HORRIBLE SCREECHING SOUND FROM...?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Nagoya, Japan
'15 C200 AMG line, '08 C300 Sport Avantgarde, '07 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd, '02 CLK 200 (gone)
HORRIBLE SCREECHING SOUND FROM...?
Unbelievable...
I was driving home this afternoon after picking up the kiddies, going through a slow area with lots of stop signs. At one of the stops, I heard a horrible sound. I looked behind me and remarked to the kiddies, "Oh my gosh! That guy behind us has some SERIOUS problems with his car!" It sounded like back in the day when if you turned the key to start with the engine running you'd hear that loud, grinding, screech from the starter, but LOUDER!
At the next stop sign, the eco stop kicked in and the sound stopped. A few seconds later it was my turn to go and when the engine started back up, so did the screech. Then I saw a construction guy looking at me like I was some kind of monster. The faster I went, the higher the pitch went. I suddenly thought, "There's no way that sound is coming from my new Benz (1914kms)."
It was.
I stopped to figure out what the ... was going on. Looked under the car, in the wheel wells, at the exhaust, and didn't see a thing. I got in the car and revved the engine (in park), but the sound was gone. I tried it in reverse, drive, a few times, but it didn't come back. The sound from the engine seems to be slightly louder, though. It's not as smooth and quiet as it always was.
I have an appointment tomorrow with the dealer, but would appreciate any ideas... (I have never heard anything so terrifying! I thought the guy behind me was going to drop his engine in the middle of the road. But it wasn't him. IT WAS ME!!)
I was driving home this afternoon after picking up the kiddies, going through a slow area with lots of stop signs. At one of the stops, I heard a horrible sound. I looked behind me and remarked to the kiddies, "Oh my gosh! That guy behind us has some SERIOUS problems with his car!" It sounded like back in the day when if you turned the key to start with the engine running you'd hear that loud, grinding, screech from the starter, but LOUDER!
At the next stop sign, the eco stop kicked in and the sound stopped. A few seconds later it was my turn to go and when the engine started back up, so did the screech. Then I saw a construction guy looking at me like I was some kind of monster. The faster I went, the higher the pitch went. I suddenly thought, "There's no way that sound is coming from my new Benz (1914kms)."
It was.
I stopped to figure out what the ... was going on. Looked under the car, in the wheel wells, at the exhaust, and didn't see a thing. I got in the car and revved the engine (in park), but the sound was gone. I tried it in reverse, drive, a few times, but it didn't come back. The sound from the engine seems to be slightly louder, though. It's not as smooth and quiet as it always was.
I have an appointment tomorrow with the dealer, but would appreciate any ideas... (I have never heard anything so terrifying! I thought the guy behind me was going to drop his engine in the middle of the road. But it wasn't him. IT WAS ME!!)
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Nagoya, Japan
'15 C200 AMG line, '08 C300 Sport Avantgarde, '07 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd, '02 CLK 200 (gone)
Thanks, but perhaps my description wasn't optimal.
It sounded as if someone was holding an empty aluminum can against the alternator fan. It changed speed directly related to engine RPMs. I've heard loose belts plenty of times and this was different. It was very much a metallic grinding sound.
It sounded as if someone was holding an empty aluminum can against the alternator fan. It changed speed directly related to engine RPMs. I've heard loose belts plenty of times and this was different. It was very much a metallic grinding sound.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,524
Likes: 1,181
From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
Thanks, but perhaps my description wasn't optimal.
It sounded as if someone was holding an empty aluminum can against the alternator fan. It changed speed directly related to engine RPMs. I've heard loose belts plenty of times and this was different. It was very much a metallic grinding sound.
It sounded as if someone was holding an empty aluminum can against the alternator fan. It changed speed directly related to engine RPMs. I've heard loose belts plenty of times and this was different. It was very much a metallic grinding sound.
Pump? The rpm dependence thing makes me still think of something driven by the belt or a busted turbo 
..... let us know. Unlike the guy with the check engine light your problem is one I wouldn't even run the engine never mind the car. Sounds like a tow ride to the dealer is in order.
Last edited by c4004matic; Sep 1, 2015 at 07:19 PM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Nagoya, Japan
'15 C200 AMG line, '08 C300 Sport Avantgarde, '07 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd, '02 CLK 200 (gone)
Well, I drove her home (about 15 minutes) and plan to drive the 15 minutes to the dealer this morning...
Wish me luck.
Btw, I was thinking turbo, too, but this being my first car with turbo, don't know what to listen for.
Wish me luck.
Btw, I was thinking turbo, too, but this being my first car with turbo, don't know what to listen for.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Nagoya, Japan
'15 C200 AMG line, '08 C300 Sport Avantgarde, '07 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd, '02 CLK 200 (gone)
I forgot to mention...
There was no error message at any time. Hopefully the dealer will be able to find one.
There was no error message at any time. Hopefully the dealer will be able to find one.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,524
Likes: 1,181
From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Nagoya, Japan
'15 C200 AMG line, '08 C300 Sport Avantgarde, '07 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd, '02 CLK 200 (gone)
Yes. That's how I feel.
Of course, I'm at the dealer now and they can't find anything wrong...
Of course, I'm at the dealer now and they can't find anything wrong...
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
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Nagoya, Japan
'15 C200 AMG line, '08 C300 Sport Avantgarde, '07 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd, '02 CLK 200 (gone)
Yes. That's how I feel.
Of course, the dealer couldn't find anything wrong...
I am, of course, kicking myself because I had the audio turned off on my car cam. I can clearly see where/when it happened but can't hear anything.
Of course, the dealer couldn't find anything wrong...
I am, of course, kicking myself because I had the audio turned off on my car cam. I can clearly see where/when it happened but can't hear anything.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,524
Likes: 1,181
From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
Mechanics are getting worse all the time.
Hopefully it was nothing serious. Maybe a stuck foreign object that made its way out by itself.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Nagoya, Japan
'15 C200 AMG line, '08 C300 Sport Avantgarde, '07 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd, '02 CLK 200 (gone)
Anyway, she's driving fine now. Hopefully it will remain a mysterious anomaly. If not, I'll have video WITH audio evidence.
Appreciate your support, c4404matic.
