Hi folks
A newbie to both MB and this forum and looking for any advice.
Recently bought a 180k mile E240 estate - 2398cc V6 auto - which ran sweetly and has been looked after mechanically. She ran sweetly for a couple of months but has acquired some very bad behaviour over the last week or so.
Firstly an erratic idle which started when driving - i would sense a momentary lack of power but no obvious fluctuation in speed. This then started to show as an erratic idle fluctuating from ~ 7/800 revs to ~1000 revs before settling then repeating the cycle. Random rather than regular.
When fluctuating it is a challenge to pull away as there is a real sense of no power.
Over the last few days there is a reluctance to change gear with the lack of power - this morning i had to crawl a distance at ~20 mph while revving at 5000. running down/up the gear selector made no difference. Stopped when safe and car settled before pulling off perfectly normally.
May be linked or not but my view is to deal with the idle/hunting issue foirst then the gearbox if it doesn't improve (but would like to check the gb fluid level anyway).
So far tried:
- no obvious signs of vacuum leak
- running without the MAF in line - ran ok. Started when warm with MAF disconnected but wouldn't start in morning, MAF reconnected and started first time. So guessing it is ok.
- assuming throttle body is ok - engine responds to pedal in terms of revs.
- seems to be a spark at each cylinder on a quick check.
So my questions/plea for help:
- anybody help with finding my way round the engine bay - a linky to a workshop manual or any resource
- is my thinking logical or have i missed something or a particular way of doing something; and
- how can i check the gb fluid level?
Nearly forgot - no error codes showing on dash but i can't read the ECU (any recommendations for a good indie with necessary diagnostics in Blackpool area?)
Many thanks
-
A newbie to both MB and this forum and looking for any advice.
Recently bought a 180k mile E240 estate - 2398cc V6 auto - which ran sweetly and has been looked after mechanically. She ran sweetly for a couple of months but has acquired some very bad behaviour over the last week or so.
Firstly an erratic idle which started when driving - i would sense a momentary lack of power but no obvious fluctuation in speed. This then started to show as an erratic idle fluctuating from ~ 7/800 revs to ~1000 revs before settling then repeating the cycle. Random rather than regular.
When fluctuating it is a challenge to pull away as there is a real sense of no power.
Over the last few days there is a reluctance to change gear with the lack of power - this morning i had to crawl a distance at ~20 mph while revving at 5000. running down/up the gear selector made no difference. Stopped when safe and car settled before pulling off perfectly normally.
May be linked or not but my view is to deal with the idle/hunting issue foirst then the gearbox if it doesn't improve (but would like to check the gb fluid level anyway).
So far tried:
- no obvious signs of vacuum leak
- running without the MAF in line - ran ok. Started when warm with MAF disconnected but wouldn't start in morning, MAF reconnected and started first time. So guessing it is ok.
- assuming throttle body is ok - engine responds to pedal in terms of revs.
- seems to be a spark at each cylinder on a quick check.
So my questions/plea for help:
- anybody help with finding my way round the engine bay - a linky to a workshop manual or any resource
- is my thinking logical or have i missed something or a particular way of doing something; and
- how can i check the gb fluid level?
Nearly forgot - no error codes showing on dash but i can't read the ECU (any recommendations for a good indie with necessary diagnostics in Blackpool area?)
Many thanks
-
