QuestionHi. I drive a 1978 280 SE mercedes. It has about 80,000 miles on it and i've had it for a couple years. when i first got it, it started fine but then began to start rougher and rougher. to get it to start i would have to shift it from neutral to drive a couple times then try again. It came to the point where even that wouldnt help the car get started. The car then sat for about 9 months while i was away at college and when i came back i bypassed the neutral safety switch. once i bypassed it, the car started right up. after driving it for a week or two, the car began slowly starting hard again, just like before. I've ran injector cleaners in it which improves it a little but then it gets worse again. I've changed the fuel filter which didnt do anything. I just drove it on a 800 mile road trip...halfway through, my muffler exploded (i never heard of a muffler exploding before and i dont know if this has anything to do with the starting problem). I noticed that when i go on long trips or just drive it for a while the car starts more normally. Its now at the point where its just about not starting at all. do you have any idea what could be wrong?
any help would be greatly appreciated
thanks,
Peter
AnswerBest guess:
Heavy varnish/sludge in the fuel system.
Cold Start Valve leaking excess fuel = exploding muffler.
Fuel Injectors leaking = exploding muffler.
Fuel Pressure Damper failed = fuel pressure spike overfueling on long drives = exploding muffler.
Warm Up Regulator failed = cutting off extra fuel needed for starting.
Ignition Coil weak spark = failing due to age is very possible.
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http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=142445
