First Tow for my C
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Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Inland Empire / So Cal
I drive what I drive
First Tow for my C
god damn it. my ****in car went down in fullerton today. i just filled up a 91 octane tank, until a couple of miles later, my car just stalls. every time i try to turn it on, it stalls after about 3-5 seconds. I think it's my alternator, but im not quite sure because I can press the gas and rev the car, but not enough juice to throw it into Drive. And my car makes this funny smell, no smoke, just smell....what do you guys/girls think it is?..I called Roadside assistance, which got ahold of House Of Imports Dealership, Buena Park, CA. They were very very helpful and got a tow truck to me within an hour. welll at 37,280 miles my car finally stalls, first tow truck expierence with my Benz. quite young isnt it?
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From: Boston
'05 A4 1.8TQM6
Re: First Tow for my C
Originally posted by C230Kompressed
god damn it. my ****in car went down in fullerton today. i just filled up a 91 octane tank, until a couple of miles later, my car just stalls. every time i try to turn it on, it stalls after about 3-5 seconds. I think it's my alternator, but im not quite sure because I can press the gas and rev the car, but not enough juice to throw it into Drive. And my car makes this funny smell, no smoke, just smell....what do you guys/girls think it is?..I called Roadside assistance, which got ahold of House Of Imports Dealership, Buena Park, CA. They were very very helpful and got a tow truck to me within an hour. welll at 37,280 miles my car finally stalls, first tow truck expierence with my Benz. quite young isnt it?
god damn it. my ****in car went down in fullerton today. i just filled up a 91 octane tank, until a couple of miles later, my car just stalls. every time i try to turn it on, it stalls after about 3-5 seconds. I think it's my alternator, but im not quite sure because I can press the gas and rev the car, but not enough juice to throw it into Drive. And my car makes this funny smell, no smoke, just smell....what do you guys/girls think it is?..I called Roadside assistance, which got ahold of House Of Imports Dealership, Buena Park, CA. They were very very helpful and got a tow truck to me within an hour. welll at 37,280 miles my car finally stalls, first tow truck expierence with my Benz. quite young isnt it?
except mine was at like 105,000 miles :p
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Air Mass Meter is a common failure on these cars, and it often causes idle problems, which is what you are describing. Is the check-engine light on? Is the smell a "gassy" kind of smell? When the AMM fails it can cause a rich-running condition that gives a slight gasoline smell.
Other potential causes could be fuel delivery related, but the fact that the car revs fine might make me suspicious it's not.
I haven't heard of too many fuel pump relay failures on the later W202 cars. Misfires can come from faulty supressors, and that will cause a rough idle that smooths when revs climb. I haven't heard of any kind of smell that occampanies that particular malady.
As to the charging system, is the "charge" indicator light on? The alternator failing will cause a voltage drop that will cause the fuel injection system to fail, but not only at idle. Also, the low voltage condition will cause the ABS to fault (it requires a certain voltage to operate) and the ABS often lights as a precursor to alternator failure.
Hopfully a code-pull will give a good diagnosis and avoid too many problems in finding the problem. Here's my potential list:
1. AAM.
2. Ignition component
3. Fuel pump
Have you kept up on service? Remember that cars age with time, not just mileage. Filters, fluids, etc. should be replaced at intervals regardless of mileage. Cars that are driven low annual mileages should be serviced according to "severe" driving conditions, as low annual mileages are very hard on the car.
Other potential causes could be fuel delivery related, but the fact that the car revs fine might make me suspicious it's not.
I haven't heard of too many fuel pump relay failures on the later W202 cars. Misfires can come from faulty supressors, and that will cause a rough idle that smooths when revs climb. I haven't heard of any kind of smell that occampanies that particular malady.
As to the charging system, is the "charge" indicator light on? The alternator failing will cause a voltage drop that will cause the fuel injection system to fail, but not only at idle. Also, the low voltage condition will cause the ABS to fault (it requires a certain voltage to operate) and the ABS often lights as a precursor to alternator failure.
Hopfully a code-pull will give a good diagnosis and avoid too many problems in finding the problem. Here's my potential list:
1. AAM.
2. Ignition component
3. Fuel pump
Have you kept up on service? Remember that cars age with time, not just mileage. Filters, fluids, etc. should be replaced at intervals regardless of mileage. Cars that are driven low annual mileages should be serviced according to "severe" driving conditions, as low annual mileages are very hard on the car.
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Originally posted by blackmercedes
I haven't heard of too many fuel pump relay failures on the later W202 cars. Misfires can come from faulty supressors, and that will cause a rough idle that smooths when revs climb. I haven't heard of any kind of smell that occampanies that particular malady.
I haven't heard of too many fuel pump relay failures on the later W202 cars. Misfires can come from faulty supressors, and that will cause a rough idle that smooths when revs climb. I haven't heard of any kind of smell that occampanies that particular malady.
-Tad
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On the spark plug lead there is a resistor (hence MB does not specify resistor plugs) and a noise supressor. These can fail and cause a misfire condition. Generally, most misfire conditions are caused somewhere along the ignition circuit.
A faulty O2 sensor also might cause the original problem, as it also causes symptoms similar to an AAM failure.
A faulty O2 sensor also might cause the original problem, as it also causes symptoms similar to an AAM failure.
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From: Inland Empire / So Cal
I drive what I drive
i had my MAS and o2 sensor changed last week from a different problem with the car...so it cant be it. I had no engine light come on this time, but last time it did. When I was in my car, i am able to turn it on, it would just die after about 2 seconds...but if i would keep reving it, the car would stay on, but when i'd stop reving it dies...When I do rev it my engine does sound weird, like a sucction sound comming from the left of the engine (if you're sitting in the car). and a weeiiirrdd assssss smell comes out. no smoke, just fumes....Currently it's at the dealership, hopeing they dont do **** to it until i get there. my dad owns a shop, so he could do it for me no problem, just dont wanna get my pocket full of nothing!. 
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From: Birmingham, Alabama
2008 SLK-280
You say if you rev it up it keeps going. My 190E did that once. It ended up just being a 1/2" tube that came off the bottom of my air filter housing. I don't remember what it did or if the same tube may be on your engine. It didn't cost a dime to fix. The MB roadside assistance guy had it fixed in 30 seconds and I was on my way.
Thread Starter
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From: Inland Empire / So Cal
I drive what I drive
hey everybody, got my car fixed at the benz dealer in buena park. They said it was my AMM, and its running like a champ now. My service manager got the work under warranty, but I paid $130 for a 20 minute towing...
Last edited by C230Kompressed; Aug 27, 2003 at 04:23 PM.
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You should try to recoup the towing charge under your roadside assitance agreement. As long as your car is under warranty, the roadside assitance is in place.
If your factory or "Starmark" warranty is over, then the tow should be covered anyway because the recently changed AAM failed. Not your fault they installed a defective part!
If your factory or "Starmark" warranty is over, then the tow should be covered anyway because the recently changed AAM failed. Not your fault they installed a defective part!
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Originally posted by DougandhisC280
Air Mass Meter? I won!!!
Air Mass Meter? I won!!!
A lifetime supply of oxgenated air for internal combustion. Also, a lifetime's supply of Harley-Davidson coolant. If you run out, flag over an old VW and borrow some, and we'll reimburse you later...
The symptoms were AAM, but when he told of a recent replacement...
