HELP - Cyl 1 low compression / Head Gasket Job??
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 185
From: Chicago
E63 SL55 996TT C5Z06
HELP - Cyl 1 low compression / Head Gasket Job??
I posted to an existing thread on head gasket issues but also wanted to post my own. I have a cylinder 1 misfire and CEL that's causing rough idle and significant power loss, but car is driveable to about 50-60mph.
My favorite shop has the car and did compression test on all cylinders and confirmed that #1 is not holding pressure properly. They also put the "camera" or whatever it's called into the spark plug holes and checked those out and the walls all looked ok and they didn't find any external fluids (oil or coolant) anywhere.
I'm having them open the head which means a pretty hefty repair bill to see if it's "just" a head gasket replacement or possible bent rod.
My C32 is a 2003 but the date stamped on the driver side door is Nov 2002 so am not factoring out that mine could be one of those that has the camshaft issue.
My question is - if this is the camshaft issue, is the total repair job entail replacing the camshaft and head gasket or is there more to it?????
really really would appreciate any feedback for those who ran into this issue which isn NOT very common from the minimal infor if found or from what I've read on these boards.
My favorite shop has the car and did compression test on all cylinders and confirmed that #1 is not holding pressure properly. They also put the "camera" or whatever it's called into the spark plug holes and checked those out and the walls all looked ok and they didn't find any external fluids (oil or coolant) anywhere.
I'm having them open the head which means a pretty hefty repair bill to see if it's "just" a head gasket replacement or possible bent rod.
My C32 is a 2003 but the date stamped on the driver side door is Nov 2002 so am not factoring out that mine could be one of those that has the camshaft issue.
My question is - if this is the camshaft issue, is the total repair job entail replacing the camshaft and head gasket or is there more to it?????
really really would appreciate any feedback for those who ran into this issue which isn NOT very common from the minimal infor if found or from what I've read on these boards.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 27
From: North NJ
2002 C32 AMG, 2013 GLK 350/4, 2015 E63S AMG Wagon
When I had the cams issue, I also had to replace an exhaust valve that was bent. I'm away from home now and cannot check your cam part numbers using your VIN and EPC. Find someone with EPC and have them check. The old cams part numbers are listed as "do not install any more" or something like that. How much off from the normal was the compression test readings?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 185
From: Chicago
E63 SL55 996TT C5Z06
When I had the cams issue, I also had to replace an exhaust valve that was bent. I'm away from home now and cannot check your cam part numbers using your VIN and EPC. Find someone with EPC and have them check. The old cams part numbers are listed as "do not install any more" or something like that. How much off from the normal was the compression test readings?
so speedriven has the car. their cylinder 1 compression was around 130 and said the other cylinders were about 168-170 (assume that is PSI or??).
this issue started about 3 months with slight vibration and then last week it finally got bad after 2 hour road trip when the CEL came on and power loss. i did the ECU reset and could drive somewhat normal 50-60 mph but the vibration was really bad and ODBII had confirmed Cyl misfire code.
am assuming this EPC online version is similar to the EPC you mentioned?
https://epc.startekinfo.com/epc/
looks like its 75 bux for annual subscription so i may just dothat since i dont know anyone with EPC to run my vin and see if mine was one of the bad camshaft cars.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 27
From: North NJ
2002 C32 AMG, 2013 GLK 350/4, 2015 E63S AMG Wagon
Lenin - hey man. appreciate the input! saw your thread on this topic which was very helpful.
so speedriven has the car. their cylinder 1 compression was around 130 and said the other cylinders were about 168-170 (assume that is PSI or??).
this issue started about 3 months with slight vibration and then last week it finally got bad after 2 hour road trip when the CEL came on and power loss. i did the ECU reset and could drive somewhat normal 50-60 mph but the vibration was really bad and ODBII had confirmed Cyl misfire code.
am assuming this EPC online version is similar to the EPC you mentioned?
https://epc.startekinfo.com/epc/
looks like its 75 bux for annual subscription so i may just dothat since i dont know anyone with EPC to run my vin and see if mine was one of the bad camshaft cars.
so speedriven has the car. their cylinder 1 compression was around 130 and said the other cylinders were about 168-170 (assume that is PSI or??).
this issue started about 3 months with slight vibration and then last week it finally got bad after 2 hour road trip when the CEL came on and power loss. i did the ECU reset and could drive somewhat normal 50-60 mph but the vibration was really bad and ODBII had confirmed Cyl misfire code.
am assuming this EPC online version is similar to the EPC you mentioned?
https://epc.startekinfo.com/epc/
looks like its 75 bux for annual subscription so i may just dothat since i dont know anyone with EPC to run my vin and see if mine was one of the bad camshaft cars.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 185
From: Chicago
E63 SL55 996TT C5Z06
Lenin - hey man. appreciate the input! saw your thread on this topic which was very helpful.
so speedriven has the car. their cylinder 1 compression was around 130 and said the other cylinders were about 168-170 (assume that is PSI or??).
this issue started about 3 months with slight vibration and then last week it finally got bad after 2 hour road trip when the CEL came on and power loss. i did the ECU reset and could drive somewhat normal 50-60 mph but the vibration was really bad and ODBII had confirmed Cyl misfire code.
am assuming this EPC online version is similar to the EPC you mentioned?
https://epc.startekinfo.com/epc/
looks like its 75 bux for annual subscription so i may just dothat since i dont know anyone with EPC to run my vin and see if mine was one of the bad camshaft cars.
so speedriven has the car. their cylinder 1 compression was around 130 and said the other cylinders were about 168-170 (assume that is PSI or??).
this issue started about 3 months with slight vibration and then last week it finally got bad after 2 hour road trip when the CEL came on and power loss. i did the ECU reset and could drive somewhat normal 50-60 mph but the vibration was really bad and ODBII had confirmed Cyl misfire code.
am assuming this EPC online version is similar to the EPC you mentioned?
https://epc.startekinfo.com/epc/
looks like its 75 bux for annual subscription so i may just dothat since i dont know anyone with EPC to run my vin and see if mine was one of the bad camshaft cars.
i'll let Marcin know to look for that. we'll see where it goes from there
( thanks as always for your input - tremendously appreciated my friend!!
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
GLE350
Maintenance or Repair?
Just learned I need the cylinder head replaced on my 2020 GLE350, $9000. Has MB made any changes to their design so the replacement head lasts longer than the old one? If not, head replacement becomes a part of normal maintenance.
