C36 Power loss, bogged down
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
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From: Humboldt County, CA
1995 C36 AMG
C36 Power loss, bogged down
Went on a long drive the other day. After an hour of driving it felt as if the car had lost some power. It was obvious when I needed to climb a hill. Car felt like engine was shaking at lower RPMs, felt better and smoother once it got to higher RPMs. Engine temps were normal. No smoke of any kind.
When I made it to a gas station it felt as if it would bog down and die but it kept running, albeit struggling. The engine was noticeably shaking. I shut the engine off, checked the oil, filled with gas, and started her up.
Everything went back to normal!?!
On the drive back home it continued to drive ok until I stepped on it to pass someone, car downshifted, RPM's went up, passed the guy no problem, and then the problem reappeared!! Before I reached the freeway I pulled over, turned off the car, and waited a few minutes trying to figure out what I'm gonna do if I end up stranded in the middle of nowhere. 5 minutes later I started the car back up and the problem was gone...AGAIN?!?!?
Anybody have any idea what the problem could be?? Gonna call the mechanic in the morning, but wanted to know if anyone has ever experienced something like this.
When I made it to a gas station it felt as if it would bog down and die but it kept running, albeit struggling. The engine was noticeably shaking. I shut the engine off, checked the oil, filled with gas, and started her up.
Everything went back to normal!?!
On the drive back home it continued to drive ok until I stepped on it to pass someone, car downshifted, RPM's went up, passed the guy no problem, and then the problem reappeared!! Before I reached the freeway I pulled over, turned off the car, and waited a few minutes trying to figure out what I'm gonna do if I end up stranded in the middle of nowhere. 5 minutes later I started the car back up and the problem was gone...AGAIN?!?!?
Anybody have any idea what the problem could be?? Gonna call the mechanic in the morning, but wanted to know if anyone has ever experienced something like this.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6
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From: Rocklin, CA
1995 C36
I had a similar problem in my 95 C36 a couple of years ago. The car would intermitently run rough after going up a hill or other extra load situations.
And also it would clear back to normal after engine restart. When the computer senses a misfire it will shut off the fuel injector on the misfiring cylinder. But it then clears and continues fuel delivery on the next restart when the cylinder is not misfiring.
In my case it was a ignition coil and I replaced the ignition wires also. After a couple of weeks the intermitent issue became perminent and the engine codes pointed to which 2 cylinders were misfiring.
And also it would clear back to normal after engine restart. When the computer senses a misfire it will shut off the fuel injector on the misfiring cylinder. But it then clears and continues fuel delivery on the next restart when the cylinder is not misfiring.
In my case it was a ignition coil and I replaced the ignition wires also. After a couple of weeks the intermitent issue became perminent and the engine codes pointed to which 2 cylinders were misfiring.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 31
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From: Humboldt County, CA
1995 C36 AMG
Thanks.
Mechanic confirmed confirmed by phone that generally the air mass sensor is the culprit. He also confirmed that this could lead to the misfiring, which would do exactly what was said above. This car had the Sensor replaced less than 2 years and 10k miles ago, but I guess we still can't rule it out.
I'm taking it in on Thursday. I'll post back any findings. Thanks!!
Mechanic confirmed confirmed by phone that generally the air mass sensor is the culprit. He also confirmed that this could lead to the misfiring, which would do exactly what was said above. This car had the Sensor replaced less than 2 years and 10k miles ago, but I guess we still can't rule it out.
I'm taking it in on Thursday. I'll post back any findings. Thanks!!
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 56
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From: Da Bay area
1997 c36 ///AMG
yea it is your mass air sensor and that makes your coils go out and could also fry your 02 sensors. Trust me my sensor fried all of my coils the car was just laggin and suffocating like hell huge power loss on mine. But when I changed everything the car drove faster than ever. I highly recommend the mass sensor change and if ur coils and ignition wires were never changed you should definitely change it 
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
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From: Humboldt County, CA
1995 C36 AMG
Thanks! I see the air mass sensor from Mercedes is like $500 and the Bosch one on AutohausAZ costs about $180. Any reason why I shouldn't just get the Bosch one? Also, what do Coils cost in general? Is that DIY? Thanks again
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
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From: Humboldt County, CA
1995 C36 AMG
^^ Looks like spam to me.
Anyway. Mechanic thinks the MAS is functioning properly. The misfires are random and I believe he was getting strange readings from the O2 sensors, which leads him to believe that the cats may be restricted. He had mentioned all of these possible issues prior to looking at the car. As you may have seen my other thread on cats, it's not an easy task finding cats in CA. Factory cat is $1400, but because of some great info from MarcusF I have found a CA compliant manufacturer that has cats for my car at 250 each.
Anyway. Mechanic thinks the MAS is functioning properly. The misfires are random and I believe he was getting strange readings from the O2 sensors, which leads him to believe that the cats may be restricted. He had mentioned all of these possible issues prior to looking at the car. As you may have seen my other thread on cats, it's not an easy task finding cats in CA. Factory cat is $1400, but because of some great info from MarcusF I have found a CA compliant manufacturer that has cats for my car at 250 each.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 31
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From: Humboldt County, CA
1995 C36 AMG
Less than 0.5 lbs. of back pressure = No restriction = Cats ok
Or so I thought. The concern wasn't necessarily a clogged or restricted cat, but rather that the cats were not functioning properly. Oulet temp should generally be 100 degrees hotter than inlet, and in this case was almost the opposite. About 75 degrees cooler at the outlet.
Or so I thought. The concern wasn't necessarily a clogged or restricted cat, but rather that the cats were not functioning properly. Oulet temp should generally be 100 degrees hotter than inlet, and in this case was almost the opposite. About 75 degrees cooler at the outlet.
Last edited by viejo1221; Oct 6, 2009 at 12:34 PM.
