MYSTERY! my engine just went BOOM while cranking (pics attached)
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
W210 E55
MYSTERY! my engine just went BOOM while cranking (pics attached)
ok, here's one for you engineering sherlock holmes on here...
my car is a W210 E55, but they told me on the 210 forums that there's tons of knowledgeable guys on here, so i hope y'all will forgive me for asking my question here.
sequence of events:
1. last drove my car ('98 W210 E55, all stock) about 4 days ago. car ran PERFECT then;
2. parked her at home, under car cover; weather has been nice & sunny here;
3. tried to start the engine, but it would only crank for about 1/2 sec and then stop, felt like the battery was very weak;
4. on about my 3rd or 4th try to start it, there's a loud BOOM that set off the neighbors' cars' alarms, and some white smoke coming from under the hood
pics tell the rest of the story.
no water or oil spilling out anywhere (other than what you can see in the pics).
again, the engine was NOT running when it went boom (and it literally was a "boom"), it was being cranked.
any ideas? some kind of freak hydrolock? i'm guessing my engine is FUBAR.
this happened about 2 hours ago, and its dark out now, so won't get to investigate further until tomorrow.
my car is a W210 E55, but they told me on the 210 forums that there's tons of knowledgeable guys on here, so i hope y'all will forgive me for asking my question here.
sequence of events:
1. last drove my car ('98 W210 E55, all stock) about 4 days ago. car ran PERFECT then;
2. parked her at home, under car cover; weather has been nice & sunny here;
3. tried to start the engine, but it would only crank for about 1/2 sec and then stop, felt like the battery was very weak;
4. on about my 3rd or 4th try to start it, there's a loud BOOM that set off the neighbors' cars' alarms, and some white smoke coming from under the hood
pics tell the rest of the story.
no water or oil spilling out anywhere (other than what you can see in the pics).
again, the engine was NOT running when it went boom (and it literally was a "boom"), it was being cranked.
any ideas? some kind of freak hydrolock? i'm guessing my engine is FUBAR.
this happened about 2 hours ago, and its dark out now, so won't get to investigate further until tomorrow.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 837
Likes: 25
From: seattle
1990 300ce supercharged and intercooled
It is an intake backfire. This should only require a new intake and what ever is
wrong that caused the backfire. Normally a airmass sensor or bad fuel or leaky injector. Good luck.
wrong that caused the backfire. Normally a airmass sensor or bad fuel or leaky injector. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
W210 E55
would the backfire be consistent with the "hard cranking" i noticed?
thanks again!
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 592
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento
AMG C43, 1999
You will need to pull your spark plugs and check compression in each cylinder. If is was a leaking injector it could have put enough fuel into the engine to hydro-lock it slightly. That would cause the hard cranking.
But if you check each cylinder and they all come up the same then I would think you are allright. If you have one cylinder with very low compression you may have bent a rod or broken the piston.
Jeff
But if you check each cylinder and they all come up the same then I would think you are allright. If you have one cylinder with very low compression you may have bent a rod or broken the piston.
Jeff
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,642
Likes: 13
From: Caribbean/Florida/Colorado
E-ZGO 53hp., 1999 E 430 sport, 2004 E 55, 2008 Tahoe LTZ on 24"s
+1 on the backfire, Provided your compression test goes well, I would scan for codes, replace intake manifold, then replace the crank position sensor.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
W210 E55
thanks a million for the inputs guys!
i take it this has happened before? though it can't be too common! i've seen lots of holed blocks, from overrevs, detonation, hydrolock, but never something like this...
so it sounds like... BEST case, i need to replace my intake, MAF and whatever else was damaged up there?
and WORST case, i may need a piston and/or conrod replaced, plus the associated work?
ok, WORST case is my engine is gone, but that's probably remote at this point? or is that wishful thinking?
i take it this has happened before? though it can't be too common! i've seen lots of holed blocks, from overrevs, detonation, hydrolock, but never something like this...
so it sounds like... BEST case, i need to replace my intake, MAF and whatever else was damaged up there?
and WORST case, i may need a piston and/or conrod replaced, plus the associated work?
ok, WORST case is my engine is gone, but that's probably remote at this point? or is that wishful thinking?
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,380
Likes: 64
From: Toronto
CLS63 PP
Intake backfire +3. I had nitrous backfire in a 5.0 fox mustang back in the day. Blow my airbox into a milion pieces. Also expanded the plenum of my GT40 intake, which subsequently made more power. Like others said, check plugs, ignition coils, injectors, then replace IM and asociated sensors. should live to fight another day.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
W210 E55
Intake backfire +3. I had nitrous backfire in a 5.0 fox mustang back in the day. Blow my airbox into a milion pieces. Also expanded the plenum of my GT40 intake, which subsequently made more power. Like others said, check plugs, ignition coils, injectors, then replace IM and asociated sensors. should live to fight another day.
will have the car towed to the shop tomorrow or thurs, and then we'll see what there is to see!
thanks a million! you guys are great!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
W210 E55
UPDATE!
haven't had a chance to visit the car at the garage today, but they called and said the compression test went fine. so looks like i dodged a major bullet.
will post pics later this week when i actually see the car.
now i just need a surplus manifold. have a couple offers, so am weighing options...
thanks!
will post pics later this week when i actually see the car.
now i just need a surplus manifold. have a couple offers, so am weighing options...
thanks!
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 487
Likes: 6
From: Houston
CLK-63 BLACK/2014 E63S/2013 ML350
you did see this one for sale right here on Mbworld.org
https://mbworld.org/forums/engine-pe...0-e55-amg.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/engine-pe...0-e55-amg.html
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
W210 E55
ok, car's all fine now... well, been using it the past week, and all seems to be fine.
all that needed replacing was the intake manifold and plugs. everything else was A-Ok. got the intake off someone on here too! many thanks!
guess i dodged a bullet for sure...
thanks for all the help guys!
all that needed replacing was the intake manifold and plugs. everything else was A-Ok. got the intake off someone on here too! many thanks!
guess i dodged a bullet for sure...
thanks for all the help guys!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,825
Likes: 17
From: Southern California
E55 w/ goods, Z32 Project underway
Did you find out what the cause was to begin with? I would be very anxious driving around in a car that went BOOM without finding the original problem.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 400
Likes: 1
From: SD
00 e55
Did you check your injectors?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 10
210 55
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
1999 E 55 AMG
Scary, but im glad everything worked out nicely.
PS, this is probably the least of your worries, but your breather cover on the passenger side cylinders has gone bad. Mine was all oily like that as well, and i thought it was a leaky injector for some stupid reason... Simple fix, permatex ultra grey and 1.5 hours.
PS, this is probably the least of your worries, but your breather cover on the passenger side cylinders has gone bad. Mine was all oily like that as well, and i thought it was a leaky injector for some stupid reason... Simple fix, permatex ultra grey and 1.5 hours.
Newbie
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
2001 E55
I have seen this once before at my dealer. We suspect the owner of the car over filled the gas tank. We found the charcoal canister full of fuel. It could also be the diafragm in the fuel filter press regulator. Does any of seem like it could apply to you? The car has never had any more problems with this again. Hope I have helped.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 749
Likes: 8
From: The Bay. We Fresh.
2008 W211 E63
I have seen this once before at my dealer. We suspect the owner of the car over filled the gas tank. We found the charcoal canister full of fuel. It could also be the diafragm in the fuel filter press regulator. Does any of seem like it could apply to you? The car has never had any more problems with this again. Hope I have helped.
Newbie
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
2001 E55
In the right rear fender well. Between the tire and the trunk under the finder liner. Also check the fuel filter pressure regulator. In the left rear in front of the tire, under a plastic panel. Remove the smallest hose on the center of the filter. If fuel comes out of the line or the filter the diafragm is busted.
