I have a 1988 Mercedes benz 260e straight six that just recently will start up and run for about 30 seconds or so until it sputters and dies, or just dies out after runnig for a couple seconds. it does this even when you give it gas. it started doing this about 2 days ago and never did anything like this before. it started while i was on the highway doing about 65. then the car started sputtering and decreased to about 40 mph. so i tried to come back to the normal speed but the car just sounded like it was in neutral and would not go any faster. so i tried to maintain the 40 mph but the car died out and i coasted to the side of the road. it started right back up and managed to get it off the highway and home but the car would only go about 25 mph. any faster and it would sputter and die or just die. and if you came to a complete stop it would just die. i got it home and changed one of the fuel pumps due to loud noises it was making and now the car will just start and sputter and die or just die.

When was the last time the fuel filter was replaced?

Assuming the filter is good, you may need to get fuel pressures checked using a CIS pressure tester.

As you have 88, it has error codes built in...so check them and see if anything pops up. Unless your car is CA, you'll need to build a code reader -- just do a search.

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2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

It is your fuel pump,

I replaced the bottom fuel pump but not sure if the top one is bad. and the filter i replaced about 2 months ago. i checked that second yesterday after replacing the pump and it was still clear. i have only had the car for about a year now and have changed the fuel pump relay twice due to corrosion in the relay itself and the second one being faulty, spark plugs, plug wires, and filter the whole time i have had it along with the an oil change every 3,000 miles or so. someone told me it might have something to do with ecu.

We are see an increase in engines not responsing when accellerating. The main reason is fuel related, not necessarily fuel components but fuel itself. Most state now have ethanol blend fuels and the real heart ache is the very short shelf life.

I pumped out two boats yesterday, one today and have two scheduled for next Monday, all fuel related.

The advise I give my customer:
1) keep the tank either full or empty
2) if you treat the fuel, do so by the size of the tank
3) keep a six-pack if filters handy

Good Luck,

El Sea,

Suckin Sludge & Havin a Gas

You only have one fuel pump on your 260E....

Have you thought about the possibility of the precats being plugged? Are you losing any oil? I had the same issue one night when I was driving and the car just would not accelerate at all. Pulled over and my precat was glowing purple...Let her cool down and didn't happen again...but just a thought for yourself maybe?

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2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

After replacing the filter, most likely clogged condition run the engine with the fuel relay pins jumped so as to isolate the relay .

i jumped the fuel pump relay the same day all this happened since i already had to do that once before a while ago when the relay went out on me when it was bad and the car wouldn't start then. after i bought the relay i ended up leaving the wire connected to the pump under the seat so that if i ever had another problem like that i would be prepared. even when i ran it now though it still did the exact same thing and it does have two fuel pumps. both the fuel pumps ended up being bad but the bottom one wasn't completely bad yet and it was only pumping a little gas . when i changed the bottom one the car ran but did the same thing it was doing. so i went and got the top pump which is the exact same pump as the bottom one and replaced it and the car has been running great ever since. just a little too rich which i still have to adjust. the only other problem that im having with the car now that for some reason the blower will only blower motor will only blow low on any setting.