CLK-Class (W209) 2003 on: CLK 270 CDI, CLK 200K, CLK 200 CGI, CLK 240, CLK 320, CLK 350, CLK 500, CLK 550 [Coupes & Cabriolets]

CLK550 Engine Shaking/Stalling

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Feb 14, 2019 | 10:39 PM
  #1  
Sabadara's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, Illinois
2007 CLK550
Unhappy CLK550 Engine Shaking/Stalling

Hi guys. On my 2007 CLK550 the engine keeps shaking when coming to a stop sometimes. If I stop aggressively, it even stalls on occasion. When it's idling, the rpm sits steady at first, then drops and jumps up quickly, then goes back to normal, and over again.
I cleaned the MAF sensor and the throttle body but did not make a difference.
It does burn quite a bit of oil, but I don't think that has anything to do with it. The oil change did not make any difference either.
What do you guys think might be happening?
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2019 | 12:04 AM
  #2  
Fatz's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 61
From: Atlanta Metro
2008 clk550 - Navigator - Frontier
Some things you can check/try...
Ensure the engine cover is properly seated over the MAF housing
Check for any loose/disconnected vacuum lines
Check of have your battery checked
Use a bottle of Techron fuel system cleaner

I've had those symptoms with defective spark plug coils and ECU, but those issues also gave a CEL.
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2019 | 01:48 AM
  #3  
Sabadara's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, Illinois
2007 CLK550
Thanks for your reply.

I'm sure the engine cover is on properly, and the battery has been replaced. I will check the vacuum lines and try Techron but I think the problem is similar to yours.
Even when I first bought the car, it would randomly start misfiring, and it would go away with turning the engine off and starting it again. Shortly after the CEL came on, so I took the car to a workshop and there appeared to be a problem with cylinder 2. We also found that coils on 1st and 2nd cylinders had been numbered and switched. It seemed like the previous owner had been dealing with some problem with coils, but switching them back actually turned off the CEL. The car stopped misfiring for a few months but it came back, so I decided to change all the spark plugs and also the coils on 1st and 2nd cylinders. After a few months, misfiring again. Now I went around all the cylinders with a new coil until I found the one causing the misfire. It's been like that since then, and I've had no problems with misfiring, but not it shakes and stalls.
How did you find out which spark plug coils were defective, and how can I check if my ECU is not causing this problem?

Last edited by Sabadara; Feb 15, 2019 at 01:52 AM.
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2019 | 11:03 AM
  #4  
Fatz's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 61
From: Atlanta Metro
2008 clk550 - Navigator - Frontier
My problems had originated from a catastrophic radiator failure and the resulting coolant everywhere and the resulting overheating. After replacing the radiator, the car started to intermittently misfire. It seemed to be temperature related. The CEL indicated shorts and opens in a couple coils intermittently. I replaced the wiring harness and 2 coils due to the direct failure of the radiator. Coolant got into the wiring and also caused a short in the #5 coil connector.

I could drive the car 400 miles without any problem, park it, restart it after 15 min and it would misfire. After changing the wiring and coils I started getting CEL indicating insufficient current for coil 5. It took me a couple of tries but finally got this ECU repair place (I would not recommend them) to check the firing logic circuitry since it seemed to me that 2 coils were apparently drawing current at the same time. I had them replace 2 logic ICs since the ECU is tuned and I did not want them re-flashing it.

If while it is misfiring you spray (mist) some water on the ECU and the problem readily goes away, it could be the ECU. In my case, when the car is moving there would be sufficient airflow under the hood to keep the ECU cool enough. When I parked, the heat from the engine and no air flowing would cause the ECU to act up. If there is a poor connection on the ECU, it could act up with temperature changes hot to cold or vice versa.

There was another thread on an intermittently failing ECU where the OP did several steps to isolate the ECU and he found a really good ECU repair resource on EBAY.
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2019 | 01:21 AM
  #5  
Kelvin Bellrose's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 295
Likes: 24
From: Edmonton Area
2007 CLK550 Coupe, 2003 CL600, 2012
I have the same sort of thing with my 07CLK550. When driving it runs smooth, but when coming to a stop it will get weird and want to stall and act a little surgy. It hasn't actually stalled yet, but seems to be getting worse. I don't drive it much because I've got the C class for the winter.
I am not getting any cel or codes of any kind. It is not misfiring, but seems like a rhythmic anomaly. Someone had a video of a 550 doing the same thing, and listening at the intake it makes a different sound for a half a second and then back to normal almost like a gurgle of some kind. Maybe it's the sound of the throttle plates opening as it counters the dip in rpm.
I've read a lot about this, and people change the pcv and maf, map, and the problem seems to come back.
Can someone explain the idle circuit, and does it have an idle pintle?
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2019 | 10:15 AM
  #6  
Rudeney's Avatar
MBworld Guru
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,782
Likes: 1,011
NO LONGER ACTIVE
Make sure the engine cover is securely seated on the opening to the MAF sensor and that all vacuum lines are in good condition.
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2019 | 12:24 PM
  #7  
Kelvin Bellrose's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 295
Likes: 24
From: Edmonton Area
2007 CLK550 Coupe, 2003 CL600, 2012
There is a vacuum line that goes to the intake manifold right in the middle, but there is some kind of plastic cover on it. I have pulled pretty hard and it does not want to come off. My fingers get all black from the hose, so I am sure it's rotten. Is there a trick to unhooking the line? I don't want to bust off the connector accidentally.
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2019 | 02:25 PM
  #8  
Rudeney's Avatar
MBworld Guru
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,782
Likes: 1,011
NO LONGER ACTIVE
Can you take a photo?
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

New Mercedes-AMG SUVs Arrive With NEW V8 Engine: 12 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Oddball Mercedes Ideas That Actually Made it to Production

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Dubai Tuner Gives the Mercedes G-Class An Entirely New Look

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish

 
story-4

7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Feb 18, 2019 | 05:20 PM
  #9  
Kelvin Bellrose's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 295
Likes: 24
From: Edmonton Area
2007 CLK550 Coupe, 2003 CL600, 2012
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2019 | 10:55 PM
  #10  
Rudeney's Avatar
MBworld Guru
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,782
Likes: 1,011
NO LONGER ACTIVE
Where thee white arrow points? I believe that is an electrical wire under a plastic cover.
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:09 PM.

story-0
New Mercedes-AMG SUVs Arrive With NEW V8 Engine: 12 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-AMG's updated GLE 63 S and GLS 63 bring a new-generation V8, subtle design revisions, and familiar supercar-rivaling performance figures.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-17 12:52:51


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Oddball Mercedes Ideas That Actually Made it to Production

Slideshow: Mercedes has never been afraid to experiment, and some of its strangest ideas turned out to be surprisingly successful.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-2
Dubai Tuner Gives the Mercedes G-Class An Entirely New Look

Sideshow: A Middle Eastern tuner has transformed the Mercedes-AMG G 63 into an open-top special, replacing nearly every exterior panel in the process.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 15:29:50


VIEW MORE
story-3
Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish

Slideshow: Six gift ideas your AMG loving dad or grad will cherish.

By | 2026-06-03 17:26:18


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built

Slideshow: Sometimes AMG builds fast sedans. Other times, it builds twin-turbo V12 land missiles and six-wheeled off-road monsters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 17:59:58


VIEW MORE
story-5
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-AMG's new electric GT 4-Door Coupe trades combustion for software, synthetic noise, and more than 1,100 horsepower.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 20:08:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-7
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE