Need some help
07-07-2005, 07:34 AM
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2011 VW cc, 2004 ML350
Need some help
OK, this is my first post, but I've been around for a few days reading alot of your writings and learning quite a bit. I found this place seeking a little troubleshooting advice on my '01 ml430. I got a load of wet gas the day after a pretty nasty strom last week. Had a bunch of codes spit out. Basically I had random misfires all over the place, and it was running like butt. Got all that crap out, ran some gas drier stuff and injection cleaner, and filled her up with good fresh premium. Ran a lot better, but still a misfire cylinder 1. OK, my diagnostic lobe goes into effect, check plugs. Plugs not bad, but I gave them a good cleaning. No change. Check wires, both are right about 2.2kOhms, seems OK. Re-install carefully, no change. Check coil, I swapped the #1 and #2 coils. Cylinder #1 now fires like Trump, miss moves to #2. Just to make sure, I move them back, miss goes to #1 again. Each time I do any of these tests, I make sure and erase codes, test drive, get new codes, and repeat. Again just to make sure. So I figure the coil originally at #1 is no good. Order new coil, $100. Install, and it still misses on #1. Arghh! I'm leaving for work soon, and I'll be spending my lunch hour today repeating my tests, cleaning plugs, swapping coils, etc. When I get home, I hope to find a bucket of accumulated knowledge and wisdom here to give me new directions if my efforts are fruitless. Of course, I may be reporting success, in which case I will be exceedingly happy. Any and all ideas and suggestions are welcomed and encouraged. I'll test and examine everything on which I can get my hands under the hood. I don't want to have to go to the stealership and admit defeat. They'll probably replace all the coils, plugs, and wires and charge me $2000. And my luck that won't fix it! Thanks in advance for your time and mental energy on this subject.
Paul Danner
Paul Danner
Last edited by PaulX608; 07-07-2005 at 07:36 AM.
07-07-2005, 10:34 PM
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2011 VW cc, 2004 ML350
Originally Posted by ML God
Change the 2 wires for the faulty cylinder. They go bad all the time and sometimes it wont show up on a ohm check
Did a lot of thinking though, and realised two things. #1- Just because a plug wire tests at 2kOhms at meter voltage does not mean it will do so at coil voltage. #2- When I swapped coils 1 and 2, I took the wires with them. Now I'll get the wires, and I'll have a spare coil! Wish I had a spare $100, lol. Would it do to get a pair of knock off wires to replace those two, or should I take the crow bar to the pocket leather and get a set of OEM wires? Best price I've seen is about $230. Maybe you guys prefer another brand that might be less costly? Again, I really appreciate the prompt response. Didn't expect a new member would get such respect, thanks.Paul
07-08-2005, 12:44 AM
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2011 VW cc, 2004 ML350
Originally Posted by ML God
Buy OEM but you dont need to replace all of them. Only the cylinder that is misfiring
OK, cool. I'll need to check the letters for #1. Memory says I need a 'G' and an 'L', but I'll double check b4 ordering. Thanks again for all the help!
