Hello,

Can't seem to find an answer if it's OK to drive 4,000km with a bad intake manifold before repairing it. We're towing a trailer. We're on a family road trip and there's not a real solution that's being offered to us right now. Engine does struggle from time to time, but sometimes it works like a flaw. Check engine is lit. Is there a short term solution (cleaning, etc) that doesn't involve letting the car in the garage for a few days?

Second car, second time this issue occurs. SAME issue. Can't believe there's not a recall for this plastic garbage crap.

Thanks for your help.

Edit : ML350 '15 (Bluetec)

 

And your ML is a ?

 

ML350 Bluetec 2015 130K Km

 

UP

 

curious as I have same vehicle/approx same kms... What exactly is 'bad' on your intake manifold? Any pics?

 

I am guessing and along with everyone else. But I believe he is talking about the Intake Manifold Swirl Flap and Swirl Flap motor. This is a common failure.

Intake with Swirl Flap: https://www.idparts.com/intake-manif...7-p-10178.html
Swirl Flap Motor: https://www.idparts.com/intake-swirl...0-p-10248.html
IDParts Video:

 

So far I don't know, but I suspect it the plastic flaps that are stuck due to carbonation. Won't know till I open it up which is in 2 weeks.

 

@MayThe1ntake I believe if you disconnect the flap motor to prevent it from actuating and manually prop the flaps open and ignore the CEL, you will be able to drive for the next couple of weeks.

 

What are the risks of doing such thing? Also, does it involve removing any parts?

 

Same thing happened to me. My tuner help me disconnected the swirls flap motor, and tuned it. The flap are spring loaded, so if you can find a way to manually open it, and disconnected it, it should work

 

Could it cause adblue over consumption? Put 2.5 gal 1500km ago and now I've had a message pop up saying I have 10 starts remaining.

 

That just your ad blue system acting up. Get a tuner and turn off all those ad blue bs and open up the swirl flap permanently, you will be good to go

 

How does one find a Tuner? Do I just google Tuner MB ML 350 for that specifically? Or my garage can do that as well?

 

Contact Sam@ECU program in calgary 403) 457-3650

I believe he can do remotely tune.

 

He can only send the OBD 2 controller so that I can tune it myself. Unfortunately, while being on the road, this is difficult. If it can help diagnose the problem, the car also stopped itself twice at a red light. The engine just shut off.

 

It ended up being the mass air flow sensor code.

 

When was last time you clean it ?

 

I don't recall, it's my dad's car. The problem with the mass air flow sensor code was that when we went for a fuel filter change, the guys at Calgary Downtown MB Service FORGOT TO PLUS IT BACK IN!?! How DUMB can they ****ing be...