A220 W176 Exhaust Flap Actuator Malfunction!! Can I cut out?

[Dusty87]

Hi Everyone,

Any info will be much appreciated!
I have a 2014 A220 with the code for Exhaust Flap Actuator Malfunction.

I basically just want to cut it out… (had enough! lol) I have brought an Exhaust Valve Delete Connector Terminator Removal.

Some questions I have are:

• If I just cut the actuator out, replace weld a straight section of pipe and plug in the connectors? (Possibly use reader to clear any codes again)

• Will this solve the problem of the flap malfunction?

• Are there any Pros or Cons in doing this? Worried it won’t run right (doesn’t run right anyway because of this issue) or fuel economy may be badly affected after doing this.

• I have read the noise may be affected/louder but it’s surely not going to be horrendously louder or sounding like a bag of pants after?

• Is the flap an important part that I shouldn’t do this? Will it affect M.O.Ts?

• If this can be done what is the size of the exhaust pipe? As i assume I need a straight piece of pipe maybe flared at each end to weld in place…

hoping someone on here has done the same/similar or knows something about it, like I said any help with the questions or more info would be very much appreciated. Hoping that once I do this I may enjoy driving my car again!
Thanks in advance

This is the delete connector I have brought: (hope it’s the right one)

 

[Jobsworth]

I’m gonna take a leap here and ask you if your car is a diesel?

 

[Dusty87]

I’m gonna take a leap here and ask you if your car is a diesel?

Yes car is a diesel

 

[Dusty87]

Just to clarify that the car is a A Class W176 A220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY AMG Sport, Diesel, Automatic

 

[Jobsworth]

In that case what you have bought will not work on your car. The part you have bought is to delete the flap that quietens the exhaust on AMG petrol models.
The exhaust flap on your diesel performs a different operation. It’s to close the exhaust exit and recirculate the exhaust as part of the EGR system. The car will not run correctly with the flap removed. If the flap is faulty the only way to fix it is to fit a new one. I’m not an expert on remap bodgery, but it may be possible to delete the EGR functionality with a remap. I don’t recommend that, and will probably work out more expensive than replacing the flap anyway

 

[Dusty87]

In that case what you have bought will not work on your car. The part you have bought is to delete the flap that quietens the exhaust on AMG petrol models.
The exhaust flap on your diesel performs a different operation. It’s to close the exhaust exit and recirculate the exhaust as part of the EGR system. The car will not run correctly with the flap removed. If the flap is faulty the only way to fix it is to fit a new one. I’m not an expert on remap bodgery, but it may be possible to delete the EGR functionality with a remap. I don’t recommend that, and will probably work out more expensive than replacing the flap anyway

Oh really! Ok cool

 

[Dusty87]

I did have it replaced last yr that’s why I wanted to remove it (nothing but hassle). Could the spring be broken and be throwing up the code?

 

[Jobsworth]

Really need a bit more detail about what they replaced. The flap is held open with a spring and closed by the motor. The open and closed positions are measured, and fed back to the ecu. If either the fully open or fully closed positions aren’t reached it logs a fault. It’s possible just to replace the motor, but if the problem is to do with the flap being restricted inside the pipe it will probably fault again in time. The pipe with flap is quite a big bit from Mercedes, and expensive. I wonder if the garage just replaced the motor…
There are aftermarket parts available where you get the motor and flap together on a small piece of pipe, and you can cut the original and sleeve it in.