SL55/63/65/R230 AMG 70MPH, Full throttle, Supercharger does not engage?

Apr 3, 2014 | 11:49 AM

scharky79

Thread Starter

Newbie

Joined: Apr 2014

Posts: 3

Likes: 0

Sl 55

70MPH, Full throttle, Supercharger does not engage?

New to the forum, and the car, I bought a 2004 SL55 (40,000 miles) back in November. In January hydraulic pump went bad and was replaced, since then all has been great. Last night I was driving on the highway doing about 65-70mph, top down, traction control was off, driving in M. The road was clear so I decided to just give it a little throttle so I could feel that comforting push into the drivers seat. Driving even in 5th gear usually pushing the throttle will ignite the exhaust and push you back in the seat, but tonight, a whole lotta nothing. A very slow gain of about 2 -3 MPH. I thought that was strange, so I down shifted into third and then stomped it. Again, a whole lot of nothin, about a gain of 3-4 mph. No beefy exhaust sound like when the supercharger engages, it felt vaguely like my days with my 350Z, stomping the gas in 4th or 5th gear and feeling a big let down. It was a feeling like either the supercharger was not engaging or the traction control was catching, but I can't imagine why. I gave it a few seconds, and tried again in 3rd gear, this time the car took off like a bat out of hell and screamed like an angry monkey, this was the car I knew and loved. Tried it a few more times in 4th and 5th gear, and the torque planted me in the seat like I had come to be use to.
My question. . . what happened? Has anyone else experienced this? I have not had any issues with power coming from a stand still or low speeds, except when traction control kicks in. I'm used to hearing the supercharger clutch chirp in first gear sometimes in second.
I'm looking forward to being a member here, and really enjoying the SL55 this summer.

Apr 3, 2014 | 12:12 PM

shardul

Former Vendor of MBWorld

iTrader: (1)

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 12,139

Likes: 295

From: Houston

2003 W211 E55, 2003 W220 S600

check your IATs you may have a failing IC pump.

Apr 3, 2014 | 12:21 PM

scharky79

Thread Starter

Newbie

Joined: Apr 2014

Posts: 3

Likes: 0

Sl 55

Thanks for your fast response, after a little bit of research it sounds like that could indeed be the issue. I'll be taking the car in soon, at least it sounds like that is a much cheaper and easier issue to fix vs the hydraulic pump failing.

Apr 3, 2014 | 12:36 PM

Benz-O-Rama

MBWorld Fanatic!

Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 8,137

Likes: 26

From: Maryland

Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon

Much easier fix than the vario roof main pump. Make sure the system is bled correctly after replacement, as air in the system will give similar symptoms as a failed IC pump.

Apr 3, 2014 | 12:42 PM

sl55_maniac

Member

Joined: Mar 2013

Posts: 93

Likes: 6

SL55 AMG

It is definitely your intercooler pump. Have it replaced with a Johnson CM-30.

Apr 3, 2014 | 12:42 PM

scharky79

Thread Starter

Newbie

Joined: Apr 2014

Posts: 3

Likes: 0

Sl 55

Awesome info, thanks to both of you. I'm thinking I may even take this project on myself. Good ol Amazon has the upgraded Bosch pump listed for $107, can't really go wrong on that.

Amazon

Apr 3, 2014 | 04:34 PM

shardul

Former Vendor of MBWorld

iTrader: (1)

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 12,139

Likes: 295

From: Houston

2003 W211 E55, 2003 W220 S600

Bosch pump with the update part number ending in 010 is the way to go. Same OEM fit no modification of harness or bracket required.
Reason the CM 30 was famous about 5 years ago is because Bosch had no revised their design on the IC pumps which let to failure about a couple of years.