w124 dying off in the morn

[Guest mr w124]

First off, my apologies if the title is a bit misleading. I have this prob that i would like to share with the other 124 owners. wonder if anyone has ever experienced the symptoms.

recently car been v jerky in the morn. like not enough petrol. would die off a few times at the light. the funny thing is that it only happens in the morn. car starts first time without a prob. then after abt a minute, the engine starts shaking like there is not enough petrol. this happens without ac. when ac is on, it shkes even more and dies at the traffic light. only when i stop. if i start with the ac on and drive off immediately in the morn without stopping anywhere, the car goes fine.

mech told me could be the ecu. fyi, i didnt know our car had an ecu. he showed me this black box like thing that sits behind the battery. Bosch brand. got to source for one now. any idea of the cost? so far that might be the prob cos over the last one year i have changed quite alot of things:

1. distributor cap n rotor

2. plug wires

3. Ignition control module (OEM)

4. bosch super 4 plugs

5. fuel pump, accumulator, filter

6. top overhaul

7. recon gearbox in nov last yr

8. 4 bosch injector nozzles

9. fuel distributor

have done all that i could think off. consumption used to be abt 280 for half tank. after changing out the injector nozzles, dropped to abt 230-240km for half tank.

have done the timing and tuning (thats the one at the whole on top of the air filter box right?)

Truly at a loss now. been on the quest to achieve 10km/l. then lowered mysights to 9km/l. now only getting 6.8km/l which is worse than before the repairs. just changed the fuel pump n consumption is slightly better. less jerking, but its still there.

Apologies for the long essay. anyone out there has experienced similar symptoms?

[Guest eokh]

the symptom sounds just about correct.

the whole car will suddenly blackout ... doesnt matter whether you are stationary or cruising.

just power loss... no brakes, no power steering , no acceleration.

have to pull the car one side and crank start again

changed a replica ECU done already since CNY.. trouble free ever since

$150 thereabouts, not including labor (WTF labor for a plug and play?... goddammit )

original MB ecu $300 estm

[Guest eokh]

bro ... BTW you can stop counting the things you have changed.

there will be more to come

example is my whitie ...every month "period" come... must see doctor goh at least once.

for the past 18 month... already almost gutted out the whole engine bay liao

[keltanky]

yup, 8V no ECU, only 16V have!

your this problem also happen to me before, i only change the so call "ecu" , its like a relay board for 2 or 3 wires to plug on it.. will try look for pictures and post again!

1 more thing , how old is your battery? pls check the connection points, if lots of oxides, it will affect some points..

[g8crasher]

This is what an ignition control module for W124 series of cars will look like. Should be pretty cheap to change out - just under $100 with labour. I think I swapped mine out for that money some 2-3 years ago.

[keltanky]

its something like that, that picture is for 6 cyl and above

hey Mr.W124, you got check the ignition coil?

http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/ZUNDSPULE-MERCEDES-W124-W126-R129-W201-IGNITION-COIL-/300338079850?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Autoteile_Zubeh%C3%B6r&hash=item45ed8b686a

[Guest mr w124]

Wow, thanks for e quick replies fuys. Thought all e 124 guys have disappeared.

Yes I have changed e ICM recently. Didn't see a point paying $200 plus for a bosch

Unit. Did some research on e net n realised that ppl have used OEM without any probs.

Got one with e brand Vemo. German OEM. Abt $55.

Interestingly, my battery is from dec 06. Considered changing it but seemed to be

Working fine so I left it. Still able to power my amps n subs so I guess its still got e juice

Although there is quite a bit of oxidisation.

So I guess the consensus is that e ecu is the prob? Could it be affecting e fuel consumption?

[Guest eokh]

g8crasher wrote:

This is what an ignition control module for W124 series of cars will look like. Should be pretty cheap to change out - just under $100 with labour. I think I swapped mine out for that money some 2-3 years ago.

WHAT !! below $100 ... sian

kenna chop carrot liao.

[Guest eokh]

mr w124 wrote:

Wow, thanks for e quick replies fuys. Thought all e 124 guys have disappeared.

Yes I have changed e ICM recently. Didn't see a point paying $200 plus for a bosch

Unit. Did some research on e net n realised that ppl have used OEM without any probs.

Got one with e brand Vemo. German OEM. Abt $55.

Interestingly, my battery is from dec 06. Considered changing it but seemed to be

Working fine so I left it. Still able to power my amps n subs so I guess its still got e juice

Although there is quite a bit of oxidisation.

So I guess the consensus is that e ecu is the prob? Could it be affecting e fuel consumption?

wah lau ... you all really spoil my day lor

now its only $55 ... i paid nearly 3x more

i feel like a big fat carrot ...

[keltanky]

eokh wrote:

wah lau ... you all really spoil my day lor

now its only $55 ... i paid nearly 3x more

i feel like a big fat carrot ...

hmmmm who chop chop carrot huh??:music:

[Guest eokh]

*shhh ... secret !

hahah !!

anyway i believe this kind of thing is a business relationship.

2 way street. What goes around comes around.

more impt is having the correct expertise to diagnose and rectify the problem one off.

cheap no point if keep try here try there yet cannot fix the problem .. end up more expensive

[g8crasher]

mr w124 wrote:

Wow, thanks for e quick replies fuys. Thought all e 124 guys have disappeared.

Yes I have changed e ICM recently. Didn't see a point paying $200 plus for a bosch

Unit. Did some research on e net n realised that ppl have used OEM without any probs.

Got one with e brand Vemo. German OEM. Abt $55.

Interestingly, my battery is from dec 06. Considered changing it but seemed to be

Working fine so I left it. Still able to power my amps n subs so I guess its still got e juice

Although there is quite a bit of oxidisation.

So I guess the consensus is that e ecu is the prob? Could it be affecting e fuel consumption?

Still around lah Vik. Car gone but still around. :becky::becky:

Seems like the OEM brands start with the letter V! Vemo, Valeo...

Bro you got an 8v right ?

[Guest mr w124]

Yes leon. 8v. just to clarify, the picture shown is the ignition control module (ICM) my mech said there was a prob with the ecu. i am trying to attach a pic. its located just behind e battery. got to remove a black platic cover to get to it.

[Guest mr w124]

cant seem to post a pic. anyway, here are the links to it

http://img247.imageshack.us/f/img0236ek5.jpg/

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2uif8di&s=5

[g8crasher]

mr w124 wrote:

Yes leon. 8v. just to clarify, the picture shown is the ignition control module (ICM) my mech said there was a prob with the ecu. i am trying to attach a pic. its located just behind e battery. got to remove a black platic cover to get to it.

Sorry boss! Thought the ICM might be giving trouble and it's a cheap fix, cheaper than ECU

Hmm. I've rarely come across spoilt ECUs for our W124s, yours is the first I've heard of. It seems very well protected in the ABS case.

I'm just trying to think if there is someone who can "repair" your ECU as opposed to getting one locally sourced as they are known to be prohibitively expensive.

Mun Chong and the boys know any leads ?

[keltanky]

mr w124 wrote:

cant seem to post a pic. anyway, here are the links to it

http://img247.imageshack.us/f/img0236ek5.jpg/

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2uif8di&s=5

bro,

that car pic is not 8V/16V engine lei... more like V6 or I6

anyway can i ask, i believe most of the time engine "sleep" when aircon is on?

it also could be the aircon relay! it is also behind the battery, near the so-call ecu! i still want to say 8V no ECU la... 8V so call ECU is the ICM only cheap & easy to DIY!! bought 1 new spare put in car, anytime need, just DIY! hehehe!!:music:

[Guest sirBenz]

Try doing this pull out the so called ECU and test the car, if its fine then ur ECU is shot. 300 buck for used ECU from the yard.

[Guest mr w124]

No Leon, nobody has got any clues. Kel, yes i just did a google search for the w124 ecu. will try to take a pic of the one in my car. it says bosch on it and is abt the length of my fingers to wrist. i also thought no ecu till the mech told me. maybe its called something else. he did try to pull it out when the engine was on and the engine did start spluttering.

Coincidentally, my ac has been giving trouble since 1 yr back. at first. blower speed 1 wouldnt work. only 2 onwards. then 1 started to work intermittently then was ok. then, the compressor started cutting out suddenly on normal drives. would start blowing out normal air. have to stop n off n restart the car. then would be ok. this only happens on very hot or cold days i noticed but i could be wrong.

had seen another mech and he did mention the faulty ac relay. same location. but i believe it was behind the so called ecu.

[Guest alexng]

if the relay is not cheap, I've mine replace @ S$350. because not only a/c relay, the whole relay consist of others too. last year i just replace my car whole aircon system and cost me about 4k. now 1st speed in the afternoon set @ 22c can feel the freeze. understand from my mechanic is put the thermometer @ the aircon blower, if thermometer show 0 degree C without some of the cooling coil freezing means the aircon system is in good condition. I'm gonna keep my car for another 10years, don't mind spending good $ on it. it's worth it, trust me.

mr w124 wrote:

No Leon, nobody has got any clues. Kel, yes i just did a google search for the w124 ecu. will try to take a pic of the one in my car. it says bosch on it and is abt the length of my fingers to wrist. i also thought no ecu till the mech told me. maybe its called something else. he did try to pull it out when the engine was on and the engine did start spluttering.

Coincidentally, my ac has been giving trouble since 1 yr back. at first. blower speed 1 wouldnt work. only 2 onwards. then 1 started to work intermittently then was ok. then, the compressor started cutting out suddenly on normal drives. would start blowing out normal air. have to stop n off n restart the car. then would be ok. this only happens on very hot or cold days i noticed but i could be wrong.

had seen another mech and he did mention the faulty ac relay. same location. but i believe it was behind the so called ecu.

[greentea]

Hi friend, any idea where i can buy w124 8v ignition control module in spore? either original or OEM.. any idea the pricing? thanks.

[keltanky]

8v icm, can get from stocklists. I keep 1 spare. Its quite cheap. My spare is not original type. Its oem