Hi guys
I'm the new bloke here (I will introduce myself properly when I find the new members section)
I've been reading with interest the info on C32's and apologies if this has already been covered in depth but I'd appreciate advice on a recently purchased C32:-
I bought the car a month ago, drove perfectly on the test drive but nearing the end of the 350 mile drive home the problems started.
Engine warning light on the dash, Juddering at light throttle and a drumming noise through the floor (like driving over a cattle grid or rumble strips), took the car to a local garage who came up with a list of various codes but admitted that the fault diagnosis was a little beyond them and advised a main agent checkover.
Took the car to the nearest main agent who diagnosed 3 problems :-
1) Gearbox oil contaminated with glycol (a well documented issue)
2) Secondary air pump failure
3) Non original plugs & leads fitted (has Bosch plugs fitted, don't know what grade but they're supposed to be NGK?)
The dealership I bought the car from have been very helpfull and have paid to have a new radiator, torque converter and electric pack fitted along with a flush and new oil & filter, the guy who did this work is well respected and tells me the car drove perfectly on the 40 mile test drive on completion, I picked the car up just as he was closing on friday and set off on the 120 mile drive home and guess what, the juddering/stuttering is back at light throttle along with the drumming through the floor and warning light on.
Advice before the gearbox work was carried out was that the glycol issue was causing all sorts of ECU confusion which was probably leading to the engine warning light & fault codes (not sure about this?)
My question is, what symptoms will a failing air pump give? (most of the info I can find suggests near total power loss if the pump is dodgy). will it cause a missfire which causes the torque converter to lock up hence the drumming noise or has the gearbox repair been unsuccessful? and what effect will having the "wrong" plugs & leads fitted? I believe the correct plugs should be IFR6D10's, I can't tell whats in cos I can't get a plug lead off to see (do you need a special tool?)
If it is the air pump, do I go genuine Merc or fit from a Ford F150 truck? and whats the software upgrade I've seen mentioned about? is it free from a main agent or will I have to pay?
The guy who did the gearbox work will stand by his work and redo at no cost if needed but I'm loath to set off on a 240 mile round trip only to find out that the problem is elsewhere, he maintains that after resetting the car was perfect on the test drive.
Your help and advice is much appreciated, the car is totally fine under vigorous acceleration and is a joy to drive apart from this annoying fault.
cheers all
Max
I'm the new bloke here (I will introduce myself properly when I find the new members section)
I've been reading with interest the info on C32's and apologies if this has already been covered in depth but I'd appreciate advice on a recently purchased C32:-
I bought the car a month ago, drove perfectly on the test drive but nearing the end of the 350 mile drive home the problems started.
Engine warning light on the dash, Juddering at light throttle and a drumming noise through the floor (like driving over a cattle grid or rumble strips), took the car to a local garage who came up with a list of various codes but admitted that the fault diagnosis was a little beyond them and advised a main agent checkover.
Took the car to the nearest main agent who diagnosed 3 problems :-
1) Gearbox oil contaminated with glycol (a well documented issue)
2) Secondary air pump failure
3) Non original plugs & leads fitted (has Bosch plugs fitted, don't know what grade but they're supposed to be NGK?)
The dealership I bought the car from have been very helpfull and have paid to have a new radiator, torque converter and electric pack fitted along with a flush and new oil & filter, the guy who did this work is well respected and tells me the car drove perfectly on the 40 mile test drive on completion, I picked the car up just as he was closing on friday and set off on the 120 mile drive home and guess what, the juddering/stuttering is back at light throttle along with the drumming through the floor and warning light on.
Advice before the gearbox work was carried out was that the glycol issue was causing all sorts of ECU confusion which was probably leading to the engine warning light & fault codes (not sure about this?)
My question is, what symptoms will a failing air pump give? (most of the info I can find suggests near total power loss if the pump is dodgy). will it cause a missfire which causes the torque converter to lock up hence the drumming noise or has the gearbox repair been unsuccessful? and what effect will having the "wrong" plugs & leads fitted? I believe the correct plugs should be IFR6D10's, I can't tell whats in cos I can't get a plug lead off to see (do you need a special tool?)
If it is the air pump, do I go genuine Merc or fit from a Ford F150 truck? and whats the software upgrade I've seen mentioned about? is it free from a main agent or will I have to pay?
The guy who did the gearbox work will stand by his work and redo at no cost if needed but I'm loath to set off on a 240 mile round trip only to find out that the problem is elsewhere, he maintains that after resetting the car was perfect on the test drive.
Your help and advice is much appreciated, the car is totally fine under vigorous acceleration and is a joy to drive apart from this annoying fault.
cheers all
Max
