Engine weakness

[eldo]

Hi everyone,
I have a long standing problem with my Merc E250 Diesel 1995.
From a standing start accelleration is good but a situation like the outside lane of a motorway it just does not want to move away and if there is a small rise I have to move over to let everyone pass.
The engine was recon'd by EC Engines near Stourbridge West Mid and since then it's gone downhill.
Kickdown is not a problem, it's just acceleration in 4th from 50 or 60 MPH.
Anyone help me out with this. Mileage is 289,000.

Effy

 

[Birdman]

Was that a a top end recon or something more? When was it done?

 

[eldo]

Was that a a top end recon or something more? When was it done?

Full recon- or so they say. I have no way of knowing

 

[eldo]

Could a stretched timimg chain be the problem

 

[Birdman]

When you say, 'Kickdown is not a problem, it's just acceleration in 4th from 50 or 60 MPH' I take it to mean it lacks pull at those speeds above which it cannot kickdown.


Might be a long way off, but I have heard of similar symptoms where power drop was down to fluid loss & coolant leaks in the auto box.

Also, it could be worth having the cylinder compressions checked.

How long back was the recon carried out? If recent, the work will be under warranty.

 

[eldo]

Thanks Birdman i'll get that checked out.
Someone told me that if the timing chaim was stretched(like mine is) then when you try to throtle up it cannot advance ignition to facitate this. Also if the chain tensioner is not working this could cotribute to the problem.

What do you think.

 

[Dieselman]

Firstly have a compression test and leakdown test performed. I suspect this will be OK if the engine starts straight away from cold.

Check the timing chain stretch by viewing the retardation of the camshafts against the crank at TDC 5 deg is the limit.
Surely the timing chain was replaced as part of the re-con?

The injection pump timing sprocket runs straight off the timing chain and uses centrifugal weights, as long as it is intact and appears to work then it probably is Ok.

Check the static timing is set to 14 deg after TDC using the port in the side of the pump body.

I assume there isn't any smoke, either blue or black.

I suspect you have fuel starvation caused either by blocked filter or air leakage under load. Maybe the lift pump is losing pressure.

Why did you have the engine reconned at all?

 

[bolide]

250 Diesel

I assume this is a multivalve diesel. What fault was the engine recon meant to cure? What was the problem?

A couple of things to check: are the throttle cable and kickdown cable adjusted properly? If they're not the car will feel as flat as a pancake though, as has already been stated, above 60 mph the car's not going to kickdown and cable settings won't cure this unless you're not getting full throttle. Next: it might be an autobox or torque convertor problem

One more idea: was the injection pump retimed correctly when it was refitted?

Final stab in the dark: are the EGR & inlet manifold vacuum-operated systems working OK?

Because there's no throttle as such the slowdown can only be caused by lack of fuel delivery or a mechanical effect (gearbox)

Where in the country are you?


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[eldo]

Thanks for that everyone. Here goes , the complete story.
18mths ago the vqacuum pump packed up doing 90 on the M40 but true to Merc tradition it still carried on. I live in Worcester. RAC brought me home. BJH Motors reccomended EC Engines by Stourbridge (Brum). They charged me £1400 to reccon and said all the bad bits had been replaced.It sounded like a bag of spanners in a glass jar. I took it back but since then it got steadily worse. I also had the gearbox recconed£700, Not being me3chanically minded you can imagine the state I'm in thinking my beloved Merc is about to self destruct. Merc's of Worcester ain't got a clue. They didn't even know where the pre-filter went. I've learned more from you guys in the last few days than i have in the last 6 years. I shall now take stock of your comments and get something done. If any one in the area knows a Merc man in this area i would very grateful. Thanks chaps. ELDO

 

[Rose Chap]

Sorry to hear of your misfortune, its always galling when something that is supposed to be fixed lets you down again.

Even the bullet proof W124s don't last forever though, and 289,000 miles is a pretty good innnings! I hope I'm not being insensitive but have you considered cutting your losses and replacing the car rather than fixing it?

 

[Dieselman]

Sorry to hear of your misfortune, its always galling when something that is supposed to be fixed lets you down again.

Even the bullet proof W124s don't last forever though, and 289,000 miles is a pretty good innnings! I hope I'm not being insensitive but have you considered cutting your losses and replacing the car rather than fixing it?

This is about middle adged for a 605/6 series MB diesel engine. It shouldn't have need a rebuild at all.

 

[Dieselman]

Thanks for that everyone. Here goes , the complete story.
18mths ago the vqacuum pump packed up doing 90 on the M40 but true to Merc tradition it still carried on. I live in Worcester. RAC brought me home. BJH Motors reccomended EC Engines by Stourbridge (Brum). They charged me £1400 to reccon and said all the bad bits had been replaced.It sounded like a bag of spanners in a glass jar. I took it back but since then it got steadily worse. I also had the gearbox recconed£700, Not being me3chanically minded you can imagine the state I'm in thinking my beloved Merc is about to self destruct. Merc's of Worcester ain't got a clue. They didn't even know where the pre-filter went. I've learned more from you guys in the last few days than i have in the last 6 years. I shall now take stock of your comments and get something done. If any one in the area knows a Merc man in this area i would very grateful. Thanks chaps. ELDO

The rattling sound like the timing chain may be worn out /loose.
Other possibilities are the timing gear for the fuel pump is shot and the centrifugal weights are just slopping around.
The vacuum pump is driven off the timing gear so that is a possibility for being damaged when the vac pump went.

Any decent diesel specialist should be able to sort this out, alternatively take it to Andy Gayle at Mercedeservicing.

www.mercedeservicing.com


Hmmm, linky dead, I cant find one for Andy now. Does anyone Andy's contact details??

 

[bolide]

Just run in!

Even the bullet proof W124s don't last forever though, and 289,000 miles is a pretty good innnings! I hope I'm not being insensitive but have you considered cutting your losses and replacing the car rather than fixing it?

I think spending £2100 then giving up is not so much cutting your losses as cutting your own throat...

You need a proper specialist to diagnose the problem and to report on what's been done before. Assuming the previous work is good I would think there's one minor fault that no-one's found yet. If the previous work is not good then either get them to fix it under warranty or take then to court

My money is on the car being reassembled incorrectly after one of the major jobs

I wouldn't do anything until you find someone competent to diagnose the car. As I am fond of saying - it ain't rocket science!


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk