Drivetrain whine
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2001 C320
Drivetrain whine
My C320 has an intermittent whine when driven moderately around 40 - 50 mph. It's not very loud and may be unnoticeable if the radio is on. It happens maybe 10 - 20% of the time. It can pop up all of sudden for a few minutes and disappear again. The noise level goes down when coasting. The build date is Dec. 2000 (serial # 629..).It didn't make any noise the 3 times I've tried to have the dealer take a look at it. As such, nothing's been done so far. Does anyone have a similar problem and if it has been fixed, how?
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From: Sitting behind thing freakin desk of mine. Dreaming I was playing my Taylors, and driving my Benz. Long Live The VRAA!!!!!!
C230 Sports Coupe
sounds like it could be a bad rear differential. Keep an eye on it. Don't be afraid to keep going back to dealer.
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From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
White C230 Coupe, Leather, Evolution, Panorama, Heated seats, Bose, Factory Alarm
oops....
anyways....
I took it to dealership and had it checked out ...
and it turns out that me REAR Differential was the problem.
They are ordering a NEW rear differential for me. Should arrive in 2 weeks....
hope this helps.....
p.s. maybe you can drive the mechanic around and have him listen carefully for the whining noise....
I find that noise so annoying.. and embarassing when I drive my friends and they ask me about it...
hope you get it fixed soon....
anyways....
I took it to dealership and had it checked out ...
and it turns out that me REAR Differential was the problem.
They are ordering a NEW rear differential for me. Should arrive in 2 weeks....
hope this helps.....
p.s. maybe you can drive the mechanic around and have him listen carefully for the whining noise....
I find that noise so annoying.. and embarassing when I drive my friends and they ask me about it...
hope you get it fixed soon....
Thread Starter
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2001 C320
I did drive the mechanic around for about 10 miles, no noise the whole time (in fact, when I pointed out some other small rattles/squeaks, he said my car is better than most others he's come across). I'm pretty frustrated with this dealer. I've made an appointment with another dealer for this Friday.
They are also going to look into my radio's front/rear bias problem. They are a bit further away, and use Camry's as loaners. But, it's a small inconvenience if they can fix the problems.
They are also going to look into my radio's front/rear bias problem. They are a bit further away, and use Camry's as loaners. But, it's a small inconvenience if they can fix the problems.
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From: Alexandria, VA
C230 Sport Coupe
Well, I finally took my car in for its "drivetrain whine." I told the guy there was whining coming from the back, and that I didn't have kids. Even after reading this thread, I wasn't convinced that my car would have the differential problem, but I wanted to be sure. Anyway, the service rep just called and said that the differential was in need of replacement and that he hoped to have it tomorrow.
The good news is that my loaner is a new Chevy Tahoe which I needed to pick up a new desk at Crate & Barrel.
Everything happens for a reason!
The good news is that my loaner is a new Chevy Tahoe which I needed to pick up a new desk at Crate & Barrel.
Everything happens for a reason!
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
Originally posted by changv
I did drive the mechanic around for about 10 miles, no noise the whole time (in fact, when I pointed out some other small rattles/squeaks, he said my car is better than most others he's come across). I'm pretty frustrated with this dealer. I've made an appointment with another dealer for this Friday.
I did drive the mechanic around for about 10 miles, no noise the whole time (in fact, when I pointed out some other small rattles/squeaks, he said my car is better than most others he's come across). I'm pretty frustrated with this dealer. I've made an appointment with another dealer for this Friday.
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Thread Starter
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2001 C320
I had my car in last week at a different dealer. Unfortunately, I had the same result. The noise was not evident when the technician drove it. I did not specifically ask them to check the differential; this was probably a mistake. When I go in again, I will make sure to ask them to check the differential.
Just curious, how did they check the differential? I hope it wasn't from a test drive as it looks like they will never my problem that way. The only other choice offered was to let them have the car for an extended period of time so that the technician can drive it everyday. I'm not ready for this yet; but, I'm getting close.
Just curious, how did they check the differential? I hope it wasn't from a test drive as it looks like they will never my problem that way. The only other choice offered was to let them have the car for an extended period of time so that the technician can drive it everyday. I'm not ready for this yet; but, I'm getting close.
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Member
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From: Alexandria, VA
C230 Sport Coupe
What I would like to know is how are our differentials wearing out permaturely. I realize it's a flaw somehow in the design, but I'm still really curious.
I'm not sure how they check a differential, but I'll try to remember to ask tomorrow.
I'm not sure how they check a differential, but I'll try to remember to ask tomorrow.
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From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
differential?
There is a tech bulletin on installing a spacer to the mount between the differential and the body to eliminate a noise. Differentials don't have to be worn to whine, bad spec parts or faulty gear mating clearances can cause noise as well.
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2001 C320
I believe the bulletin was issued for 2001 cars with serial numbers below 60,000. Mine is around 64,000; so I'm not sure if my problem has the same cause. I might as well ask them to check for this problem anyway.
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From: Alexandria, VA
C230 Sport Coupe
I don't know if it's a fluke or not, but my car was built in 10/01 and is in the lower 66,000's. Mercedes of Alexandria just replaced my differential and I just got it back today. For what it's worth, he said it's the 3rd C230 he's done this month.
Last edited by o2bsurreal; Oct 18, 2002 at 11:45 PM.
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From: Alexandria, VA
C230 Sport Coupe
Mine only occurred between 40 and 60mph (in any gear of course), and it would disappear if I took my foot off the gas. As long as I was giving it gas and was travelling above 40, it would always be there. It wasn't a high pitched whine either. It was the kind of whine that you can usually ignore until you have friends in the car which always makes it seem twice as loud :p Now that it's fixed (and they did a four-wheel alignment), it is quiet as a mouse. When I drove it home, I remember thinking, "Aah, I remember this!"
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Joined: May 2002
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From: vancouver
c240
i hear this ticking sound is that the whine your talkin about?
i hear it when i gas it and it gets louder and more faster ticking when i push the gas harder...
i own a "02 c240
could this be a rear diferential?
i hear it when i gas it and it gets louder and more faster ticking when i push the gas harder...
i own a "02 c240
could this be a rear diferential?
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From: Alexandria, VA
C230 Sport Coupe
It sounds more like you have a rock, nail or screw in your tire. It's happened to me before plenty of times. It's very doubtful that it's your differential. Problems with differentials are generally going to be a constant noise like a whine, or if really bad, a grinding noise as all the metal is shaved off the gears while it internally self-destructs.
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From: vancouver
c240
no definetly not a rock!
its the engine! and it started making a weird noise after a minor acident!
i would like to know whats wrong so i can give my mechanic a head start when i bring it to fix my bumper
its the engine! and it started making a weird noise after a minor acident!
i would like to know whats wrong so i can give my mechanic a head start when i bring it to fix my bumper
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From: Alexandria, VA
C230 Sport Coupe
Yeah, I didn't realize you'd had an accident, and of course I haven't heard it so I wouldn't know. On the upside, I've found MB mechanics are relatively good at finding the source of odd sounds... even if they don't always fix them (like the plastic rubbing sound coming from the driver's side seatbelt loop in my car). I wish you the best of luck with it. You'll have to let us know what it was when you do find the cause.
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2001 C320
My car whines between 40 and 50 mph, but only about 10/15% of the time. I wish it would do it all the time so that the technician would at least hear it. I' m still trying to get to first base as so far my problem is only in my head, as none of the technicians have heard anything.
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From: Alexandria, VA
C230 Sport Coupe
Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much about it. If it really is the differential, it won't get any better and it will eventually sound worse. So if it is mechanical, and you can't convince them now, I would think you'd have plenty of time (and definitely more evidence) to convince them of it in the future.
