Engine cut out!

[timk]

This morning on a busy roundabout in rush hour traffic my engine just cut out...

coasted to a halt and stuck it in park, then eventually it re-started after turning it over for a while - any ideas what could cause this? It's a 98 C43 with 110k miles.

 

[franey]

Sounds like the crank sensor is favourite?

 

[grober]

1. Crank sensor as been said or 2. dodgy engine earth strap--Since the engine turned over immediately and I assume all the warning lights came on??then more likely to be the crank sensor. item 5 Êàòàëîã you will need your chassis no when ordering from MB.

 

[lynall]

Same happened to wifes car a few months ago and as said was crank sensor, they fail when hot and will restart when cold again for a while then pack up totally.

Right sod to do as no room and that the v6 so what the v8 is like in yours i dont know.

I can see sensor in my car easily enough but its a bigger chassis.


Lynall

 

[Benzowner]

Had tjhe same a year or so back, as Franey says probable crank sensor

 

[Londonscottish]

Sounds like crank sensor - has happened to both my C43's

 

[timk]

Sounds like crank sensor - has happened to both my C43's

Expensive to sort? It's going in to WDM cars on Thursday - not keen on it happening again somewhere more dangerous

 

[momomo]

Its a bit awkward to get to as its down and right at the back of the engine so not much room to get to it, especially with a v8 in a 202 but can be done. They are well known to go on on these cars.

 

[Alps]

crank shaft position sensor as said above seems correct.

 

[franey]

I have both types if you need one, later one is BOSCH

 

[lynall]

Expensive to sort? It's going in to WDM cars on Thursday - not keen on it happening again somewhere more dangerous

Sensor was £75 for wifes 203 from mb.
Got to be at least a couple of hours labour.



Lynall

 

[timk]

And happened again this morning at exactly the same roundabout! Seems to be happening just as the temp needle reaches the middle of the gauge i.e. when the car has reached operating temp. Turn off for about a minute and it starts again fine, then doesn't seem to re-occur for the rest of the 40 min journey to work. It's a bit of a nightmare driving it and expecting it to happen at any moment so I hope WDM sort it out on Thursday

 

[Benzowner]

And happened again this morning at exactly the same roundabout! Seems to be happening just as the temp needle reaches the middle of the gauge i.e. when the car has reached operating temp. Turn off for about a minute and it starts again fine, then doesn't seem to re-occur for the rest of the 40 min journey to work. It's a bit of a nightmare driving it and expecting it to happen at any moment so I hope WDM sort it out on Thursday

When I had the problem with my car, it happened occasionally at first and progressively got worse as time went on untill one morning travelling to work it was cutting out every 200 yards or so. Made the news on local radio, traffic jam caused by broken down car:bannana:

 

[timk]

Happened twice again today - the second time in Morrissons carpark, Redditch. Wouldn't restart and called out RAC. Started just as RAC pulled into carpark

I'm a member of RAC via my bank account but they wanted £100 to recover the car back to WDM Cars in Birmingham who had the part in stock (only 16 miles away)!! Other option I was given was to have the car recovered to a garage inj Redditch 'approved' by the RAC - who didn't have the part in stock and would have to order from Merc, therefore leaving me stranded in Redditch overnight (at the least) until car fixed next day. I risked it and limped the car to Perry Bar along duel carraigeways for WDM cars to look at. They gave me a courtesy car tonight even though I'm not booked in until tomorrow, so top marks WDM and zero marks to the RAC, they have really blotted their copybook

 

[momomo]

Well its good that its going to be fixed tomorrow because it would have just got worse and worse and become very dangerous. Should be like new tomorrow

 

[andrewcliffe]

Happened to me.

new sensor is under £ 100

Changed it myself - quite easy to do, just need a long socket with extensions and one, possible two universal joints.

Took under half an hour. Its located on the left side of the engine bay. Do it with a cold engine!

 

[timk]

Now done:bannana:

Although not flavour of the month with the garage who had to stay open an extra 20 minutes for me when I got stuck in Birmingham traffic

£160 including fitment of a new foglight I supplied and re-securing a loose side skirt which was dangling off the car!

Feels good to get back into the C43 after a 180k mile A class diesel courtesy car.

But it's now making an odd 'click' when it goes into park, which wasn't there before