mastamind

Hello, I have a 1998 ML320, with a little over 100,000 miles on it. Previously, about 2 months ago, I was driving on the highway, and my car sputtered, and topped out at about 75 miles an hour. At that same point, the RPM's shot into the red, and the car started to just coast. I pulled off to the side of the road, and tried to turn the car off and let it sit. I had it happen once before that and when I turned the car off and on, it worked fine. This time though, I turned it on, and the car was just shaking rapidly. I tried to see if I could go forward, I seemed to be stuck in 1st gear, or Limp Mode, as I have heard before. So, I couldn't get it to go above 30, so I had it towed to a dealership. They narrowed it down to some belt in the front, plus they had me fix a transmission leak and such which totalled up till $700. They said they never could recreate my problem and that this was an experimental fix. I payed it and got my car back within a week. Once I got it back, I put about 80 miles on it, then it happened again. This time, I waited till the next day to see if it would be fine the next day like it happened last time with the dealership. I started it up, drove for 10 seconds, and the car just died. It seemed like pushing on the gas did nothing. So I got it towed back to the dealer, they spent so they say 15 hours trying to flush out the problem and say it's my Catalytic Converter on the left bank. They say it's a gurantee, but they have had my car for a month now, and say the part is in such high demand that they have no idea when they will get it. I was wondering, with the problem I described, would a catalytic converter be the problem? They said when they disconnected the exhaust, the car ran fine. But I don't want to spend $1000 on something like this. I have no trust in them to be quite honest, and I just get the feel that they are toying with me.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks alot,

Rob Shaw

Chedman13

It probably is your catalytic converter. The Catalytic Converter is a recall, that means it's free. (T-49_002 MAR 98) that is the referrence. And yes, they are in very low stock of the catalytic converter, they are not lying about that. They should be able to order it easily though. You might need the new updated fuel pumps and lines. Check "The list of stuff to watch out for on a 163" posting. It's on the top as a sticky.

Don't forget the other free recalls, power steering hose and clamp replacement, harmonic balancer replacement, possibly seatbelts.

If they don't replace your cat conv for free, make sure you call MB headquarters and they will straighten things out. Then after that is fixed, never go there again. Find another dealer to rip you off=)

mastamind

When you say the MB headquarters, do you mean the 800 number?

Chedman13

I found this on the internet:
"OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372"

Hope that helps.

Chedman13

let me know how things go, I'm taking my car in next week to have the cat converted replaced. Last time I talked to them it was free, but who knows.

mastamind

I just called up another dealer that had me on file from home, and they stated that fore some reason, my car is not affected by that recall. Somehting about no open campaigns. So it looks like I am out of luck.

studiomusic

Same here. I have the Harmonic Balancer recall, but when I asked about the cats (which are starting to rattle ALOT), they said no open campaigns for that.
I have a 98 ml320.

JW1

I seem to be having the same issue with my truck. I am the third owner, just bought it 3 months ago. 87K miles. Does anyone know the range of VIN#s covered under the Catalytic converter recall? Any help is appreciated.