A45 AMG power loss

[octainejunkee]

I just picked up a low miles one owner A45 AMG, With full merc history having just returned from a service and inspection.

After driving it for 200 miles it has developed a fault.
It kinda judders and then goes into Auto mode and loses all power.
The Engine ecu light is now showing on the dash although when the engine is first started the car drives ok.

It drives better in manual mode and has full power for a while, it appears to go into limp mode if under load at low revs- hill starts or in a low gear..

Obviously il be getting it into Merc asap for a check over, but i was wondering if anyone on here has any ideas,,?
The car has great history and although it's a 13 plate still looks and even smell new so i doubt it's been ill treated.

It does sound louder than expected, it pop and bangs on over run and sound awesome on upshifts - i'm wondering if it may have a de cat fitted and previously been mapped and has now had the map removed?

Not sure what else it could be but thought i'd ask on here if anyone knows of a common fault with them?

Cheers Jamie

 

[rorf]

The only way you will get an answer with these high tech cars is by downloading all the fault codes with Mercedes Star diagnostic equipment.

Check that the intercooler pump is operating correctly.

Most powerful 2 litre production engine ever produced

 

[Steveml63]

Hi,
Did the previous owner have it remapped or have a tuning box fitted?
Cheers
Steve

 

[c63chris]

There was a problem with the turbo on early cars and a recall done. Had mine replaced but I think that's it. As others said it will need a diagnostic done to determine the fault.


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[daveenty]

It does sound louder than expected, it pop and bangs on over run and sound awesome on upshifts - i'm wondering if it may have a de cat fitted and previously been mapped and has now had the map removed?

This sounds a possibility. If someone's de-catted it and it's not mapped to reflect this (or mapped it back to standard) then it will throw a fault code, usually "catalytic converter out of threshold", or something like that.

As stated above though, the only way of knowing is to get a read out. I'd be taking it back to where it was bought from first and give them the option...

 

[octainejunkee]

Thanks for the input guys. I had it plugged into a diagnostics obdurate reader and it comes up as needing a crankshaft sensor...
No biggie really just the joys of buying 2nd hand cars- I bought privately but it was in Mercedes-Benz dealership having a service etc last week so typical for it to break now...

I was tempted to have a re map but this little hic up has put me off..
Can anyone recommend a decent indie merc specialist local to Gatwick where I can get the sensor fitted?

Cheers

 

[Stratman]

..............................

Can anyone recommend a decent indie merc specialist local to Gatwick where I can get the sensor fitted?

Cheers

PCS in Horndean is highly recommended. It's run by a forum sponsor (BlackC55) and they really know their stuff.

 

[rorf]

This is the problem with all cars that have been modded after factory, they are never reliable

 

[octainejunkee]

Checked it over and the car is as it left the factory.
Exhaust sounds quite ott to me though.
The cars in booked 2mrw at a trusted independent workshop in Burstow.
Hopefully that be it for teething problems..
Still tempted to have it remapped as it felt like it could do with a longer and higher power curve but will wait and see how I bond with the car first..
Cheers for the info..

 

[moonloops]

This is the problem with all cars that have been modded after factory, they are never reliable

I've had 20+ modified cars - all 100% reliable.

 

[octainejunkee]

Ok,
A little update,
It turns out that when the car was in at Birmingham Mercedes last week, they replaced the crank sensor under goodwill despite the car being just out of warranty.

Having spoke to Birmingham Merc before buying the car (the seller informed they had maintained the car from new) they were happy to tell me the car had been well maintained and recently given a clean bill of health by them,

The car is now in at the mercedes main dealer. The fault code showing is for the crank sensor- however, given this part has recently been replaced i'm suspecting that something else is causing this error code.

They have given me a courtesy car and i'm now awaiting their findings...

Can only guess at what could be wrong- worse case would be a stretched timing chain as this would cause the timing to be slightly out..

I'm not sure where i stand with regards to warranty- given that it appears the car may have been suffering these symptons prior to running out of warranty and not fixed properly..

Any info on these cars or regular problem areas that might be of use to me would be helpful,,

cheers
Jamie

 

[octainejunkee]

It's now throwing up loads of error codes so they are thinking it needs either a new ecu or has a wiring loom issue...
Wondering if it could have been previously mapped and some how had the ecu fried when required flashed?
Anyone with any helpful information about common issues etc feel free to post up ideas?
Feeling lost at the moment.

Cheers jamie

 

[M.Khalid]

Hi,

Im sorry to hear about all these problems.
Any update about your car??
Regards,


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[octainejunkee]

They've replaced the ecu to no avail.. in a courtesy slc for Christmas.. miss's now wants an slc lol

 

[Sanke]

I wonder if someone has fitted a tuning box previously and when putting it back to standard they didn't fully connect all three or four of the connecting points.

I stupidly didn't connect one properly when I had my 45 some years ago, it came loose and caused similar issues. Rebellion use to have wiring diagram on their website which showed which connections were used. Try that and check the connections again.

Steve

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[octainejunkee]

This is a good point,,
Merc claim to have checked the entire wiring loom however as they are now ordering a fresh ecu which i'm sure wont be the problem i will ask them to check the wiring loom once again..

Owned the car for almost a month and Merc have had it in their service bay for the most part lol

 

[rorf]

Wonder why the previous owner got rid of it??

 

[octainejunkee]

to be fair to the previous owner,
The MB main dealer gave the car a clean bill of health when it was there before i bought it and it was ok for a few hundred miles during my ownership..
The dealership have been in touch to say they are replacing the flywheel now

 

[octainejunkee]

Update for you guys,,
Collected the car having had countless parts inspected and replaced, ecu, flywheel, sensors etc etc, drove the car for 20 miles only to have the same fault reappear:fail

Not very impressed with the MB engineers for failing to fix the fault.

Not sure what to do now,, ?

 

[Steveml63]

Update for you guys,,
Collected the car having had countless parts inspected and replaced, ecu, flywheel, sensors etc etc, drove the car for 20 miles only to have the same fault reappear:fail

Not very impressed with the MB engineers for failing to fix the fault.

Not sure what to do now,, ?

Hi,
You need to formally reject the car and demand a full refund or replacement.
The car is clearly not fit for purpose and obviously had a serious fault before you bought it (consumer law is on your side - as the fault occurred so soon after you bought it).
You should end up with your money back or maybe a better car "as compensation" for the trouble you have been caused.
You will need to be firm but polite - as dealers and MB UK hate cars being rejected - but your story so far indicates that you have a very clear case.
Cheers
Steve