Help! soot/smoke, erg? injectors? flow meter??

[gavatron06]

Need advice! Very very smokey/sooty exhaust on my 02' E220 W211 tried injector cleaner all sorts of emission lowering fuel additives, new air filter, cleaned ERG & air flow meter still no luck.

No problems starting, smoke not too bad when cold but when at operating temp say 1/2 idle for a few min, hit the throttle and get a huge plum of black smoke, keeps coming even after a good rev. The Tarmac darkens under the exhaust if revved on the spot. Every time I get out of the car I get a really strong sooty smell. Slightly hesitant to pick under hard acceleration but I've only had the car for 2months now, my first auto, not sure if this is due to the auto box. Seems to run fine not lumpy not missing at idle or at any rev. Dont know if its related but my Intercooler pipe loosened it self twice, had to secure with Jubliee clips and plenty of tie wraps.

The obvious thing to do would be to get it on Starr, any clues on how accurate this is, had bad experiencies in the past where diagnostics have lead to costly parts being installed without fixing the issue!
Given the age of the car and cost of 1 or more of the above parts I really want to be 90% sure of the problem before plugging in.

I'm fairly sure it's a component in the title? Is there a test I can perform to confirm or rule out the problem. Like multimeter on the air flow meter, unplug the ERG etc.

Sorry for da long post any help would be much appreciated

 

[walsi]

Hi ya, if it was me i would take to it to a friendly garage and just get them to do an mot smoke test on it, that will soon tell you if it is a problem or it is just normal smoke from a diesel

Martin

 

[Buffers]

How many miles has your car done? it could very well be worn flaps in the inlet manifold as you appear to have done all the other usual suspects. They are many posts and threads on this not uncommon problem. Also it does not show up as a fault as it is mechanical.

 

[gavatron06]

How many miles has your car done? it could very well be worn flaps in the inlet manifold as you appear to have done all the other usual suspects. They are many posts and threads on this not uncommon problem. Also it does not show up as a fault as it is mechanical.

Thanks I'll look up the worn flaps, millage is low 85k

 

[panason1c]

A very simple cause could be a badly blocked air filter but i assume this has been checked?

Another possible cause is a faulty 'maf' unit

 

[Buffers]

I believe a faulty maf might come up as a fault code. Might be wrong of course!
Don't start disconnecting components as car will go into limp mode. Have you cleaned out the maf?

 

[panason1c]

I believe a faulty maf might come up as a fault code. Might be wrong of course!
Don't start disconnecting components as car will go into limp mode. Have you cleaned out the maf?

Faulty maf's dont always throw a fault code.

 

[gavatron06]

I believe a faulty maf might come up as a fault code. Might be wrong of course!
Don't start disconnecting components as car will go into limp mode. Have you cleaned out the maf?

Yes cleaned with electrical contact cleaner halfords finest! Noticed the maf has special securing posi-drive heads with a raised centre, mine have been replaced crudely with wood screws before I got the car, it's possible the previous owner knew it was faulty, seen the maf price and decided to sell!9

 

[Tinkerer]

I would whip the EGR valve off and check that for soot, you will probably find it is all clagged up and not passing much air.

 

[gavatron06]

?? was checking air intake pipes for blockages etc. just realised if travelling at speed in wet weather there's nothing to stop rain entering the intake and going right to the filter? does the air filter not have to be dry?

I noticed a 2 pin loom plug unconnected (brown green wires), just beside the SBC block any one have any ideas? thought unused plugs were blanked? this looks like it had been plugged in previously but wouldn't reach to anything nearby?? strange!! hope the photos came out

 

[gavatron06]

I would whip the EGR valve off and check that for soot, you will probably find it is all clagged up and not passing much air.

Thanks, that was the first think I tried. Here it is degreaser setting in! From its position in the the photo would the gasses be sent to exhaust or recirculated?

 

[gavatron06]

A very simple cause could be a badly blocked air filter but i assume this has been checked?

Another possible cause is a faulty 'maf' unit

Yea thanks double checked all the pipes tonight, does the entry into the turbo seem ok, looks like a sloppy non merc attempt to make it air tight?

 

[duncanh]

I had the same smoking problem.

The cause was a badly sooted-up inlet manifold. However mine had a good excuse (270k miles). I would be surprised if yours is choked enough at 85k miles to be a problem..

The only solution was removal and cleaning of the inlet manifold (I left this to an expert).

Not only has the smoking stopped, but the car is running a lot better (faster!).

 

[gavatron06]

I had the same smoking problem.

The cause was a badly sooted-up inlet manifold. However mine had a good excuse (270k miles). I would be surprised if yours is choked enough at 85k miles to be a problem..

The only solution was removal and cleaning of the inlet manifold (I left this to an expert).

Not only has the smoking stopped, but the car is running a lot better (faster!).

Where exactly is the inlet manifold? I assume its #101 in this diagram?
.
.
.

 

[jay1983]

You should have a seal that fits around your turbo inside your intake pipe. Mine was missing so went to mb and ordered 1. Was only £4 and resembles an inch thick red rubber band

 

[jay1983]

101 is your manifold btw

 

[paultredgett]

Heater plugs....have you changed them because if you have a faulty one it will cause the problems you are having especially at cold.....my missis's Vauxhall signum has two faulty heater plugs although not recorded in the ecu print out!!! It starts ok but smokes and lumpy until you get going then once warm drives fine......similar??

 

[charles UK]

I am experiencing low power from my W210, I took it to a one man band back street specialist and his machine told him that the erg and heater pump was faulty even though i just had the erg cleaned recently. He said the the erg would cause the low power and cleaning them is a waist of time and that it needed replacing so i booked it in for the following week, he was supposed to come a pic it up but was a no show and his phones has been dead ever since.

Anyway, I would like to know if the erg would cause lack of power? by the way it's not always low on power sometimes it fly but not for long. Had 2 mafs in it, last one genuine.