked with GermanStar today and to the garage and have decided to fix this myself and if this does not work out, I will be buying a rebuilt unit from GermanStar/CIS Flowtech...

Ryan

 

[Jayare]

The plunger needs fuel pressure to compress properly.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

 

[H.D.]

Ryan, since unfortunately I‘m not getting email notifications from Benzworld anymore, I‘m currently actually not participating in other member‘s threads. ... But before you replace the FD, I‘d just like to mention that … not knowing how (thoroughly) the shop tested the FD and what exactly you mean by “after messing around with the mixture” … I didn‘t see any reply on my suggestion in your previous thread to do a test drive with the engine at operating temperature and the EHA plug disconnected (post 52). … Could’ve given valuable insight (regarding your engine’s running behavior) as long as the engine still started and with adjustment screws not having been messed around with yet. And see what I said about the EHA in post 42.

With the engine not starting, the test options are limited, of course. What could be done, for instance, is a fuel pressure test with ignition off and FPR jumpered (system pressure & lower chamber pressure).

The FD‘s control plunger not “springing“ back is normal. It doesn‘t do that under fuel pressure either. And ps2cho‘s offer sounds really good … should your EHA turn out to be ok !

Good luck!

H.D.

P.S.: I’d like to remind in general, that the Lambda (duty cycle) adjustment screw should only be touched, if eliminating the cause of its deviation is out of the question. For a detailed explanation see post 2 and post 10 in http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w12...97-ke-jetronic-lambda-control-duty-cycle.html.

 

[Gianpiero124]

if it this really the fuel distributor, i would find a spare one on a junkyard. KE-jetronic are incredibly difficult to diagnostic properly but is very uncommon for the fuel distributor to just broke down.

First off i'll check compression on all cylinders, spark & timing chain, independent if someone has already done it.

Second check all the sensors & actuators of the sistem, crankshaft & camshafts are inductive sensors that either the sensors or the coaxial cable can droke down, then i'll check the Idle control valve, check if it isn't stuck, check also the temperature sensors & etc.

As for the Fuel distributor you should check with a multi-test the voltaje variation on both conectors of the fuel distributor, the front one is the position of the airflow plate & the back is the actuator for the fuel delivery/pression.

I dont have specific values for these, however both should go up & down in voltaje or resistance (with the engine shut down) without any steps.

Last but not least check the fuel presure in the sistem.

 

[ps2cho]

Reporting back after soaking my fuel distributor in fuel overnight, plunger moves like new. Ready if anybody needs it!

Junkyard fuel distributors are an absolute waste of time and money.

 

[rgnprof]

ps2cho,

PM'd you...

ryan

 

[ps2cho]

part # 438-101-012 on my distributor.

I just realized you have an M104 with CIS-E. I know all M103 fuel distributors interchange...does anyone here know if the M104 is the same?

 

[rgnprof]

Yes, my '91 300CE is an M104 and the Bosch FD part number is 0 438 101 044.

ryan

 

[H.D.]

... does anyone here know if the M104 is the same?

Yes … at least one … :wink_2:

Is the M103 FD (0 438 101 012) the same as the M104 FD (0 438 101 044) ? … No

Would I recommend to install an M103 FD on an M104 engine ? … No

Would I in the OP’s situation anyway at least want to see whether the suspect mentioned in post 6 turns out to be ok, before I’d replace the FD ? … Yes

:wink

 

[rgnprof]

Sorry HD, but yes,I did disconnect the EHA earlier - actually, I had tried this several times over my troubleshooting history....does not make any difference. This EHA is fairly new, at least I bought it since I've owned the car. Not an ebay replacement, but a brand new one...

Guess I'm back to a rebuilt FD from Larry at GermanStar...

 

[József Fontos]

Hi, Ryan, after reading your static duty cycle and this fuel distribitor topic, may I ask, what happened since then?

 

[rayhennig]

part # 438-101-012 on my distributor.

I just realized you have an M104 with CIS-E. I know all M103 fuel distributors interchange...does anyone here know if the M104 is the same?

Sadly not, they're different:

M104.98x - A0000742813 Bosch 0438101044 Bosch F026TX2036

M103 - A0000741913 Bosch 0 438 101 011 F026TX2044

We once put the M104 FD on to an M103 to test whether the M103's problem was the FD. It was and the FD worked so my friend bought another correct on.

I have no idea how well these FDs would work in the "other" engine - if that makes sense.

A rebuilt FD in Germany, here:
https://www.german-spob.de/start.ph...LINDER%20-%20300E-24V%20-%20GENERAL%DCBERHOLT

And one in the USA:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/90-91-92-9...129-FUEL-DISTRIBUTOR-0000742813-/372013834569

RayH