Very odd "whumping" sound from under the dash.
#1
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C32 AMG
Very odd "whumping" sound from under the dash.
Last week, my C32 started making a "whumping" sound under the dash for the first 10 minutes after start-up. It sounds like a ventilation damper slamming shut, and it happens about every 6 seconds, and then stops after about 10 minutes or less. WHUMP.........WHUMP.......WHUMP.....
The sound reminds me of the sound one of my older cars used to make when it shut down a vent damper.
I've tried changing all the ventilation settings and it has no effect on it.
Any clues? Car goes in on Wednesday in any event.
The sound reminds me of the sound one of my older cars used to make when it shut down a vent damper.
I've tried changing all the ventilation settings and it has no effect on it.
Any clues? Car goes in on Wednesday in any event.
#2
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Originally Posted by Fifth Ring
Last week, my C32 started making a "whumping" sound under the dash for the first 10 minutes after start-up. It sounds like a ventilation damper slamming shut, and it happens about every 6 seconds, and then stops after about 10 minutes or less. WHUMP.........WHUMP.......WHUMP.....
The sound reminds me of the sound one of my older cars used to make when it shut down a vent damper.
I've tried changing all the ventilation settings and it has no effect on it.
Any clues? Car goes in on Wednesday in any event.
The sound reminds me of the sound one of my older cars used to make when it shut down a vent damper.
I've tried changing all the ventilation settings and it has no effect on it.
Any clues? Car goes in on Wednesday in any event.
#3
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2011 C63, 2004 S500, 2013 E350, 2013 Ody Elite
Funny! I just had the exact same problem last week. It sound like a vent flap once but with loud noise. The problem start on Friday morning and continued on every start up till Sunday night. I bring my car in last monday and I can't duplicate the problem and was like damn it...dealer won't fix unless you can duplicate it. I still have my vibration problem so I bring it in Monday and while they Reflash the Tranny and radiator (2nd time in 2 months) they found an error code regarding vent error code at left side of the car. Thank god I did mention the problem during the write up and SA told the tech to look at it and found some vent in side the heater box is out of sycn with the system. They have to take almost left side of the dash out to get to that vent unit and its a 6 hr job. Just ask dealer to see if they see any error code.
#6
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Hey, Fifth, what ever became of this problem? My car just started, this afternoon, making a sound that sounds like someone shooting a very large rubberband at the underside of the center of my dash (Whump or Thump sound). It happens every 6-10 seconds and has no bearing on the A/C being on or off.
#7
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C32 AMG
Hey, Fifth, what ever became of this problem? My car just started, this afternoon, making a sound that sounds like someone shooting a very large rubberband at the underside of the center of my dash (Whump or Thump sound). It happens every 6-10 seconds and has no bearing on the A/C being on or off.
Stepper motor. Fixed under warranty.
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#8
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OK, knowing that the basic CPO doesn't cover non-drivetrain items, has anyone had to pay for the stepper motor and, if so, how much was it?
I don't think I can stand the sound too much longer.
I don't think I can stand the sound too much longer.
#9
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No way you can live with that sound. It's like having a dying squirrel trapped in your dashboard. Gotta pay the piper.
#10
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#13
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I'm screwed, and not the way I would want to be.
Last edited by ScottW911; 11-29-2006 at 11:39 AM.
#14
Damn! When I got this car, I sold the concept of getting it to my wife based on the CPO covering repairs for a year. Then I found out the CPO does not cover this stuff and, of course, the stinkin stepper motor may end up costing me six bills!
I'm screwed, and not the way I would want to be.
I'm screwed, and not the way I would want to be.
#15
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Well, I dropped the car at the dealer today because one of the Advisors thinks he can get it covered under warranty. Hmmm.......I sure hope so, because he did confirm it would be about $600 if it is a "customer pay" job. Stand by...
#16
#17
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Final update for me:
I picked up my car this afternoon. The dealer did the work under warranty and cleaned and lubed the "turbo clutch" to eliminate a whining sound I was hearing while accelcerating. I am assuming they meant the S/C clutch.
Anyway, my dealer doesn't show pricing for warranty work so I am guessing from earlier conversations that it would hav been over $600 to repair the stepper motor. I was surprised how extensive a job it is to repair that motor.
I picked up my car this afternoon. The dealer did the work under warranty and cleaned and lubed the "turbo clutch" to eliminate a whining sound I was hearing while accelcerating. I am assuming they meant the S/C clutch.
Anyway, my dealer doesn't show pricing for warranty work so I am guessing from earlier conversations that it would hav been over $600 to repair the stepper motor. I was surprised how extensive a job it is to repair that motor.
#18
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Final update for me:
I picked up my car this afternoon. The dealer did the work under warranty and cleaned and lubed the "turbo clutch" to eliminate a whining sound I was hearing while accelcerating. I am assuming they meant the S/C clutch.
Anyway, my dealer doesn't show pricing for warranty work so I am guessing from earlier conversations that it would hav been over $600 to repair the stepper motor. I was surprised how extensive a job it is to repair that motor.
I picked up my car this afternoon. The dealer did the work under warranty and cleaned and lubed the "turbo clutch" to eliminate a whining sound I was hearing while accelcerating. I am assuming they meant the S/C clutch.
Anyway, my dealer doesn't show pricing for warranty work so I am guessing from earlier conversations that it would hav been over $600 to repair the stepper motor. I was surprised how extensive a job it is to repair that motor.
Lubed the turbo clutch? Did they change the blinker fluid too?
Last edited by Fifth Ring; 12-01-2006 at 07:31 PM.
#20
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ARRRRRGGGHHHHH!!!
Damn!
I'm driving my C32, this morning, for about 5 minutes when, Thump!.....Thump! from the right side of the dash. I immediately recognize the sound as the POS stepper motor linkage.
When I had this replaced at the end of '06, I thought I had been told that MB was replacing the crappy $.25 piece of plastic with an improved design. NOT!
So, now I am dealing with the ongoing pogo door lock, the creaking front bushings and, now, the thumping dashboard.
All in all, about $1800-$2000 in repairs by my estimate.
Today, I hate my car. Updates to follow.
I'm driving my C32, this morning, for about 5 minutes when, Thump!.....Thump! from the right side of the dash. I immediately recognize the sound as the POS stepper motor linkage.
When I had this replaced at the end of '06, I thought I had been told that MB was replacing the crappy $.25 piece of plastic with an improved design. NOT!
So, now I am dealing with the ongoing pogo door lock, the creaking front bushings and, now, the thumping dashboard.
All in all, about $1800-$2000 in repairs by my estimate.
Today, I hate my car. Updates to follow.
#21
Senior Member
There is a DIY on how to fix this somewhere. I have the same issue and it doesn't seem to hurt me other than being mildly annoying the first few minutes after starting the car. I just know when I researched this in the past I did find that someone did awrite up on repair. In my head I remember it being cheap but time consuming.
#22
Super Moderator Alumni
There is a DIY on how to fix this somewhere. I have the same issue and it doesn't seem to hurt me other than being mildly annoying the first few minutes after starting the car. I just know when I researched this in the past I did find that someone did awrite up on repair. In my head I remember it being cheap but time consuming.
I might be able to live with the sound, except when the airflow in directed to the wrong vents. I hate it when my A/C is blowing on my feet and not in my face.
That is the same reason I still have the pogo lock. The part is cheap. The labor is intensive.
#23
Member
Mine did this about 2 weeks after I bought it. It has since stopped, did it for about 4-5 days. I figured it was a vent door having issues opening.
I searched and could not find the DIY that was mentioned.
I have also noticed that when my A/C is on high or at least on 3/4 power or higher that you can hear the air surge, it blows cold constantly but you can hear the air blow hard for a second then go back to normal. It does this every 15-20 seconds. Not sure if this is an side effect of the stepper motor or not.
Also found out my car's A/C gets weak on a long road trip. Seems that after 2 hours it starts to die in terms of power. I can have the A/C on full and can barely feel it from the front vents(still ice cold) but from the rear vents it is blowing hard. Could this be a side effect of the stepper motor as well or am I looking in the wrong direction for this issue?
Andrew
I searched and could not find the DIY that was mentioned.
I have also noticed that when my A/C is on high or at least on 3/4 power or higher that you can hear the air surge, it blows cold constantly but you can hear the air blow hard for a second then go back to normal. It does this every 15-20 seconds. Not sure if this is an side effect of the stepper motor or not.
Also found out my car's A/C gets weak on a long road trip. Seems that after 2 hours it starts to die in terms of power. I can have the A/C on full and can barely feel it from the front vents(still ice cold) but from the rear vents it is blowing hard. Could this be a side effect of the stepper motor as well or am I looking in the wrong direction for this issue?
Andrew