CAR NOT PULLING help

[delb0y]

Hi folks

Got abit of a problem.. Car isnt picking up speed on motorway boot right down and it wont get past 60 or 70 (wont rev above 2k) its like the turbo isnt working. When starting from cold it is fine for 5 or 10 mins only. I topped it up with 1 litre of oil today just incase it is the turbo.

I have had problems with hestiation which lasts seconds but then power cames back .. I was told by someone on here it was the MAF which i still havnt got round to fixing yet

cars got 140k on the clock

Any help and advice greatly appreciated.

 

[delb0y]

anyone know what the main dealer will charge to tell me whats wrong with the car? from checking on here and on the net it could be a few things wrong

 

[Olivier]

I guess look at the MAF first or go on the STAR at the dealer and it should cost 50 pounds for a good diagnosis.

 

[delb0y]

thanks

 

[delb0y]

one more quick question... do you guys think im ok to drive the car as it is? i need to do a 400 mile trip in a day or two assuming it is the turbo is it likely to cause any damage to the engine?

cheers

 

[BlackC55]

No damage will be done.

 

[delb0y]

Hi Folks

I'm not sure if anyone has come across this problem before.. for some reason the turbo seems to be working now.. I reved it to 4k a few times and drove the car 200 miles and the fault seems to have gone. But knowing my luck it wont last

 

[LTD]

Might be cheapest in the long run to have it checked over in case it's just a little thing needing fixed that could turn into a big nightmare if left.

Farked turbos ain't cheap to replace .........

 

[BlackC55]

There will be fault codes logged.

get it plugged in.

 

[delb0y]

Main dealer quoted me £85 to go on the star which I will do next week and then if the turbo does need fixing there is a place that recons them. Has anyone here had a turbo reconditioned before? and would you reccommend it? I think it can cost between £200 - £300 depending on what needs fixing. Alot cheaper than getting a new one fitted I think.

 

[Adam230K]

reconditioning is a good idea, but turbos tend to last upto around 150k miles. £85 for a Star diagnosis is a joke, try to find an indy who should be chargingin u in the region of £30-40.

 

[rpe2]

Doubt its the turbo could be but history suggests it's more likely to be a sensor/ hose etc...

Why go to a main dealer when an independent dealer is less than half the price for the same diagnosis?

Richard

 

[lynall]

Agree with Adam and Richard £85 is a lot of money for 5 minutes work.

Not sure if your turbo is a vnt fitted to a lot of newer diesels these gum up and cause car into limp home mode when it overboosts, can be stripped and cleaned, what makes me think that is after the long run you said it was fine, of course could also be a sensor fault, you can buy a code reader for a lot lot less than £85.

See here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_7KRkFO3nE&NR=1 heard about this loads on vw diesels where the driver pussyfoots its everywhere.



Lynall

 

[delb0y]

Hi folks

A update on this fault

Went on the star today at the main dealer (£97 inc vat) !

However found out there were no faults for the turbo or MAF they had done a health check aswell and told me that the exhaust flame catcher was broken up which in turn may have damaged the CAT total cost to repair £1600 ! :-0

Got the car home I think they mustive opened up or moved the Exhaust as cars even more slugish. So need to take it to someone who doesnt charge nearly £100 an hour and see if the CAT can be cleaned out and get a flame catcher from GFS or eurocarparts.

I've been quoted £575 for the flame catcher
£484 for the CAT and a whooping £470 for labour from the maindealer.

The fella did let it slip that the CAT might just need a clean out so I will have to check that one.

 

[delb0y]

I've had a look on eurocarparts - can someone please tell me is the flame catcher part of the exhaust? ie will I have to buy a complete system and then the CAT aswell?

Thanks

 

[BlackC55]

WTF is a flame catcher?

 

[spock500]

I read on one of the forums about de-cat your car for increased performance.

It was also mentioned that it's not a requirement for the MOT, doesn't sound right but you never know -

edit,saw this thread http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/engine/73089-ml-exhausts-cats.html

 

[delb0y]

Reason I went to the main dealer was becoz I don't trust the indie had problems with them before He would have charged more or less the same to tell me whats wrong with the car.

Thats what they have put on the report :
Exhaust flame catcher broken up
Catalyst damaged due to flame catcher

R & R airbox & flame catcher checked

 

[BlackC55]

Are you sure its not Fume catcher?

You can de-cat your car and it will not affect emmisions at MOT time.

Do you have have a particle filter on your 203? (I don't think you do)

 

[delb0y]

They have wrote on 3 different forms as exhaust flame catcher !

How do you de cat? am i right in saying there are two cats? one upper and one lower?

I didn't think the w203 came with a particle filter