I have a 1989 240DL sedan. I had an oil leak that came from the front camshaft seal. My husband looked at the seal and tried to push it back. He didn't take anything off other than the bolts for the timing belt cover. When he started it up again to check it, it started and immedieately stopped. Now it will not start and it makes a different sound when we try it. We can see everything turning and I can smell gas. What could be wrong with it?

 

well, if you got gas, then its either mechanical (for instance, timing belt skipped a tooth or 3), or its ignition (spark). if you're getting gas then the crank position sensor is working, that goes through the ECU (fuel injection controller) to the ICU (ignition control unit) to the ignition power module to the coil to the spark plugs (this is assuming you have LH2.4 fuel injection, which I believe was introduced in 1989... the previous LH2.2 used a hall sensor in the distributor instead of the crank position sensor, but was otherwise similar).

first, tho, after trying to start it, pull a spark plug, and verify its wet... if it is, then that fuel IS getting into the cylinder and not being burned, which confirms there's no spark.

 

Does your car "turn over" like it's wanting to start? I'd be inclined to think somehow the timing belt got out of alignment by a tooth or so like Pierce suggested.

 

certainly, an oil leak on that camshaft seal quite easily could have put oil all over the timing belt. thats not good. the seal needs replacing, not pushing in, and you need a new timing belt and should replace the tensioner. most folks replace the water pump at the same time, since you are there, along with the thermostat. write the date and mileage of the new timing belt on a durable sticker on the timing belt cover or whatever so you have a record (they should be replaced every 80k miles or so anyways).