S_C32AMG

My car is at the dealer for its forth air pump. I am trying to get a feel for how many C32 AMGs or other MBs are having this problem.

The air pump is in the engine bay on the p/s behind the bumper on the front of the engine.

When the car is cold the pump, pumps air, i.e. O2, into the exhaust system to help heat the cats. Think of a bellows and a fire.

Signs that your air pump is committing suicide. You _may_ smell a faint electrical burning smell coming from the center dash vent. You _may_ hear a spinning sound while in the car w/the radio off. If the pump is in the process of dying and you are outside your car w/the engine off you can hear the part spinning itself to death. If you try to unplug it, be careful it will be HOT and the plug is tight. Ask me how I know.

Once the pump is completely dead and _guessing here_ the next time it is signaled to come on you will get a check engine light.

If you do not mind please post in the subject line the model and number of air pumps replaced and your average daily commute, one way.

Thanks.

S

UPDATE:

Well I just received the call. The dealer replaced the air pump, again, and the control module.

Doh! I would have thought that they would replace the control module before replacing ~$2500 worth or air pumps. Especially, after I said, "do you think it is the sensor CONTROLLING" the air pump that is telling it to keep running. I'm guessing control modules are expensive?

Hope this works.

PARTS REPLACED:

These are the parts they replace the last--and hopefully the final time.

000-140-42-85 air pump
203-545-16-01 control unit
002-542-26-19 relay

S_C32AMG

nt

Taucher

nt

av2

6789 miles, zero problem except for the "bird" sound.

jswedberg

Air pumps? You mean the spare tire pump? I've never used it. Not even sure I've really ever looked at it. How can you go through THREE of them?

Or is there some other pump we're talking about?

vinmanc32

Im waiting for the delivery of a new one now (this will be the second time replaced). the first one was just about 700 miles earlier. When the part comes in I will go up and have it put in. It was ordered last Thurs and still not in. I think the service is just backed up and this is a low priority item so they are not putting as much heat on it. I also have my survey in my hand. Im debating how to handle this one. This is obviously a very big problem. I have about 12k on my car now.

JustinTRW

I assume that when/if it goes, I will know through some kind of indicator. What should I look for?

vinmanc32

first you will here this ticking in the dash.... then the check engine light will go on and the ticking will stop. THis is supposedly not going to hurt the engine but it is annoying. I have been told that it has something to do with adding air so that the emissions would be legal. I will bet it burns a bit more gas also.

jswedberg

AHHH! THAT kind of air pump.

Nope, still have had no problem.

Vadim @ evosport

Mine died slow, horrible death.

I parked at the mall. Closed the doors and then heard this loud, schreeching and rumbling noise coming from under the hood. The car was off, I opened the hood and the air pump was shaking like a freezing squirrel. About three seconds later it stoped.

Check engine light came on a day later. Since then I have been reseting it with scanner. Car is going back to the dealer next week to get it taken care of.

pc527

my check engine light just came on this morning.
i dropped the car off at the dealer. they'll call me on monday to let me know what happened. hopefully nothing serious.
the only odd thing i noticed was on thursday morning when i started the car, i heard this really faint high pitch sound coming from under the hood. the sound went away once i got to work
(27miles).

peter

Franco

2500 miles Delivered April 2002.

I am lucky that I have not experienced any problems to date. I was not aware of this problem with the C32 prior to today. Do you think it is a general flaw with the air pump and that all of them will eventually have to be replaced or just specific to certain production runs?

S_C32AMG

It is a problem w/the sensor controlling the air pump.

Something is telling the poor thing to spin more than it should.

pc527

Just spoke with my service advisor. He said my air pump is defective and they are ordering a new one. parts should arrive this afternoon.
I'll ask them to check the control module too.

peter

vinmanc32

that is the part that is causing the pump to go (as mentioned above). A bad sensor is always the culprit. Hopefully this will eliminate my problem. Im still waiting for the parts now. I expect them to be in by tomorrow. Im now getting a bit ..... anxious about this problem resolution.

Harris

Its my turn finally!! The air pump died this morning.

One question....is the module and replay that same thing???

S_C32AMG

These are the parts they replace the last--and hopefully the final time.

000-140-42-85 air pump
203-545-16-01 control unit
002-542-26-19 relay

HTH.

S

vinmanc32

if the new pump is working or not. It just snowed here for the first time yesterday, and I dont intend on taking it out for quite some time. I have put less than 200 miles since the new pump. The last one went at about 500 miles although the first one lasted over 11,000. Go figure.