Balance shaft codes @ 133k- Advice!!!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 174
From: Florida
Too many german broads
The car is starting to act weird now. At idle it'll shake, sometimes very bad and at one point the CEL was flashing. Had the codes scanned and it still only the P0016 and P0017. Is the engine on its way out?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,381
Likes: 29
E
Could be, possible engine mounts though? Does it go away at the very slightest of throttle response?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 174
From: Florida
Too many german broads
Well I thought the same as the all mounts are toast (over 70k on them) but I would feel that vibration in the steering wheel at idle. This was different as the whole car was jolting. Also, I don't think mounts would cause the CEL to flash. Not sure, maybe one of the mounts have severely failed.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,190
Likes: 1,550
From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
Probably. At some point it probably won't even start. Now would be a good time to start planning on getting rid of it.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 504
Likes: 49
W205, X253, C190, W213,
It's the sprocket and chain on the balance shaft, not a timing chain... why would it not start? I had the dreaded balance shaft issue and drove it for probably 10k miles before I had it repaired. It didn't idle smoothly and I had the CEL and commensurate codes, but that was it symptom-wise. When they pulled it out the sprocket was completely toothless.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,190
Likes: 1,550
From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
It's the sprocket and chain on the balance shaft, not a timing chain... why would it not start? I had the dreaded balance shaft issue and drove it for probably 10k miles before I had it repaired. It didn't idle smoothly and I had the CEL and commensurate codes, but that was it symptom-wise. When they pulled it out the sprocket was completely toothless.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 174
From: Florida
Too many german broads
I saw my old w211 on FB marketplace with 170k+, the CEL was still on, so assuming the balance shaft was never addressed, it is STILL running. stunned to see it still going. I miss my w211!
Last edited by OnlyGerman; Apr 29, 2021 at 08:47 AM.
