'96 C220 - Hesitation, CEL - loss in power
I went to check out the car myself. I started the car up and it ran fine but with a CEL. I disconnected the battery, re-connected and started her up. No CEL. I took her back to work and within the first minute car ran smooth, no hesitation. Soon after that the hesitation just above 2,000RPM started to occur and the throughout the RPM range after that for the entire ride back to work. The CEL did not come back on but I was only a few miles from where I picked the car form my girlfriend.
* Yesterday I did do a few things with the car. I replaced the headlamp lenses as the OEM's were cracked down the middle. There is a baffle for the air intake which I have removed due to the fact that it was impossible to get to the side screw to remove the assembly. After that I power-washed the vehicle and engine and changed the oil. Obviously from seeing "power-washing" and hesitation in the same thread you can put 2 + 2 together. The car did have a brief hesitation right after the washing but had cleared away and ran just as it had before. Is it safe to assume that the MAF had gotten damaged and it causing the hesitation and loss of power? The plugs, air filter, etc. are good and have been replaced within the last 20K. The air filter within the last year. I checked the airbox and air filter to see if there was any visible moisture in the air box, but to no avail.
The engine itself starts right up as normal and is as smooth as can be. I know that the pulgs and wires were replaced before we had purchased the vehicle, the plug wires look new as well, last time I looked.
Wouldn't the MAF through another CEL or will it take some miles for it to come up again, if it is the Mass Air Meter (MAF?)
Last night I sprayed the MAF with some electric component cleaner, bought at Advance Auto Parts. Disconnected the battery for a few. Everything is the same. Car starts right up with no problems.
I started the car this morning and it started up no problem. Most of the hesitation occurs in the mid-RPM range, around 2,000RPM. If you need to pass someone or when it starts hesitating, you bump up the throttle and it revs up to 4,000rpm with no trouble. Still does not feel like it has the same power, a little less than normally.
If it were the plugs or something wouldn't it be consistent throughout the RPM range? The hesitation is intermittent.
Any suggestions guys? BTW, no CEL since yesterday morning



