2005 C230 misfire, unsighly scene after removing coil (pics)
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
CLK soon
2005 C230 misfire, unsighly scene after removing coil (pics)
I seem to have a major problem with my 2005 C230 with approx 140k km
The CEL came on yesterday after about 20min driving and the car started losing a lot of power, so I pulled over to make some phone calls, turned it on after about half hr and it started and ran fine so didn't think much more of it. Same thing happened today on the way home from work, this time let it sit for 10min or so, started and barely made it home witrh very little power it had. Hooked up the OBD code reader right away which showed P0301 (Cyl 1 misfire)
So naturally I proceeded to remove the coils to inspect the ignition system and was confronted with this unsightly scene:
Cyl #1
Cyl #2 coil
Cyl #2
Both Cyl 1 and Cyl 2 seemed to have a major leak of coolant (or water?) and oil into the spark plug wells. Also once I removed the plugs I noticed inside the cylinders full of fluid
Is this a sure sign of head gasket failure or something else might be at play? I am baffled since I have not experienced any low coolant warnings or white smoke. I wanted to check the oil dipstick for signs of coolant in the oil but then realized these cars don't come with a dipstick
Is there anything else I can check to make sure? Any input will be greatly appreciated
The CEL came on yesterday after about 20min driving and the car started losing a lot of power, so I pulled over to make some phone calls, turned it on after about half hr and it started and ran fine so didn't think much more of it. Same thing happened today on the way home from work, this time let it sit for 10min or so, started and barely made it home witrh very little power it had. Hooked up the OBD code reader right away which showed P0301 (Cyl 1 misfire)
So naturally I proceeded to remove the coils to inspect the ignition system and was confronted with this unsightly scene:
Cyl #1
Cyl #2 coil
Cyl #2
Both Cyl 1 and Cyl 2 seemed to have a major leak of coolant (or water?) and oil into the spark plug wells. Also once I removed the plugs I noticed inside the cylinders full of fluid
Is this a sure sign of head gasket failure or something else might be at play? I am baffled since I have not experienced any low coolant warnings or white smoke. I wanted to check the oil dipstick for signs of coolant in the oil but then realized these cars don't come with a dipstick
Is there anything else I can check to make sure? Any input will be greatly appreciated
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 538
Likes: 89
From: Hollywood, CA
W209, W124
You should have kept liquid from going down into cylinders.
If you don't have a mightyvac then stuffing paper towels into plug area would have eventually worked.
In any case, don't put plugs back in and crank, could be very bad. (Liquids do NOT compress...so, immovable object against unstoppable force = ????)
Crank with plugs out and hope the liquid ejects.
I had an Alfa years back that would eventually flood the plugs like that. It was valve cover gasket, no big deal but had to remove oil.
The misfire could easily have been sparks shorting to ground.
If you don't have a mightyvac then stuffing paper towels into plug area would have eventually worked.
In any case, don't put plugs back in and crank, could be very bad. (Liquids do NOT compress...so, immovable object against unstoppable force = ????)
Crank with plugs out and hope the liquid ejects.
I had an Alfa years back that would eventually flood the plugs like that. It was valve cover gasket, no big deal but had to remove oil.
The misfire could easily have been sparks shorting to ground.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
CLK soon
^^ thanks I cleaned everything up with contact cleaner and put it back together, removed the liquid from inside the cylinder by inserting a windex sprayer and pumping, worked ok but didn't get everything out. Either way just took it for a test drive and it all seems fine (for now)
Might have been just the spark plug shorting, I switched plug with #2 and coil with #3 so if the code returns I'll be able to pinpoint the issue
Thanks again, I was getting worried there since finances aren't the best now and head gasket would be big $$, thankfully seems I got lucky
Might have been just the spark plug shorting, I switched plug with #2 and coil with #3 so if the code returns I'll be able to pinpoint the issue
Thanks again, I was getting worried there since finances aren't the best now and head gasket would be big $$, thankfully seems I got lucky
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,263
Likes: 169
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Assuming it's setup like the M111, which it probably is, there are these orings in the valve cover that compress over the holes where the plugs live. This has happened to folks with M111 engines, they pulled the valve cover and replaced the orings.
For me, I've never this problem, and perhaps that's because when I started to notice some leaks around the outside of the valves cover I tightened it.
So moral of the story is, check your valve cover, see if any of the bolts are loose.
Gently tighten them, check it frequently, and if necessary replace those farking O-rings.
For me, I've never this problem, and perhaps that's because when I started to notice some leaks around the outside of the valves cover I tightened it.
So moral of the story is, check your valve cover, see if any of the bolts are loose.
Gently tighten them, check it frequently, and if necessary replace those farking O-rings.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,263
Likes: 169
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Well curiosity got the best of me, here's a pic.
It's not exactly an oring, but here it is...
A2710160121- about $10 us each and there are 4 of them.
I used the VIN of a 2005 C230 off of ebay.
It's not exactly an oring, but here it is...
A2710160121- about $10 us each and there are 4 of them.
I used the VIN of a 2005 C230 off of ebay.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; May 1, 2014 at 04:26 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,263
Likes: 169
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Gee I hate it when I go waaay out of my way for ungrateful newbies who never bother to read, acknowledge, or provide thanks to the responses to their posts. Why do I bother? 
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; May 8, 2014 at 04:36 PM.
Trending Topics
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,067
Likes: 11
From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
Actually, I just had my vc replaced. Which at 175k, shouldn't be much of a surprise.
I'm surprised the OP hadn't lost sufficient oil to get the malfunction to come up.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: Southern California
'05 MBZ C230K and '09 MBZ C350
