K.Bridges

Hello everyone my name is Kevin and i have some-what of a brief story to tell an maybe get some input ,advice or just some feed back.I just purchased this 2006 C350 sport say about 2 weeks ago drove the car i think 2 days before all bad situations started to evolve first it was the alternator,so i got a new one put in ,than secondly i had a MAF sensor installed than a new starter .An last but not least a rebuilt transmission after being in the shop for 5 days to put the rebuilt transmission in finally got the car back drove it for one day it shuts down ,i start it up put it in drive it shuts off ,start it up put in reverse it shuts down in neutral or park it doesn't shut off .Ok so i do a diagnostic and there are no codes coming up,that's when i take it back to the mechanic that was on this past Wednesday i go back today he tell me that the engine is bad .what i would like is for someone to honestly tell me do this sound right.Is it possible to put in a transmission without knowing that the motor is bad ?Please can i get any feed back suggestion Please because so far i have put a total of $5478 into a car i payed close to $3000 for insane right ,i now i take full blame for that ,not knowing anything at all about cars and there parts i should have known better and bought a mechanic along when i purchased the car but i did not .I just need to now do it sound like there is some other alternative than putting another engine in which he is telling me in total would cost me another $3500 .


Please i need to now is there another alternative i do not think there is full honesty on this mechanic behalf .Thanks for listening.

Spooky55

While it COULD be the engine, I suspect something far simpler (and cheaper) is going on.

Maybe a fuel pump.

Did you (or the previous owner) recently replace the fuel filter? From what I understand, the OEM fuel filter incorporates the pressure regulator, which the aftermarket filters are missing. Maybe it is just clogged or water or debris in the fuel tank.

Could also be the ignition system.

I'd get another mechanic to look at it. Just like a doctor, a second opinion can't hurt - especially when you're talking about an engine (after already replacing the transmission, etc.) I'd certainly be questioning this guy's competence/motivation $$. (Did the transmission really need to be rebuilt, or just a new conductor plate?)

K.Bridges

I went back to him yesterday and he now says that its the engine .well when it comes to auto mechanics i am not very knowledgeable but if there was something going on with the engine would you put a rebuilt transmission in.and he says $3200 would cover the engine and labor.something here do not sound right .A;so i did get a knew fuel pump that was the first job that was done .I think your suggestion of a sec opinion should be followed so i am gonna try another mechanic before i pay another $3000+
Thanks for the advice

kjb55

The Crankshaft Position Sensor failure is common and is known not to set a code.

Spooky55

Doesn't the Crankshaft Position Sensor cause a failure to start when the engine is warm? I haven't read anything about it causing a shutdown once started...

Did you use an OEM fuel filter?

Benzaddict32

If I were in your shoes, I would spend the money and take it to a Mercedes dealership to have it properly diagnosed before spending thousands of dollars on things you may not need. I just hope this other shop isn’t giving you the run around.

brauhaus313

Failure to re-start after the engine shuts down from bad CPS getting hot. Not always exactly how it works though. My W210 would shut down while idling and re-start immediately and run fine if the car was moving. Others have their cars shut down while moving and refuse to restart until the engine cools down for about 20-30 mins.

K.Bridges

Yes
WHen it starts and I put it in gear drive or reverse it will shut down but it will start right back up .I tried charging the battery and it will start and drive when I put it in gear but only for maybe a block than shut off ,so I bought a new battery and that wasn't the cause either still need help

Spooky55

Maybe the transmission rebuild wasn't done so well. Something putting enough drag on the engine to stall it when in gear? Torque converter not spinning maybe? Does the engine quit when it's NOT in gear?

K.Bridges

No the engine do not quit when it's not in gear

Spooky55

Hmmm... Might be onto something then. Your "bad engine" might just be a bad transmission rebuild. It doesn't completely rule out the engine, but the fact that it only quits under load is a good data point.

Have someone else diagnose it and if I'm right, make the guy stand behind the work he already did and fix the darn transmission correctly.

What indicated that it needed a new transmission in the first place? Seems like a strange assortment of things to replace (but not completely unheard of). What were the initial problems before any work was done?

Also, check the battery. A weak one will cause really weird and random problems.

K.Bridges

Ok so i go to get my car cause i did not believe it was the motor,so he says now he belives he has solved the problem it was the intake manifold one of the flaps was closed and not getting air ,so he needed to replace the intake manifold ($575 parts and labor)so this morning he calls to say he has some bad knews it needs a knew fly wheel cause one of the ring was half broken off so he needs to pull the transmission and an deal with the flywheel .My question is shouldnt all this been recongnized when he put the rebuilt trans in .

brauhaus313

Sounds like you have an automatic with your talk in your first post about putting your car in neutral or park. Automatic transmissions don't have flywheels, they have flex plates. Could be your mechanic innocently mixed up the terms, or he could view you as an ATM and is only one step away from trying to sell you blinker fluid. High time you have the car taken to another shop that is reputable. I don't understand why you keep letting this guy replace things at hundreds if not thousands of dollars a pop.

MattCordell

The atrocious mechanic you have working on your car is as honest as a charlatan selling you both snakeoil and BS.
Report him to the cops for fraud.
Take your car on a trailer if it can't drive anymore?

Then expose this dishonest schmuck on all car forums to warn people not to bring their cars to this shop.

What's the name of the shop?
What city?

K.Bridges

Gabes automotives in San Francisco,and that was my mixup he did say Flex plate but fact still remains all this work an no fully, running car it really sucks

MattCordell

If he doesn't fix your car for free for all the money in the world you already had paid him, tell him you will hire a lawyer.
America is the land of lawsuits.
I doubt this guy will do anything right he could have messed up everything on your car and it probably won't be fixed the way it should?

Shady and dishonest mechanics are everywhere even dealerships have employees who shouldn't work on customers cars.
Name & shame is the only way to go with appalling shops and cheating mechanics!
Only way is to blacklist.

brauhaus313

Gabe's Auto in Sonoma? If so, not sure why in the world you would take your Merc there. Go to a Mercedes specialist for the right diagnostic tools and know how. You've sunk thousands of dollars worth of parts and labor into the car based on "Gabe's" guesses and crossed fingers. Well past time to stop the bleeding. You've spent almost twice as much as what you spent on the car to fix it and it's still not working. You could be in a high mileage C55 rather than a non-working C350 by now.

K.Bridges

Your very right to .Also is there any one who i can contact and report this guy to for all the over charges that i got from him an the misdiagnosis.

brauhaus313

CA Bureau of Automotive Repair? Maybe a local authority as well? Good luck.

K.Bridges

He is in San Francisco

K.Bridges

Thanks