Help !! C320 CDI just died on the Motorway, nightmare !!!

[xixal]

Driving down the motorway at approx 80mph when the car lost power, the engine still ran but when I pressed the throttle it just reved irratic. The engine noise sounded different as well, hard to describe ??

I was brought home by the AA and I had a quick look this morning. Tried disconnecting the battery for an hour to see if that would clear anything, sadly not! One thing I did notice because the weather was frosty is that no fumes were coming from the exhaust or very little, the engine noise I believe is exhaust fumes being forced forward of the engine as apposed to through the exhaust?? Could this be?? My thinking is either the turbo or Cat.

The car is over 3 years old so out of warranty and has only covered only 23k
Model is W204 C320 CDI. Is there anyway of checking what the problem might be without the use of a diagnostic tool or trip to the dealer?

Any advice would be appreciated

xixal

 

[Dieselman]

The cat has broken up and blocked the exhaust pipe.

 

[xixal]

Thanks

Don't you think thats odd given the car has only done 23k, CATs normally last 70 - 80k, is there any shut of valves or similiar devices in the turbo that could cause this effect? What make you feel its not the turbo? if this didn't spin would that also cause the same effect?

 

[panason1c]

Disconnect the exhaust downpipe and see if it runs ok, if it does then the cat is blocked........

solution?.......decat!!

 

[st4]

Disconnect the exhaust downpipe and see if it runs ok, if it does then the cat is blocked........

solution?.......decat!!

And then fail MOT. Something I would like to do though, they sound great

 

[renault12ts]

And then fail MOT. Something I would like to do though, they sound great

Looks like the OP is in Germany.

 

[Henry D]

And then fail MOT. Something I would like to do though, they sound great

As long as the outer can is still there a diesel wont fail its emissions,the tester is only visually checking that the cat is present,petrol cars need the cat fully functional to pass

 

[Shude]

...petrol cars need the cat fully functional to pass

This has not been the case for most of the members that have done this.

 

[Henry D]

This has not been the case for most of the members that have done this.

It takes a very clean petrol engine to get below 0.30% Co without a cat

 

[BillyW124]

i should hope so a cat would last more than 70-80k mate!

 

[panason1c]

Cats are actually quite fragile/brittle items, and a firm 'knock' to the exhaust system (for whatever reason) can cause them to fracture/break up which can be one of the reasons for a short life.

 

[BlackC55]

It may have a DPF being a V6.

 

[xixal]

Anyone know the best place to buy a Catalytic Converter other than the dealer who wants £1100. I have done an Internet search and tried the normal companies without luck

 

[npuk]

Have you even had the car diagnosed using STAR to determine what the problem is?

Funny how this has happened on the same day / or right after your Parktronic retrofit.

 

[ccp]

Sorry to hear of your problem. The cats on my C270 CDI failed at about 65Kmiles. The symptoms were simliar to those you described apart from I had could hear a hissing/air rushing sound when accelerating hard in the hour or so before the complete failure to proceed on a hill on the M62.

When the tow truck arrived, we started the car again and it seemed to run ok - no symptoms just revving the engine at the roadside. The car was recovered to the MB dealer and after diagnosis MB contributed (1/3rd if I remember rightly) towards replacing the whole exhaust system. Wasn't cheap even then!

I did have a look round at the time for alternative suppliers but couldn't find any where the cost was significantly reduced.

 

[jaymanek]

Euro Car PArts supply them for most models.

 

[fallen-angel]

my cheaper solution to your worries would be a sports cat, these are cheap and you can get then on ebay.. just measure your pipe diameter into the cat and length of the original cat, maybe a small pipe length will be needed then get a compotent person to weld it up for you.. if you by slightly larger pipe for the cat sides you could weld them to the cat then just clamp it up.. done this on many performance cars and performance will be improved as well.. bonus all round.. just a thought for you to concider... hope this helps

 

[xixal]

Have you even had the car diagnosed using STAR to determine what the problem is?

Funny how this has happened on the same day / or right after your Parktronic retrofit.

Parktronic and Catalytic Converters don't effect each other unless you can advise otherwise.... Strange quote

 

[xixal]

Hi, just had a quick look on eBay regarding the sports Cats but I can't find any, could you give me a steer or recommend a garage or person who might help. Thanks in advance xixal

 

[142 TPL]

Get someone to cut your cat open and remove the in side and weld back up