Roman_011

Hello, I bought 2012 MB GLK350. Has 40K miles. Changed oil, spark plugs, passed smog and on the way home car died. tried starting while rolling (in neutral) nothing. no crank...
To make a long story short. I replaced a starter and a battery (per mechanics advice) still can't start. Engine would turn then dies. No codes coming up. I was told I have to replace an engine. That would cost me another $4-5K.
Please advice if had same issue. I don't know what to do.

MJ50

moved to X204 forum...

Mmr1

I'm not a mechanic but there are lots and lots of things to check before you even remotely consider a new motor. First is replace the mechanic . There should be codes to read or maybe it's a computer issue. Check if it's getting gas, and spark. Did it die abruptly? Does it attempt to fire? It could be many things , even real bad gas! Do a compression test before being sold a motor. Computer modules are cheap on eBay , new modules may have to be coded to your car at MB and end up costing 10x more than used. Does it fire up at all?

Roman_011

Engine died while I was driving on one lane street with soft curb and basically no place to pull over and stop, so while rolling with dead engine I tried multiple times to start the engine to no success.
No crank. No crank. No Check Engine. No codes.
After I replaced starter and battery it cranks but doesn't fire. Filled up with 91 Chevron.
Had two mechanics check the car and was told that chain broke. Waiting on third to call me.

rmfnla

Timing chains rarely break, especially at 40K miles. Maybe time for a M-B dealer to look at it?

Do you have any recourse with the person who sold it to you..?

Mmr1

400,000 miles?

Rocman8

Did you put oil in it? What filter did you install?

Roman_011

No sir.

Roman_011

Bought everything from MB. YES on oil.

Rocman8

What does the filter style look like this is very important.

Roman_011

Two of those. Bought them at local dealer.

Rocman8

im talking about oil filter

Roman_011

Looks like that.

Rocman8

Ok did the o rings get installed correctly so the oil is distributed properly? This is a very strange situation to just need a motor at 40k.

Roman_011

Yes sir. Like I said, I was driving and then...
Just remembered. When i pulled over and open the hood there was electrical burn scent. I thought that it was some fuses, but later mechanic told me that starter was gone.

eki912

So battery is new ? Starter works too ? Cranks ? Engine turns while you crank it ?
and you mentioned a smell ?
Could it be an electronic unit blown ? Ignition / injection module gone ?

cindyclk

I usually don't say this but it is time to go to dealership...pay for an hour labor to do the diagnosis.

bop11

If the timing chain broke, the engine wouldn't turn. I don't believe the 350 is a clearance engine. So you can probably rule that out. Sounds more like a key fob, security issue, or a bad connector to the computer. Do you hear the fuel pump run? If the car was run out of gas a few times it may have a bad fuel pump.
Check for fuel at the injector, then spark during cranking.

Mmr1

It's weird no codes, maybe computer ? You need a real MB mechanic to look at it

Hugo L.

Maybe the obvious : bad fuel pump? If the engine cranks but won't start, fuel might not be getting in it.

mjhawkins2346

You don't need to go to a dealer but you need a Mercedes trained mechanic with a Star System who can do some serious code pulling and testing. Your efforts, or rather your mechanics efforts sounds like amateur hour, frankly.
I would look on Yelp, as an example, for a local mechanic with high skills and recommendations. Anyone who says the starter is gone after it cranks should be gone themselves. If you smelled a burnt wire smell that would be revealing. You might have fried part of a wire loom that, if you're lucky can be replaced as a segment. Again, a Star System analysis can point this out quickly to an experienced mechanic. Don't accept any, "You need to replace your: timing chain, oil, engine, starter, etc. " recommendations without an in depth explanation. Too many mechanics know just enough to be dangerous and want to go bobbing for dollars under your hood. Good luck.

Roman_011

Thank you all for advises you've given.
Here's status update.
Had a few mechanics look at the engine and they tried turning flywheel with wrench. Dead. Not turning.
Had spark plugs taken out and tried again. Dead.
One of them had laptop connected to the car and that's how we found out the starter was burned, there was no signal from ignition to the starter through fuse. Dead. Fuse was good.
Based on flywheel not turning they all came to conclusion that either chain pulley malfunctioned and end up braking or bearings.
When battery is charged, I only get one chance of turning/starting the engine, and I hear metal scratching sound inside engine for a second, and I have to charge battery again.

spyked

Have you taken it to an authorized Mercedes Benz dealer? If so, which one? They can't help you with goodwill if you don't give them a chance.

Rocman8

+1
We are missing something to the story here about the history of the vehicle. This doesn't just happen.

Roman_011

OK. Had a guy with different scanner come yesterday. Not finding any codes (of course) tried turning the key. Engine cranked but after hearing the metal scratching sound he's reply was it's not the engine, it's your torque converter.
I bought that GLK of a car auction with flood certificate. Because i didn't drain transmission oil () corrosion did it's work. There was no water in engine oil when I drained it, but still I replaced spark plugs, air and oil filters including cabin filter. I don't know what I was thinking...
I'm gonna have transmission guy look at it and by the end of the week I should know final result.