Multiple Misfires and car undriveable
#1
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Multiple Misfires and car undriveable
Had an interesting day today, C63-wise. When trying to leave the house in the morning, the car started and immediately ran terribly. It was shaking, stuttering, was at the verge of stalling and the CEL came on. I turned the car around after 500 feet and limped back to my garage. Took my SLK and drove to work and had Roadside Assistance come and tow the car to the dealership.
Before I left, I read out fault codes and it was a sea of red. 'Multiple misfires', 'misfire cylinder 1', 'misfire cylinder 2', 'misfire cylinder 3', 'misfire cylinder 4' and a couple more. I texted that to my mechanic at the dealership and he then went to work. He found that the driver side cylinder bank exhaust camshaft had lost its homing position and was way off position in the camshaft adjustment. He has no idea why. He retaught the camshaft and all is well again. Just drove the car home and can confirm it is all as before. While he was at it he also checked the plugs and they are good.
This is not very confidence inspiring. They said it is a freak occurrence, which happens. May never come back. Well, I guess I will find out. Maybe a position sensor is about to crap out.
Nothing I can do than keep an eye on it. Long story short: Some hassle, no charge (warranty) and a free carwash.
Before I left, I read out fault codes and it was a sea of red. 'Multiple misfires', 'misfire cylinder 1', 'misfire cylinder 2', 'misfire cylinder 3', 'misfire cylinder 4' and a couple more. I texted that to my mechanic at the dealership and he then went to work. He found that the driver side cylinder bank exhaust camshaft had lost its homing position and was way off position in the camshaft adjustment. He has no idea why. He retaught the camshaft and all is well again. Just drove the car home and can confirm it is all as before. While he was at it he also checked the plugs and they are good.
This is not very confidence inspiring. They said it is a freak occurrence, which happens. May never come back. Well, I guess I will find out. Maybe a position sensor is about to crap out.
Nothing I can do than keep an eye on it. Long story short: Some hassle, no charge (warranty) and a free carwash.
#3
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 8,053
Received 2,827 Likes
on
1,670 Posts
2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
How does something like that happen? Weird!
#4
I've had a freak issue on mine too, and when these cars have an issue its always something bad enough to be undriveable it seems, which I guess is somewhat good since you won't cause more damage
But all I can say is thank god for warranties!
But all I can say is thank god for warranties!
#5
Senior Member
Glad to hear it was resolved. I know the feeling though, like not knowing what caused it or if it will happen again. All you can do is keep an eye and ear open, hopefully it doesn't happen again and was just a total freak occurrence.
I had something similar happen to my old m3 and it did stall out. I was afraid to drive it but when the dealer took a look, he said there was camshaft position error and it never happened again to my car for two years and then I sold it.
I had something similar happen to my old m3 and it did stall out. I was afraid to drive it but when the dealer took a look, he said there was camshaft position error and it never happened again to my car for two years and then I sold it.
#6
Had same problem and codes on cold start with a 2012. Returned to house , towed it in. All mine required was reboot (restart not a reflash). Has not recurred. If it does I will try just a reboot at home. Like you I was on my way to work, and just jumped into another car and left it sit. Hopefully it is only a cold-start issue and will not occur once we are far from home base.
#7
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Guys, good to hear this has happened to others and should not happen again.
Yes, it happened when cold. Car runs great again - have maybe 150 miles more on it.
How would I do a reboot? Do you mean disconnect the battery? Was your issue also with camshaft position or something else?
Yes, it happened when cold. Car runs great again - have maybe 150 miles more on it.
How would I do a reboot? Do you mean disconnect the battery? Was your issue also with camshaft position or something else?
Trending Topics
#10
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Did not even come up. How would a camshaft loosing position error at cold start have anything to do with exhaust, suspension, body, etc? Or even a tune?
They are reasonable and like the car.
They are reasonable and like the car.
#11
Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Boston
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2014 C63 Polar White
I think you should just be happy you have a great dealer. Some dealers won't touch a car that has any mods. I do agree with your statement but some dealers are just *****'s.
#12
Member
I had the same thing happen to me last Tuesday, except I also had fault code 1200, exhaust cam position implausible based on crank position or something like that. Dealer said it's bad gas and they're draining and cleaning it out tomorrow. I'm not sure how bad gas only causes misfires on one bank. Seems more like a sensor or solenoid failure to me, but we'll see.
#13
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
You are right, bad gas us often blamed, whether really right or not. In your case it is probably an excuse or a lets tick this off just in case kind of thing. Hope they will not charge you for it.
In my case they asked me where I had filled up last and it was my customary Shell. They also analyzed the gas and confirmed
In my case they asked me where I had filled up last and it was my customary Shell. They also analyzed the gas and confirmed