Hi


We are on a Crossfire cruise with a dozen others from the NWCC and a couple of us had a problem this morning. We are in Tilimook Oregon and there is a shortage of repair places. I fixed one car with a CPS and sent the bunch on their way but my car has stalled out. It stalled last night after a wet drive and all it would do was turn over no ignition. I had a spare RCM so I threw it in as that was the easiest to do in the dark and rain but no difference. Today I did the CPS as that was they logical thing . It finally started and idled fine and could even rev up ok while parked but when I drove it it was hesitant. I got out on the hiway and it bogged down and I pulled in a parking lot and it just got worse until a crawl. It finally set a code and died. I pulled a PO300, PO301, PO302 -all misfires which seemed to be after the fact rather than the cause, Any ideas? It will turn over but doesn't catch. And yes it was a bosche CPS (the one I took out wasn't but did have some oil on it!?! (the other guys I changed was dry.)
I only have is a Reilly's auto parts store. The foreign car guy only works Monday to Thursday and the only other repair place in town rings busy. I could use a few hints here as I have search and not got anything yet.. Thanks, Ron

 

Maybe some water in the gas, or a clogged fuel filter ?
Only guessing.
Get some starting fluid from O'Reillys and spray into TB while trying to start. If it starts, then it is definitely a fuel related problem.

 

thanks - I will go get some- I tried some "heet' for water in the gas before it died but didn't do the trick. The fuel filter is only a couple years old but

 

That sucks Ron. How wet was the drive?? Could spark plug/ coil pack wires be grounding out?

 

It was really wet but I had the engine cover off and everything looked dry around the coil packs / wires. I will play some more... The Ford dealership here said they wouldn't be able to figure it out till Monday if they could and then have to order parts so we might as well take it to Portland! AND it looks good on a flat bed got a lot of compliments!

 

sounds like moisture got into the fuel, or the electronics. I am sure you have looked for this. Make sure your CPS connection is good.

 

Thanks Doc, the rain has stopped so I will wait and see if it dries out "something" by tomorrow. Have added HEET to the gas (gas line antifreeze / water remover) and will recheck all the connections one more time before we call the tow truck!

 

things always happen for a reason....and if it is raining hard, there is a chance something has gotten wet under there. Or where you fueled up, had water get into their fuel tanks. I sat in a truck stop one day waiting for a heavy down pour to end, and watched water run into a crack by where the fuel truck delivered. I never fueled there from that day on. It didn't mean that it got into their tank, but the chances were pretty good....lol. Just never know. Good luck and I hope you find the problem. Like mentioned above. If you can get it to run on starter fluid for a moment or two, then it could be the fuel filter, or fuel. I would change the fuel filter. If doesn't make any difference, then I would think electrical.

 

Thanks again will go try all the suggestions after breakfast hopefully the dry night helped out too!

 

; ( i hope you get it figured out easy and fast.
One thing about starting fluid (either) though if u use it you have to keep trying till it starts, or it will sit on rings, and the next day you get it started and you will burn up some rings, then have to pull the motor (ask any farmer). I will only use either on a diesel that does not take complex electronics to run, on my gas motors (ford tractor, garden tractor) I use carb cleaner.

 

Well, not quite true, and I am an old farmer. It should fire and run right away and only do that for a few second. If it doesn't, it could be electrical. And speedy, in my diesel, it isn't good to use it as it can load up in a cylinder. Again, if something doesn't start right away using starting fluid, quit. Damage can happen. You would only burn up rings or break a ring if you continually kept spraying. I ran a fork truck one day for a farmer during a delivery long enough to unload two pallets of seed on straight starter fluid. That old fork truck is still running today, but I bet those cylinders where glowing....lol

 

I just used ether and it started and then just cranked. Looks like it must be the fuel, pump or filter. Thanks -guess we are going the 65 mile to Portland. O'Reillys here doesn't have air filters, oil filters or fuel pump! Thanks for the advise on running it through. It seemed to burn off quickly and then just crank so hopefully that cleared it out!
thanks all!

 

But if it is electrical and the car does not start the either will build up on the rings.
A spark checker from any autoparts store, is what I would use to check for good spark before using starting fluid.

 

Just maybe the humidity got into the ecu,, disconnect the batt, then remove the ecu, with a tissue dry the contacts even if they don't look wet,,, if you have a 12 volt hair dryer that would be better,,, it is like the old cars would get humidity in the distributor. jim

 

I"d vote for bad gas or low fuel pressure (due to whatever - pump, regulator, filter, etc.)

I will say this, I'm getting the idea I may buy what I need to measure or monitor fuel pressure - all ya need is spark and fuel (well, fuel and air in the right ratio).

If it will run on starting fluid, you have spark - you either have low fuel pressure, bad gas or (and this can't be...) electrical problems causing the injectors to act goofy.

 

moisture can cause a lot of problems, and you just have to eliminate what it could be. Sounds like he is doing just that. Hopefully something simple. There are host of things that can cause this problem. Clogged vent on the gas tank, fuel filter, fuel pump, bad relay in the RCM, etc, etc.... Fingers crossed....

 

When you turn the ignition to "on/run" do you hear the fuel pump run?

 

thanks guys - yes when key is turned on I can hear the fuel pump run. I let it run then turned it off and tried t again but no go. At the dealership now..... waiting for the service tech in the morning. I am keeping a happy face and going for dinner and another beer!

 

I have found beer to help.......good luck.....

 

Well they say it is the fuel pump. None in Oregon? Said they tried both jobber and local Mercedes dealer with no luck and will get me one air from Detroit!! Should be on the road tomorrow and I am sure it will go much faster as my wallet will be much lighter..... Nice we have a Crossfire buddy we met on our Coastal run taking us out to see the sights in Portland - everything always works out. Thanks everyone for your input. Ron