good performance..... then bad again.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 8
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From: alabama
2002 c230k coupe. silver with black cloth interior. No mods.
good performance..... then bad again.
This is a really long thread so please bear with me.
I recently replaced my upstream o2 sensor in my 2002 c230 kompressor coupe. I had a code pop up that said this was the problem, along with a map sensor and mass air flow sensor code. I had replaced my map sensor and my mass air flow sensor already so i know they weren't bad. I figured a bad o2 sensor was causing all this so i replaced it also.
Now, the symptoms i was having was hesitation when first accelerating after a cold start and poor power and performance, almost like something was choking it. The first two days after i replaced my o2 sensor it hesitated once but none after that. I was so happy. Then after two days the performance went way down and it started hesitating again.
Codes popped up saying mass air flow and map sensor again! Mass air flow code is current code and map sensor code says pending, whatever that means. The exact problems I am having are these: Poor acceleration and slow 0-60 speeds. Also when i press the gas after stopping at a stop sign there's hesitation and a slight jerking followed by a surge of power when the gas finally kicks in. overall it just feels like my car can't breathe well!
I'm thinking it's a vacuum leak or a bad catalytic converter.
If anyone has any advice or helpful information regarding these problems i'm having i would greatly appreciate it!
Also, on a side note, i only replaced my upstream o2 sensor and not the downstream o2 sensor, i don't think it's a problem but i thought i should mention it anyway. Thanks.
I recently replaced my upstream o2 sensor in my 2002 c230 kompressor coupe. I had a code pop up that said this was the problem, along with a map sensor and mass air flow sensor code. I had replaced my map sensor and my mass air flow sensor already so i know they weren't bad. I figured a bad o2 sensor was causing all this so i replaced it also. Now, the symptoms i was having was hesitation when first accelerating after a cold start and poor power and performance, almost like something was choking it. The first two days after i replaced my o2 sensor it hesitated once but none after that. I was so happy
. Then after two days the performance went way down and it started hesitating again.Codes popped up saying mass air flow and map sensor again! Mass air flow code is current code and map sensor code says pending, whatever that means. The exact problems I am having are these: Poor acceleration and slow 0-60 speeds. Also when i press the gas after stopping at a stop sign there's hesitation and a slight jerking followed by a surge of power when the gas finally kicks in. overall it just feels like my car can't breathe well!
I'm thinking it's a vacuum leak or a bad catalytic converter.If anyone has any advice or helpful information regarding these problems i'm having i would greatly appreciate it!
Also, on a side note, i only replaced my upstream o2 sensor and not the downstream o2 sensor, i don't think it's a problem but i thought i should mention it anyway. Thanks.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 262
Likes: 34
From: Houston, TX
'05 S430, '05 S600
OK, welcome to the forum. First, just know that most of us on here are willing to help you but we need as much information as you can give us. What is the current mileage of your car? You mention that you pulled OBD-II codes but not the codes themselves so please post those for us. It is good that you are giving some background info as to what you have changed already...that helps.
Anyways, I'm not an expert on your engine as I believe you have the M111 engine and I have the M271 but I would search on here and read as much as I can about all the threads people have posted on your engine on here. Trust me, you are not the first one experiencing this on your model year car. If you dig deep enough you will find a thread of someone with similar issues as you're now having and they eventually resolved the issue.
I don't know if you just purchased the car recently of if you've had it for a while but depending on mileage/age of the car I would start with making sure all recalls or "campaigns" for your car have been performed (Call the dealer and give them your VIN and as if there are any open campaigns on it) then go through the basics, new spark plugs and or wires if applicable, new OEM air filter, you already replaced the MAF and MAP sensors (hopefully with OEM ones), new fuel filter, new oil change with OEM oil filter and approved oil. There's always more you can do and I know it sounds like a lot but if you just recently acquired the car and you don't know the history on it, you can't trust that the previous owner or the dealer you got it from did things right so it is up to you to bring the car back up to speed. Good luck!
Anyways, I'm not an expert on your engine as I believe you have the M111 engine and I have the M271 but I would search on here and read as much as I can about all the threads people have posted on your engine on here. Trust me, you are not the first one experiencing this on your model year car. If you dig deep enough you will find a thread of someone with similar issues as you're now having and they eventually resolved the issue.
I don't know if you just purchased the car recently of if you've had it for a while but depending on mileage/age of the car I would start with making sure all recalls or "campaigns" for your car have been performed (Call the dealer and give them your VIN and as if there are any open campaigns on it) then go through the basics, new spark plugs and or wires if applicable, new OEM air filter, you already replaced the MAF and MAP sensors (hopefully with OEM ones), new fuel filter, new oil change with OEM oil filter and approved oil. There's always more you can do and I know it sounds like a lot but if you just recently acquired the car and you don't know the history on it, you can't trust that the previous owner or the dealer you got it from did things right so it is up to you to bring the car back up to speed. Good luck!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,556
Likes: 15
From: Canada
07 E63 + 07 CLK63CAB
Welcome, first off the 02 sensor is only active when the temp of the car reaches close to normal operating temp, until then it is in closed loop and the sensor control nothing. I would look into a leak in or near the airbox which would allow unmetered air into the engine, cracked air tube from the airbox to the throttle body also should be looked at.
Condition of the spark plugs, gap, or have they been replaced recently, are they the proper heat range. Any whistle noises indicating a vacuum leak, try spraying some intake cleaner or brake cleaner around the various fittings on the intake to see if there is a RPM change, indicating also a vacuum leak.
Had you got previous codes for the mass flow and map, have you verified good electrical connections on both of these, try putting the old ones back in to see if there is indeed a difference, possibly wrong sensors installed (aftermarket)??
Keep us informed on any success, thanks
Good Luck with your efforts. Happy New Year
Condition of the spark plugs, gap, or have they been replaced recently, are they the proper heat range. Any whistle noises indicating a vacuum leak, try spraying some intake cleaner or brake cleaner around the various fittings on the intake to see if there is a RPM change, indicating also a vacuum leak.
Had you got previous codes for the mass flow and map, have you verified good electrical connections on both of these, try putting the old ones back in to see if there is indeed a difference, possibly wrong sensors installed (aftermarket)??
Keep us informed on any success, thanks
Good Luck with your efforts. Happy New Year
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 8
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From: alabama
2002 c230k coupe. silver with black cloth interior. No mods.
more info
Yes my kompressor has the 2.3 liter 4 cylinder 111 engine. it has 175,000 miles on it as well. The codes are p0101 and p0172.
The mass air flow sensor I bought online from buyautoparts.com, it is their brand and it's made in China.
The map sensor is a Bosch and the upstream o2 sensor is a Bosch as well. the two codes i mentioned(p0101 and p0172) have popped up before.
Here's something else interesting. My check engine light came on shortly before i bought my oxygen sensor. I was going to get an oxygen sensor anyway because I thought it would be good to have a new one. But this time the o2 sensor 1 bank 1 code actually popped up,( what # code it was i don't remember) along with the p0101 mass air flow code.
Anyway, I installed the oxygen sensor and drove it around some that night to break it in. The next morning, i take it to work and break out the diagnostic machine to clear the codes, and along with the 02 sensor 1 bank 1 code and the p0101 mass air flow sensor code there is two new codes! the MAP sensor code and the p0172 too rich code.( Correction: I incorrectly labeled the MAP sensor code as p0172, that's the code for the fuel too rich, i forget what the MAP sensor code was, sorry!
)
I know all this is pretty complicated and hopefully i'm not being too confusing! thanks for the help!
( and yes the advice about checking for leaks around the airbox is helpful, i will try it, thanks!)
The mass air flow sensor I bought online from buyautoparts.com, it is their brand and it's made in China.
The map sensor is a Bosch and the upstream o2 sensor is a Bosch as well. the two codes i mentioned(p0101 and p0172) have popped up before.Here's something else interesting. My check engine light came on shortly before i bought my oxygen sensor. I was going to get an oxygen sensor anyway because I thought it would be good to have a new one. But this time the o2 sensor 1 bank 1 code actually popped up,( what # code it was i don't remember) along with the p0101 mass air flow code.
Anyway, I installed the oxygen sensor and drove it around some that night to break it in. The next morning, i take it to work and break out the diagnostic machine to clear the codes, and along with the 02 sensor 1 bank 1 code and the p0101 mass air flow sensor code there is two new codes!
the MAP sensor code and the p0172 too rich code.( Correction: I incorrectly labeled the MAP sensor code as p0172, that's the code for the fuel too rich, i forget what the MAP sensor code was, sorry!) I know all this is pretty complicated and hopefully i'm not being too confusing! thanks for the help!
( and yes the advice about checking for leaks around the airbox is helpful, i will try it, thanks!)
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 8
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From: alabama
2002 c230k coupe. silver with black cloth interior. No mods.
more stuff
oh yeah i bought the car about a month and a half ago from a local dealer, i had a complete inspection done before i bought it. The problems it had when i bought it were rear sway bar links, yaw rate acceleration sensor, and the panarama sunroof doesn't work.
i got new sway bar links and the sensor replaced as well as complete oil change spark plugs and fuel filter and air filters. this was all done by a mechanic specializing in Mercedes. the MAP sensor, o2 sensor, and mass air flow sensor i installed myself.
i got new sway bar links and the sensor replaced as well as complete oil change spark plugs and fuel filter and air filters. this was all done by a mechanic specializing in Mercedes. the MAP sensor, o2 sensor, and mass air flow sensor i installed myself.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,556
Likes: 15
From: Canada
07 E63 + 07 CLK63CAB
Personally I would reinstall the mass flow sensor (original) cancel all codes immediately and then see if there is any more codes pop up, you have change a few items with little or no effect on the issue. Are the plugs in good shape, have you pulled one to see the colour of the tip and the gap??. Over rich code could be from a faulty fuel injector or perhaps worn plugs or plugged air filter- I know you have prob checked the filter, just sayin! Is it possible you have the mass air in backwards?? Did you verify the correct plug- pin arrangement from the original and the (new) unit.
Sorry just re read your prev statement about the plugs however it would not hurt to pull the plugs and check the colour, are they the right plugs for the engine etc.
Sorry just re read your prev statement about the plugs however it would not hurt to pull the plugs and check the colour, are they the right plugs for the engine etc.
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Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 262
Likes: 34
From: Houston, TX
'05 S430, '05 S600
Sorry... had to clarify....
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 262
Likes: 34
From: Houston, TX
'05 S430, '05 S600
+1 on the MAF, This is probably one of the most sensitive sensors directly responsible for engine performance and proper idle. I would not trust the "China MAF" Just give the old one a good cleaning with CRC spray and put it back on... your problem is elsewhere....probably a vacuum leak. Whereas I would be ok with getting a Bosch fuel filter, when it comes to parts like the MAF I would cough up the MB money for it.
Also, at 175K miles you may also have other things affecting performance like dirty injectors, deposits on valves, etc. Good job on replacing the fuel filter, it would also be a good idea to buy a couple of bottles of Techron concentrate plus and pour them into your next two full tanks of fuel. A leaky injector could very well be responsible for that P0172 code and the Techron could eliminate that. Good luck!
Also, at 175K miles you may also have other things affecting performance like dirty injectors, deposits on valves, etc. Good job on replacing the fuel filter, it would also be a good idea to buy a couple of bottles of Techron concentrate plus and pour them into your next two full tanks of fuel. A leaky injector could very well be responsible for that P0172 code and the Techron could eliminate that. Good luck!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,556
Likes: 15
From: Canada
07 E63 + 07 CLK63CAB
Thank you for the clarification, always good to see someone is watching.
I am of the mind if there are two ways to do it I always seem go the educating way, meaning I always learn from doing it the wrong way first.
Happy New Year
I am of the mind if there are two ways to do it I always seem go the educating way, meaning I always learn from doing it the wrong way first.
Happy New Year
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: alabama
2002 c230k coupe. silver with black cloth interior. No mods.
update!
thanks for all the great info people! just got my car checked out today and turns out it was a vacuum leak! a hose by the engine was just hanging loose
i feel so dumb for not noticing it. but yeah i also put a couple of bottles of techron through it. one was a fuel system cleaner ttreatment and another was a injector cleaner. i think they both helped.
i feel so dumb for not noticing it. but yeah i also put a couple of bottles of techron through it. one was a fuel system cleaner ttreatment and another was a injector cleaner. i think they both helped.
