Does this sound like it might be head gasket?
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Does this sound like it might be head gasket?
Got a call from my dad yesterday evening saying that they'd just loaded up his '01 (I think) E430 to go away for the weekened, but when he tried to back it out the garage, it wouldn't start. He hadn't driven it for a week and he thought one of the interior lights had been left on, so he asked if I could go over and charge up the battery.
I went over this morning and disconnected the -ve lead and connected up the charger and left it to charge. I've just been back now and managed to get it to start (it turned very slowly and then sparked), but noticed that quite a lot of smoke was coming from the left hand exhaust (tail) pipe. It seemed to be idling roughly like it was missing too. I let it idle for a few more seconds to see if it was just damp or something, but the smoke was getting worse so I switched it off.
When I tried to turn it over again, the engine did not turn, but there was a whirring sound coming from the engine which I presume is probably the starter motor, does it have some sort of clutch to stop it burning out if the engine is seized?
Does it sound like one of the cylinders might be full of water? Dipstick is clean but there was a very slight mayonnaisey type film on the bottom of the oil filler cap. Also, a small puddle had formed underneath the left hand exhaust pipe too.
Anyone know if this is a common problem or any way to diagnose? Presumably if it is head gasket related, we're talking a fair few $$$ to get it fixed at an MB garage, especially if it's bent valves, conrods etc.
Sorry for all the questions, especially cheeky as it's my first time posting!
Any info gratefully appreciated
Thanks
James
I went over this morning and disconnected the -ve lead and connected up the charger and left it to charge. I've just been back now and managed to get it to start (it turned very slowly and then sparked), but noticed that quite a lot of smoke was coming from the left hand exhaust (tail) pipe. It seemed to be idling roughly like it was missing too. I let it idle for a few more seconds to see if it was just damp or something, but the smoke was getting worse so I switched it off.
When I tried to turn it over again, the engine did not turn, but there was a whirring sound coming from the engine which I presume is probably the starter motor, does it have some sort of clutch to stop it burning out if the engine is seized?
Does it sound like one of the cylinders might be full of water? Dipstick is clean but there was a very slight mayonnaisey type film on the bottom of the oil filler cap. Also, a small puddle had formed underneath the left hand exhaust pipe too.
Anyone know if this is a common problem or any way to diagnose? Presumably if it is head gasket related, we're talking a fair few $$$ to get it fixed at an MB garage, especially if it's bent valves, conrods etc.
Sorry for all the questions, especially cheeky as it's my first time posting!
Any info gratefully appreciated
Thanks
James
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Bellevue, NE
1995 E320 SE, 162,000 Miles (Sold) 2007 CLK350 Cabriolet 2014 ML550
Did the puddle evaporate like water or was it like coolant? Typically I've read that a bad head gasket manifests itself as an oil leak, at least on the M104. I would have let it run longer and see if you could rev the engine to get it smoothed out. Also, smell the exhaust and see if it smells like maple syrup. I'm thinking if the head gasket is blown your dad would have noticed when he last drove it. There should not be any valve train damage from a head gasket. It shouldn't hurt to let it run for a bit as long as it doesn't overheat.
If the battery was run down slowly you will need to slow-charge it for a day or so. It may not recover.
The starter is not that smart, I think. It should engage and crank every time if the battery is fully charged.
Good luck!
If the battery was run down slowly you will need to slow-charge it for a day or so. It may not recover.
The starter is not that smart, I think. It should engage and crank every time if the battery is fully charged.
Good luck!
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Thanks for the reply.
In the end, my cousin who is a Honda technician came and took a look and managed to get the car going with jump leads. We then took it for a drive but it wasn't running smoothly until we'd driven about 5 miles. After getting back, we shut it off and checked all the levels and they all seemed OK. When I then tried to start it, to get it back in the garage, the damn thing wouldn't crank. At this point we concluded that the battery was finished and my dad took it in the following day to get a new one fitted.
While he was there, he mentioned the other symptoms so the dealer did a pressure test on the block, which thankfully came back all clear. I'm wondering if it was all just a bit of damp where he doesn't drive the car too much. Also gave him an opportunity to have a blast at the dealer for not clearing up the overflowed brake fluid on the reservoir which I think probably happened when they wound the piston back in the caliper during the pad change.
In the end, my cousin who is a Honda technician came and took a look and managed to get the car going with jump leads. We then took it for a drive but it wasn't running smoothly until we'd driven about 5 miles. After getting back, we shut it off and checked all the levels and they all seemed OK. When I then tried to start it, to get it back in the garage, the damn thing wouldn't crank. At this point we concluded that the battery was finished and my dad took it in the following day to get a new one fitted.
While he was there, he mentioned the other symptoms so the dealer did a pressure test on the block, which thankfully came back all clear. I'm wondering if it was all just a bit of damp where he doesn't drive the car too much. Also gave him an opportunity to have a blast at the dealer for not clearing up the overflowed brake fluid on the reservoir which I think probably happened when they wound the piston back in the caliper during the pad change.
