2012 ML350 Rough Cold Start
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
2012 ML350 W166
2012 ML350 Rough Cold Start
Hey everyone! Hoping someone more knowledgeable than I can help.
I recently returned from a week trip out of town and when I went to start my 2012 w166 ML350 (gasoline with 130k miles), it had a rough start and the car shook as it idled. It's never done this before. I turned the car off and immediately started it again to find it started without issue and idled smoothly.
No check engine light... Is this something I need to investigate more thoroughly? Is it worth replacing the spark plugs prophylactically (2nd owner, CPO, owned since 50k miles, unknown if they've been replaced)?
TIA
I recently returned from a week trip out of town and when I went to start my 2012 w166 ML350 (gasoline with 130k miles), it had a rough start and the car shook as it idled. It's never done this before. I turned the car off and immediately started it again to find it started without issue and idled smoothly.
No check engine light... Is this something I need to investigate more thoroughly? Is it worth replacing the spark plugs prophylactically (2nd owner, CPO, owned since 50k miles, unknown if they've been replaced)?
TIA
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,745
Likes: 811
From: The Great White North
W204 C63 Coupe, W166 ML350 BlueTEC, 928GT, Taycan GTS Sport Turismo, C5 Z06 & IS300 race cars
Hey everyone! Hoping someone more knowledgeable than I can help.
I recently returned from a week trip out of town and when I went to start my 2012 w166 ML350 (gasoline with 130k miles), it had a rough start and the car shook as it idled. It's never done this before. I turned the car off and immediately started it again to find it started without issue and idled smoothly.
No check engine light... Is this something I need to investigate more thoroughly? Is it worth replacing the spark plugs prophylactically (2nd owner, CPO, owned since 50k miles, unknown if they've been replaced)?
TIA
I recently returned from a week trip out of town and when I went to start my 2012 w166 ML350 (gasoline with 130k miles), it had a rough start and the car shook as it idled. It's never done this before. I turned the car off and immediately started it again to find it started without issue and idled smoothly.
No check engine light... Is this something I need to investigate more thoroughly? Is it worth replacing the spark plugs prophylactically (2nd owner, CPO, owned since 50k miles, unknown if they've been replaced)?
TIA
Member
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 136
Likes: 65
ML400 - 128i - Atlas VR6
Get yourself an OBD2 code reader and see if there are any stored codes in the ECU. Ignore comments of the "disastrous" variety at least until you have more data and/or have eliminated the myriad of little things that are 1000 times more likely to cause a (temporary) misfire.
Most of the time a headache is just a headache (because you may have a cold), not a result of a brain tumor which is the equivalent of what you're suggesting here. Based on what evidence exactly did you come to the conclusion that the timing chain tensioners are the likely culprit?
Most of the time a headache is just a headache (because you may have a cold), not a result of a brain tumor which is the equivalent of what you're suggesting here. Based on what evidence exactly did you come to the conclusion that the timing chain tensioners are the likely culprit?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 2,528
Likes: 2,046
From: US
2008 E350, 2012 ML350, 2014 E350, 2015 ML350
