Mercedes Benz repair: mercedes 200t 1987, rotor arm, timing pointer


Question
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Followup To
Question -
THE ENGINE TURNS OVER AND ON OCCASION STARTS BUT DIES ALMOST IMIEDIATLEY. PRIOR TO THIS IT CUT OUT BUT DID RESTART A FEW TIMES AND CONTINUE RUNNING ALBEIT ROUGHLY NOW IT SEEMS TO BACKFIRE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START AND WONT GO FOR MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP AND ROTOR ARM WERE IN POOR CONDITION AND I HAVE NOW REPLACED THEM BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE DO YOU THINK IT COULD BE ELECTRICAL OR FUEL RELATED ? ANY HELP WOULD BE WELCOMED.
Answer -
It could be both. You have to start from the top. Check the fuel pump first then the fuel filter and the injectors. If that is OK then you go to the electrical. If you are not getting spark to the coil then the ignition is bad. Check all the fuses and relays for the ignition. Then check the air supply. Make sure the air filter is clean and there are no blockages to the air supply to the engine.
HI AGAIN,ON CLOSER INSPECTION IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A SPARK AND FUEL GETTING THROUGH,HOWEVER THE TIMING CHAIN SEEMS TO BE A BIT SLACK WOULD THAT CAUSE THE PROBLEM? IT ALSO SEEMS TO BE SPITTING BACK THROUGH THE CARB WHEN TRYING TO START.
         REGARDS
         ADE

Answer
There is a way to check the timing. Take the valve cover off and rotate the engine until the timing pointer is at Top Dead Center on the vibration dampner. It will say TDC on the dampner or "0" degrees. There is a corresponding mark on the camshaft that should be aligned at TDC. It is located right in the front of the camshaft directly behind the timing gear. If the chain is worn the mark will be off slightly to the right or left. There are replacement keyways that will correct this problem. They are sold in 5 gegree increments. Or you can replace the chain.