sputtering, almost stalls
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05 C230K Sport
sputtering, almost stalls
for a few weeks I noticed if I left my ac on when I got home, the next morning the motor would sputter and almost stall when I started it. no big deal, I'll make sure to turn off the ac when I get home. but yesterday I was sitting at a light, an hour into driving, and turned the ac on and got the same reaction from the motor. other than being embarrassed to have my Mercedes sound like a 81 corolla it's not a huge problem right now, but if this is a sign of a bigger issue I would like to address it now. anyone else have these symptoms?
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2004 C230 Kompressor Sedan 6MT
I had the same issue on start-up every now and again. From what I could tell, there is no pattern for when or why it happens, but it sounds about the same. It starts and hesistates, sputters and dies. It only ever happens the first try though, since it always starts up fine on the second try and continues to work as it should.
I'd be interested if someone knew what this could be.
I'd be interested if someone knew what this could be.
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05 C230K Sport
mine has never actually stalled. it seems at though it's going to, but kicks in right before. I was more or less wondering if there is an easy fix and/or if it is a sign of things to come.
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05 C230K Sport
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From: Boston, MA
'14 ML350, '13 C220 CDI, '07 C280, '98 ML320
if the compressor is indeed seizing, you don't want to wait until it seizes completely. It will shred the belt (at minimum) and may damage other components along with it.
If this option is available, buy a shorter belt to bypass the compressor until you fix the issue.
If this option is available, buy a shorter belt to bypass the compressor until you fix the issue.
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05 C230K Sport
I have been using the auto temp function with the ac on. if I leave it on when I I turn the car off it is on again when I start up. but if if I turn it off before I turn off it remains off. is that what you were asking?
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Remember Benz uses a swash plate compressor. It has no clutch. It runs all the time. It only starts pumping as you change the swash plate angle via it's actuator. The swash plate is supposed to be at neutral position on startup.
Does the Poly V belt protest when you "turn on" the A/C?
Engine stumble can be caused by the upstream O2 sensor cycling too slowly. But then it should do this independently of the A/C.
Does the Poly V belt protest when you "turn on" the A/C?
Engine stumble can be caused by the upstream O2 sensor cycling too slowly. But then it should do this independently of the A/C.
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05 C230K Sport
Remember Benz uses a swash plate compressor. It has no clutch. It runs all the time. It only starts pumping as you change the swash plate angle via it's actuator. The swash plate is supposed to be at neutral position on startup.
Does the Poly V belt protest when you "turn on" the A/C?
Engine stumble can be caused by the upstream O2 sensor cycling too slowly. But then it should do this independently of the A/C.
Does the Poly V belt protest when you "turn on" the A/C?
Engine stumble can be caused by the upstream O2 sensor cycling too slowly. But then it should do this independently of the A/C.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
If the O2 sensors are bad you should be storing codes - but do not always do until they are chronic. Check for stored codes with an OBDII scanner. Places like Autozone will read for you if you don't have a scanner.
Is your car MT or automatic? If you load the engine through other than the A/C, e.g. putting the car in drive does it stumble & splutter?
What mileage has the vehicle done. What is the general condition of tune. e.g. spark plugs?
Is your car MT or automatic? If you load the engine through other than the A/C, e.g. putting the car in drive does it stumble & splutter?
What mileage has the vehicle done. What is the general condition of tune. e.g. spark plugs?
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Here is the upstream O2 sensor above the Cat. But before you go changing things lets read the codes. I want to know whether you are storing misfire codes etc. Let's not waste money on parts before diagnosis.
Please do an HVAC controller reset just to make sure that we have that at default.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...tic+easter+egg
Please do an HVAC controller reset just to make sure that we have that at default.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...tic+easter+egg
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05 C230K Sport
manual trans. it has 75000 miles. I just bought it at 71800 so I'm not sure about what maintenance has been done. I am not storing any codes. I know this because I just fixed a vacuum leak ( on the dealers tab thank god) and that was the only code I had. p0456 I think. and no I can't recreate the symptom by doing anything else. I'll try the hvac reset when I get in the car after work.
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
My car has never done this at start-up, but has done it here and there the entire 3 years and 90,000 miles I have owned it - albeit, only at low speeds like rolling through a parking lot and coming to a stop, quick sputter/feels like it will stall, then recovers and is fine. It was doing it at 25k miles, and it will still sometimes do it at 114k miles. It's never actually stalled, though.
If you leave the A/C off, it doesn't do it at all? I was also under the impression that the A/C compressor seizing up won't disable the car, shred belts, or anything.
If you leave the A/C off, it doesn't do it at all? I was also under the impression that the A/C compressor seizing up won't disable the car, shred belts, or anything.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
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05 C230K Sport
ok. it's a holiday weekend so I don't think I'll get to it just yet but I will try it this week and let you know how it goes.
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05 C230K Sport
ok glyn I hope you are still watching, I never did the test run without the belt because the problem got way more intermittent. I figured I would wait until I was sure that it would do it again before I tried. but then today while coming to a stop and using the a/c I heard a pop/click noise and now I only blow hot air. I am now assuming that I am low on refrigerant and the system has turned itself off and I was prob teetering on the edge of low pressure before and that is why my compressor was straining the motor. does this seem logical? if so I would guess that I just need to get the system recharged.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Get the system recharged properly to the correct pressure. You can't diagnose anything on the a/c system without full pressure.
I don't think this was straining the motor but could have been confusing the high idle circuit.
This will also tell you if the compressor is sound.
I don't think this was straining the motor but could have been confusing the high idle circuit.
This will also tell you if the compressor is sound.
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05 C230K Sport
okay, for anyone who is interested, I think this problem is resolved. upon figuring out that I was low on 134a i tried everything I could think of to charge the system with having star to override the compressor (even running the $20 can of refrigerant under hot water to increase pressure before hookin into low side) and finally broke down and took it to a local "Benz only" mechanic. (btw if you live in the south jersey area Stuttgart auto on 206 is highly recommended) the owner Wolfgang ran diagnostics for free (almost 2 hours, recovered, vacuumed, and charged twice to be sure) and determined that my compressor was shot. I took it back the next day and four hours later my baby has cool interior again. he said when he took the old compressor off it completely fell apart. he explained in great detail (which I can't remember half of, he speaks with a thick German accent and in car language I have trouble with 
that the compressor was under such strain when trying to move refrigerant that it was straining the motor and causing the sputter (abridged version). in the end it cost me 850 for the compressor, 270 for labor, and 70 for tax. 1190 out the door. oh yeah, and whatever it costs me for a new air intake hose since when I was taking mine off to look around I discovered the hard way that the last owner glued the cloth back together. yet another reason I don't like that guy. so in summary, if your motor sputters when you turn on the a/c get your compressor looked at, maybe if you get to it sooner than I did it won't need to be replaced.
p.s. thanks to everyone that helped me try to figure this out. 3.5 months in this car and almost 5 grand fixing all the things the last guy neglected. hope I'm done now. lol
that the compressor was under such strain when trying to move refrigerant that it was straining the motor and causing the sputter (abridged version). in the end it cost me 850 for the compressor, 270 for labor, and 70 for tax. 1190 out the door. oh yeah, and whatever it costs me for a new air intake hose since when I was taking mine off to look around I discovered the hard way that the last owner glued the cloth back together. yet another reason I don't like that guy. so in summary, if your motor sputters when you turn on the a/c get your compressor looked at, maybe if you get to it sooner than I did it won't need to be replaced.
p.s. thanks to everyone that helped me try to figure this out. 3.5 months in this car and almost 5 grand fixing all the things the last guy neglected. hope I'm done now. lol
