Inconsistent failures
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Newbie
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 2
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2013 C250
Low RPM shakes
What would you do?
Background: Have 2013 C250 with 71k miles, bought with 30k from a California dealer and was certified for a couple of years.
Had its scheduled maintenance with the same dealer for the first year then another dealer up state after. In California, mostly cities, driven on long distant trips (600ish miles) several times a year, otherwise short trips around town.
Issue: When the engine is cold and I start it the car shakes a little. The shaking doesn't have a rhythm, the beginning idle bounces around but settles fine. I won't really notice until revving it, between idle and almost 2000 RPM it shakes a little, if driving the car will jerk slightly. Once its warmed up it runs smoother. It seems to run great higher than 2k RPM. I notice the jerk when in stop and go traffic, and I can feel when it isn't responding to my gently pedal push, so if I quickly stop pressing it won't jerk, then I press again, this reduced my jerking
Its very minor though, like the ppl in the car next to us wouldn't be able to tell. The issue started when the car had around 48k miles, it now has almost 72k miles and the behavior is the same, no worse, no better. The last troubleshooters said there is sediment in the fuel tank. I am about to remove the Fuel Pump and check the tank myself but I live in an apartment and would like some input from others before I do this. I have driven the car a couple of times after the issue started to below the low fuel gauge level, I heard the car relies on a quarter tank of fuel for cooling so I don't do this normally. Its had plenty of fuel cleaner additives to the fuel over the miles since the problem started.
Maintenance history:
March 2017 the engine light lit. It kept coming on the same day after picking it up from the repair shop...
March 20, at 48k miles took to the closest dealer and found code #P000277, quantity control valve malfunction, the command position cannot be reached. Low pressure fine, High pressure not, so they replaced the Fuel Pump assembly. Says it got a new high pressure pump. (Covered under warranty)
March 30, 2017 at 48.3k miles, dealer reported misfires in Cylinders 2,3,4, found no fault counters when checked. They ended up replacing all the spark plugs. (Covered under warranty)
April 19 at 48.7k miles , dealer found ingnition system is good, fuel injector balance found flow uneven. Removed the Fuel Pump and found sediment/contamination in fuel tank, They wanted to replace fuel pump, filter, lines from tank to high pressure pump for 10,000 dollars. I said no thanks.
October 26 at 53k miles took to the dealer for new tires (covered), found multiple misfire codes, they said the same recommendation for $10k.
December 2018 at 65k miles had it serviced by local shop, he replaced the spark plugs #3 ignition coil. Did oil change service.
Had it serviced at the same local shop since.
Background: Have 2013 C250 with 71k miles, bought with 30k from a California dealer and was certified for a couple of years.
Had its scheduled maintenance with the same dealer for the first year then another dealer up state after. In California, mostly cities, driven on long distant trips (600ish miles) several times a year, otherwise short trips around town.
Issue: When the engine is cold and I start it the car shakes a little. The shaking doesn't have a rhythm, the beginning idle bounces around but settles fine. I won't really notice until revving it, between idle and almost 2000 RPM it shakes a little, if driving the car will jerk slightly. Once its warmed up it runs smoother. It seems to run great higher than 2k RPM. I notice the jerk when in stop and go traffic, and I can feel when it isn't responding to my gently pedal push, so if I quickly stop pressing it won't jerk, then I press again, this reduced my jerking
Its very minor though, like the ppl in the car next to us wouldn't be able to tell. The issue started when the car had around 48k miles, it now has almost 72k miles and the behavior is the same, no worse, no better. The last troubleshooters said there is sediment in the fuel tank. I am about to remove the Fuel Pump and check the tank myself but I live in an apartment and would like some input from others before I do this. I have driven the car a couple of times after the issue started to below the low fuel gauge level, I heard the car relies on a quarter tank of fuel for cooling so I don't do this normally. Its had plenty of fuel cleaner additives to the fuel over the miles since the problem started.Maintenance history:
March 2017 the engine light lit. It kept coming on the same day after picking it up from the repair shop...
March 20, at 48k miles took to the closest dealer and found code #P000277, quantity control valve malfunction, the command position cannot be reached. Low pressure fine, High pressure not, so they replaced the Fuel Pump assembly. Says it got a new high pressure pump. (Covered under warranty)
March 30, 2017 at 48.3k miles, dealer reported misfires in Cylinders 2,3,4, found no fault counters when checked. They ended up replacing all the spark plugs. (Covered under warranty)
April 19 at 48.7k miles , dealer found ingnition system is good, fuel injector balance found flow uneven. Removed the Fuel Pump and found sediment/contamination in fuel tank, They wanted to replace fuel pump, filter, lines from tank to high pressure pump for 10,000 dollars. I said no thanks.
October 26 at 53k miles took to the dealer for new tires (covered), found multiple misfire codes, they said the same recommendation for $10k.
December 2018 at 65k miles had it serviced by local shop, he replaced the spark plugs #3 ignition coil. Did oil change service.
Had it serviced at the same local shop since.
Last edited by drduke1; Jul 13, 2019 at 12:35 PM. Reason: New title
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 38
Likes: 3
From: Dayton, OH
2013 C250 Sport
I have the same problem with mine, it's worse in the morning and barely noticeable after that. I had pooled oil in my spark plug wells and had the valve cover gasket changed along with the plugs but the issue persisted. I was going to try replacing the ignition coils but haven't gotten around to it yet.
