veryfasteclass

3 times last week the engine of my car died while driving on the road. All 3 times happened at slow speeds. Once going slowly crossing a railroad rails and twice going over speed bumps. There is no problem with the battery.
When the engine shut off, all the lights on the dash lit up, and the steering wheel locked. Even though igniting the car again wasn't a problem, its a crappy feeling to have your engine die in the middle of the road.
It just happens suddenly. The car wasn't choking or anything, the RPM needle just simply drops and engine is off with all the lights on.
Has anyone experienced this and what was the problem?

pun1sh3rz

Recently have valve cover gaskets changed? I faced this problem recently and it was due to a fuel line that is near impossible to see being out of place under the charger. Blackbenzzz did my install, he might be more helpful to the solution.

veryfasteclass

what do you mean by "out of place"? Was it leaking?
And I didnt have the valve cover gaskets changed

ahmad0658

I have same problem with my car , but it does not switch off, I can smell fuel even after changing the tank for leaking problems and fuel pump before and also for leaking.

my car sometimes got like a chock but it regain its normal rpm when it's about to switch off. I heard one saying there is fuel line before but the guy did not explain much at that time and we were busy with something else and I totally forget to ask him to see the car.

It would be so appreciated to see some clear pictures posted where to track and check this fuel line.

ahmad0658

I have same problem with my car , but it does not switch off, I can smell fuel even after changing the tank for leaking problems and fuel pump before and also for leaking.

my car sometimes got like a chock but it regain its normal rpm when it's about to switch off. I heard one saying there is fuel line before but the guy did not explain much at that time and we were busy with something else and I totally forget to ask him to see the car.

One thing I also noticed is that when I fill the tank with fuel sometimes, I have hard time to fill it because of the trapped pressured air inside the tank and I think this is also related to the same problem.

It would be so appreciated to see some clear pictures posted where to track and check this fuel line.

BlownV8

Try wiggling your key up and down and side to side to see if that has an effect. Are you possibly hitting the key with your knee while going over bumps. The only time this happend to me is when I accidentally bumped the key with knee.

Ali_E55

i remember this issue used to happen in my friends 2003, but we didn't know why. it happens 2 low speed also.

maybe it is a fuel problem.

acb

Sounds like the Crank Position Sensor

veryfasteclass

Nah, didn't hit the key with my knee. It also happened when my friend was driving. I sit pretty far away and back.
So the service guys checked my throttle body, fuel pump, fuel pressure, fuel filter, and all of them didn't have any problems. Nothing came up faulty on the diagnostics either. They did say that there was a W211 with the same symptoms, and it was a problem with one of the 2 fuel filters. If there was something wrong with the fuel system, it would show abnormalities in the fuel pressure.
One thing I did notice is that when it died, the idle rpm was at 500, which should be around 800 if its normal. The only possibilities I can think of at the moment are O2 sensor problem or something wrong with software.

Wryfox

Second on the crank position sensor. No facts on this problem with Benz but exactly same symptoms with wife's BMW which was famous for the problem. Maddening because it didn't throw a code.

ahmad0658

can someone give us the part number for this sensor and how to fix it ? it would be really appreciate it although my problem should be something else because i can smell fuel ..

veryfasteclass

If there were to be a problem with the crank position sensor, wouldn't that also have an affect on re-ignition? Because ive searched the forums on the CPS problem and it seems like many of them had to wait a bit before starting the engine again, but I had no problems at all with ignition.

Wryfox

My wife's BMW startred again right away.

The gas smell is interesting though. Where there is gas there is a leak, period.

veryfasteclass

I had my fuel pump replaced after it busted. the fuel smell will last a very very long time. can take like 1 to 2 months. seeing that you;ve changed your tank and fuel pump, the smell might even be coming from your AC.

And speaking of the engine stalling problem, it looks like the problem isnt the Crank Position Sensor, but a leak in the vacuum hose for the air system. Gonna have that checked tomorrow.

Sathinas

Why would a CPS or valve cover gasket work make a steering wheel lock up?

As far as the vacuum leak, save yourself some coin at the dealership. Go buy a can of starting fluid or a can FLAMMABLE brake cleaner (available at any parts store), start the engine, pop the hood and start spraying the stuff around your vacuum hoses. Then, listen for the engine idle to go up. Soon as that happens, you just found your leak.

Note to the wise, make sure you don't go overboard with the spraying. You should hear the engine change idle speed with very little starting fluid.

As far as why the steering wheel locks up when the engine dies due to a vacuum leak... dunno. Maybe it's a Mercedes thing to lock up the steering wheel when the engine dies. Kind of dumb, from the safety aspect, if you ask me. But since you didn't ask me, I just told you anyway.

stangclassic66

Hi there, hope you don't mind me bumping an old thread but this same issue is happening to my wife's W211 e320 (2004). When we make a turn at slow speed, it will randomly shut down and we'll lose steering. I'm assuming this is because the power steering pump stops turning due to the motor shutting off.

I've already replaced the CPS twice (latest replacement being from the dealer). Where would the vacuum hoses be on this car? I'm planning on getting some wd40 and spraying the hoses when I get a chance this weekend.

Thanks in advance for any resonse.

Erik

nd-photo.nl

Afaik there are only 2 (please correct me if wrong!)

Aluminium pipe for EVAP/Purge valve


And the nipples on top which connect to the 2 secondary air injector valves on the front of the engine (there is a solenoid in between on the right side of the engine).

sorom

for me, it happened TWICE on a right curve with very bad carpeting.

turned lights off, all lights on dashboard turned on and lost power and steering.

Jayspice320cdi

please help I’m having the same issue

lthlc63

sounds like a crank position sensor. thats where i would start. its a fairly cheap part and easy to do

nd-photo.nl

I was quoted 130 euros at the dealer. Aftermarket Bosch is around 30-40 euros

lthlc63

just buy the part at your local parts store and replace yourself. its a 30 minute job tops

nd-photo.nl

@lthlc63 thats what I usually do yes (see my build thread in signature ). But 130 euro was purely for the sensor