link146

Happy Sunday fellas:

This morning (pouring rain, about 45-50F) I cold-started my car, drove about two hundreds yards to the end of my street and thought the car was not running as usual. I turned onto the main road and punched it and quickly realized the SC was not humming. I punched it a few times and thought to myself that I am glad i didn't buy a C320. After a half mile I pulled over, turned the car off and then restarted and everything was fine. I drove around, ran errands, shut the car off and on a number of times during the course of the day and the issue never resurfaced.

Has anyone experienced this type of isolated SC failure? I have read stories of intermittent SC engage-disengagement, etc., and know about SC pump failure. Any suggestions? Is there a simple way to troubleshoot the SC, pump, etc.?

Thanks

BTW - 02 C32 w/ 27k.

320 dreamer

its the pump. the easiest way to diagnose the pump is the next time it shuts down reach inside the door in the pass fenderwell and feel the pump it should be running . if not its toast.
btw the c320 runs much better than a c32 without the s/c!!

jturkel

sounds like an i/c pump thing.....though its odd it would kick on so soon after a cold start. you'll usually notice it goes bad when the IATs rise after the car has been on for a bit.

link146

Thanks for the feedback. That is exactly what I was thinking. I thought it was strange I had no SC on a cold start then drove .5 mi, stopped, restarted and everything was fine. I was wondering if it may have been a one time phenomenon??

So where is the IC pump located? Are we talking inside the passenger's side wheel well area or inside the engine bay?

320 dreamer

my i/c pump was an electrical failure. the windings in the pump were burnt so contacts were being broken. pump would fail hot or cold
pump is under the fenderwell panel on pass side

W203Ramos

passenger wheel well. did mine about 1-2 mos ago. 2hr job. most probably the ic pump like everyone is saying.

loudandheard

I replaced my pump and did a coolant flush, now I get worse gas mileage, lol.

influx

Read somewhere on here before that it could be the fuse too. Check that first before you go and blow 200 bucks.

link146

fuse would cause intermittent failure? anyone know the fuse #?

influx

Fuse #4 or 5 in the rear SAM is it I believe. The kickpanel should say when you take it off.

Beaker

This happened with me.. it would usually drop out after the IAT got too high after a few minutes of driving. But everytime no matter what, even if the car had only been off 10 seconds and I turned the car on the s/c would be engaged, if only for a minute.

Replaced my I/C pump and the S/C hasn't skipped a beat.

Zeppelin

I guess I am the only one that would disagree with that problem being a intercooler pump. Starting a car up in 40 degree weather and driving it for 200 yards would not be long enough for a IC pump to be a problem. If it were 100 degree temps I don't think the intercooler water would be hot enough to shut down the SC after only 200 yards.

I would think that it might be some intermittent sensor or SC clutch issue if it reset itself after turning the car off then on.

320 dreamer

the s/c kicks in at 1300 rpm and the pumps comes on at 2000 rpm and stays on until the engine is shut down. if the ecu senses a problem with the pump, ie a electrical surge it will shut down the s./c as a precaution
just as an example within 1/4 mile the temps can go from 40*C to 80*C with a normal acceleration. s/c heats up very quickly