Apox

So I just got a C32 AMG, and it tends to lose power sometimes when I accelerate at speeds above 50 MPH, it barely moves, then if I just drive slow it will be fast as a bullet again a few minutes later if I try to kickdown, and it switches back and forth like this every 2-3 minutes.

After doing a few searches I suspect the intercooler pump, but even if it isn't, should I trust an indie mechanic with this? Don't wanna pay a dealership like $1000 to replace it with the same crap that's in there from before.

Oh, and I've driven like this for about 500 miles now, I hope it doesn't make matters worse. Wanna fix it asap, but sadly I couldn't be without the car this weekend.

jturkel

sounds like the IC pump. don't go to the stealership. if you aren't mechanically inclined or lack the tools, bring it to an indie shop and get the pump replaced. it is a really easy job (for them) and there is no way they would screw this up (probably shouldn't even take them more than an hr)

i'm not sure what you read in your searches, but many people replace the faulty OEM pump with an aftermarket one that has a longer life and is less prone to failure (though ultimately, they will all fail and have to get replaced). I don't recall what the OEM Bosch one costs, but IIRC, the ones that some of the guys have been putting on their cars were somewhere in the 140-180 range (if prices have shot up, my bad....i haven't needed to do this yet and dont remember lol).

Apox

Did some basic work on my previous car, but I lack tools, and have no knowledge of the MB engine bay so far.
I'll try an independent mechanic then, but seeing as the local ones aren't usually too fond of you bringing your own parts, I'll just try to make sure they order the correct ones instead.

Thanks for the quick reply

320 dreamer

2 clamps 1 bolt and some solder for the plug, antifreeze. you could buy the tools cheaper than an hours labor at a shop. look inside the pass fenderwell door to the left theres the pump

Lenin

You should fix it ASAP before you do damage to the intercooler core. But like others said, there is no need to take it to the dealer. You can get an OEM replacement from Rob at http://www.needswings.com/Bosch-Inte...schICpump.aspx for a direct replacement to simplify your DYI or get a Johnson CM30 pump.

Apox

Today when I took it for a spin, it didn't give almost any power at any speeds. Had a hard time acellerating from a stop. Hope it's hasn't developed into something serious like the transmission or that I need a new IC and/or supercharger. ****ing 2 days old car. This is exaclty my luck, last time I bought a car the power steering went out on the drive home.

Lenin

You may want to invest in something like this for some basic data logging
http://cgi.ebay.com/CARCHIP-PRO-CAR-...item3f054f3826
and monitor the relationship between the IAT and MAP readings to see if its your pump or not. I may also be as simple as a fuse that runs the pump.

jturkel

+1

SYZYGY

don't fret. this is exactly what happened to me after i bought my car, it was even doing it on the test drive. I changed out the pump and it fixed the issues. the car runs solid now.

Apox

Allright that's a bit comforting to hear. I know it's a common problem, just didn't expect it to happen on the drive home

Good thing it's a cheap fix and not some $4000-5000 transmission replacement.

320 dreamer

rev the engine to 2000 rpm then stick your hand inside the pass fenderwell door and feel the pump. if its vibrating its working if not the pump is dead and needs to be replaced

Apox

Took it for a spin right now, and everything is fine again, weird that it's so on and off. Have an appointment with the mechanic tomorrow though, wanna have this checked out asap.

c32used

+1

Autotechnica

The S/C clutch doesn't disengage till IAT's hit 92 degrees celcius. If it stays below that, the S/C will work and you will have proper power. Although, the IAT's climb very fast if the I/C pump is completely dead. Perhaps your I/C pump is almost dead or running very poorly. My I/C pump was dead during my test drive as well. I told the previous owner to drop the value of the car as I knew what was wrong and would fix it myself. While the pump was dead, I would get 5 seconds or so of WOT and full power till the S/C cut out. I never realized how critial the I/C pump was. There are a few people here who have proper functioning pumps that still have the S/C cut out on a track when the IAT's get too high. The cooling on these cars is not adequate. The s/c simply cannot function without water cooling. Anyways, the clamps are a huge biatch to get off, but once you have that part done, everything else is a sinch.

I got a Johnson CM30 for $175 shipped from ebay. You will have to play around with the brackets and resolder the plug off the CM30 as it's not completely plug and play. Took me just over an hour to do this, main problem being the inner spring clamp.

Bry

Apox

Left the car at my local mechanic to have him look at it, but ofc he couldn't reproduce the problem (since it only happens now and then). So they didn't charge me anything, and I'm still left with a car that suddenly loses all power. I'm out of ideas.

jturkel

take him out on a drive. drive hard on the car....get the temps up and it should shut off. if you are unable to replicate, i'd still tell him to replace it anyway lol.

c32used

Have him check fuse for intercooler pump it may be that the SC turns off cause the fuse for the intercooler pump is blown thus SC cuts off due to over-heating cause the pump won't turn on thus the SC safety switches it off...I had this issue once and I thought it was the pump but after replacing it it happened again and the fabulous techs at Eurocharged Chicago found the issue

c32used

I don't recall exact location but I want to say it's in trunk fuse box

Apox

Allright, I'll tell them next time. The mechanic probably just used his computer to check for codes (even though I told him I suspected the pump), and since the car don't throw any codes for this stuff, he couldn't find out what's wrong. I think I'll get a new mechanic

c32used

It's not his fault this can elude any mechanics mind to fix...it's forums like this that help even other MB mechanics out....there is alot of info just do a search on inter-cooler pump.