When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Another issue with my E55. A few weeks ago after starting a car I've noticed a strange noise, kind of like grinding or screeching (not sure how to describe it) coming from the front of the car. It happens occasionally, not with every start. Also noticed that it happenes when engine is already warm. This week, after driving a short distance, enough to get the engine to the fully operational temperature, car set for about an hour before I started it again. This time when I started the car, the noise happened following by a white smoke coming from under the hood on the drivers side. I have killed the car and popped the hood. There was a burned electrical smell. Removed plastic fuse cover in hopes to find the source of smoke. No luck! Came back an hour later for a closer look, in hopes that another person could listen under the hood as I crank the car a few times. Nothing! No noise, no smoke, no smell. No lights on the dash. Scanner didn't show anything. Although, I don't really know which module to look at.
Forward two days–no problems. Every time I star the car, I listen intently for the noise. Nothing from a cold start. But when I started the car again on a fully warm engine, I've heard the noise followed by electrical burning smell, but no smoke. Thankfully, drive home was less than a mile. Parked, looked under the hood for any spills of fluids, wet spots, melted wires... Nothing! I will mention that the car does have a slow oil leak what seems to be from the oil drain plug.
Scanned the forums for any information that could point to the causes, but no luck.
Any of you experience anything like this? Suggestions, beside going to the dealer.
Thank you.
No codes would indicate it may not be something on the can-bus. Screeching + burned smell — just guessing, but maybe the serpentine belt turning against a pulley that doesn’t want to move. Power steering pump? Alternator? Water pump? Air pump (if it has one). Was the one time white smoke water vapor and the water pump doesn’t like to turn when warm?
I agree with Odd Piggy above...
Sounds like one of the pulleys is seizing up.
Look for black belt dust under the hood for confirmation.
Next time it happens, turn off car and remove serpentine belt and restart with belt removed to see if noise is gone. (Obviously only run the car beltless for a couple seconds)
Check all pulleys as suggested above as well as the idler, tensioner, and A/C compressor.
Thank you for chiming in fellas.
In regards to a serpentine belt and pulleys. They have been replaced last year. Not to say something couldn't be out of place though. I'll have to take a closer look.
What makes diagnosing the issue problematic is that it only happens for a split second and then the noise is gone and doesn't repeat itself until who knows when.
Two 2005 E320 CDI, 2004 E500 Wagon, 2007 ML63 4MATIC
One place you can look is the harmonic balancer pully. I replaced it on my e500 at 163K miles. No noticeable noise, but the pully wobbled due to the rubber isolation layer failing.
One place you can look is the harmonic balancer pully. I replaced it on my e500 at 163K miles. No noticeable noise, but the pully wobbled due to the rubber isolation layer failing.
I’ve had the harmonic balancer pulley go bad on one of my old cars before and it will sound like 2 squeaky boots rubbing together once removed and tested by hand, at engine speed it will sound like a screech but occasionally go away. The vibration and age will slowly separate the inner rubber part of that pulley and spin slightly out of balance with the rubber rubbing against each other, at times they can catch up and become silent. If that is the issue you want to fix it soon as possible
Last edited by BetterDaze; Aug 8, 2023 at 06:58 PM.
Perhaps getting good lighting and taking a few pictures of the front of the engine, and close up of the front of the harmonic balancer (crankshaft pulley). With current cameras, zooming may show any cracks in the rubber.
Its the starter. Im almost 100% certain. Common symptoms of a bad starter. Starts fine when cold, starter gets hot from engine running and you get the noise/burning smell/smoke on attempted restart. The brushes in the starter are shot. Im willing to bet the smoke just happened to appear to be from the drivers side.
Its the starter. Im almost 100% certain. Common symptoms of a bad starter. ...
Im willing to bet the smoke just happened to appear to be from the drivers side.
You are correct about the smoke being on the driver's side.
I'll look into it! Thank you.
Perhaps getting good lighting and taking a few pictures of the front of the engine, and close up of the front of the harmonic balancer (crankshaft pulley). With current cameras, zooming may show any cracks in the rubber.
Sorry for the delay. Took some pictures to see if there is any oil. Couldn't find any that I could see. Camera had a hard time focusing. As of late, have not had any noice.
Update: 2 weeks without any noices. Today temperature outside was 105°f, plus whatever heat from the engine bay added to it. Actually had a chance to get a short video of the problem with help from my mom. Although she got spooked by the smoke.
By the looks of it, mp4 video format is not supported. So I've attached a couple of screenshots.
First picture has arrows pointing to the area where the smoke/mist comes from. I say mist because when it happens, it is almost like a shot of NOS. Which leads me to believe that whatever is the cause it is under pressure.
In the picture above you can see steam/smoke coming from under the coolant reservoir area (top left corner of the picture).
Hoping this might give someone an idea of what might be the cause of this.
Unfortunately, never seen the layout around the E55, but on the E350 I have moved the coolant reservoir on the side, and look at the wire connections under it. On the W212, and W166 there are a few connections on that side of the car. For W212 and W166 there is definitely a ground post, and I would not be surprised some minor coolant is leaking a tiny bit and wetting some connection.
I really need someone to Help me Navigate getting Someone from MBZ USA!
Please! I cannot even get the GM to return my calls! I have been invisible to MY Local Mercedes Benz
Dealership!
Last edited by lovemy#3MBZ; Jan 9, 2024 at 02:20 PM.
On my CLS55, the EVAP solenoid is in that area. It connects with a hardpipe next to the coolant reservoir and into another hardpipe into the back of the supercharger. Below that area, there is the Secondary Air Injection (SAI) pump and close to that the Airmatic compressor. Did you drive into some major puddles or so lately?
I really need someone to Help me Navigate getting Someone from MBZ USA!
Please! I cannot even get the GM to return my calls! I have been invisible to MY Local Mercedes Benz
Dealership!
On my CLS55, the EVAP solenoid is in that area. It connects with a hardpipe next to the coolant reservoir and into another hardpipe into the back of the supercharger. Below that area, there is the Secondary Air Injection (SAI) pump and close to that the Airmatic compressor. Did you drive into some major puddles or so lately?
Thank you for your input. I still haven't experienced it since my original post.
To answer your question, no major puddles.
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.
