I get the impression something's wrong (x3)

[neilz]

Ok, 1997 W140 S320 LWB (M104)

Firstly: Very loud whirring from rear driver's side (presume fuel pump) - why? Is it serious? Should I get work done?

Secondly: Car takes a good while to start when cold, two turns usually 6-8 seconds each turn

Thirdly (and most seriously): First time this has happened - car wouldn't get out of second gear (auto) for a long stretch in Putney today. Revved up to 5000 revs, auto box didn't change. Gear selector in "D" for sure, wasn't slipping - didn't get to 3 before dropping down. Having stopped at 2 sets of lights suddenly all was fine again - but that shouldn't have happened should it?

Only done 65400 miles so far, not like it should be too worn.

Can anyone help suggest what's causing the above?

 

[frog1520]

Ok, 1997 W140 S320 LWB (M104)

Firstly: Very loud whirring from rear driver's side (presume fuel pump) - why? Is it serious? Should I get work done?

Secondly: Car takes a good while to start when cold, two turns usually 6-8 seconds each turn

Thirdly (and most seriously): First time this has happened - car wouldn't get out of second gear (auto) for a long stretch in Putney today. Revved up to 5000 revs, auto box didn't change. Gear selector in "D" for sure, wasn't slipping - didn't get to 3 before dropping down. Having stopped at 2 sets of lights suddenly all was fine again - but that shouldn't have happened should it?

Only done 65400 miles so far, not like it should be too worn.

Can anyone help suggest what's causing the above?

2. Hows the battery?

3. Was the engine / gearbox cold? As you probably know it will hold on to lower gears for longer while its warming up. Might have just been a glitch - I've had a few oddities on mine too, but then they disappear. Its when its stuck perm in 2nd you have to worry

 

[neilz]

2) Battery's apparently perfect (new, charging correctly when driven)

3) Warm - had just come off the A3 from an 80 mile drive!

Thanks for such a fast reply!

 

[frog1520]

2) Battery's apparently perfect (new, charging correctly when driven)

3) Warm - had just come off the A3 from an 80 mile drive!

Thanks for such a fast reply!

hmm not much excuse after 80 miles is there!

65K sounds a bit early for a gearbox problem though - let us know if you spot it again.

Around about 100K i started having problems with mine where it would not change up out of 2nd at all when it was cold. Took about 20 mins of driving the it was OK.

Strange question, but if you turn the lights on, do the symbols on the side of the gearstick light up OK? - i.e. is the D illuminated? When mine went, that light would be either off or flickering. As soon as it warmed up and the light came on solid, it was fine....

I can't remember what I had to get done to fix it (cost over a grand I think), but since then its done another 80K - touch wood etc...!

 

[neilz]

The light under D was on - I can't remember if it was solid or flickering though. It was very strange - happened for quite a long stretch where even at 5500 rpm it just wouldn't change and I really thought it had gone permanently - but then it started changing at 2000 revs again!

 

[neilz]

It was revving rather high today before changing gear but didn't get stuck in a gear this time. Could the long startup times and noisy fuel pump be related?

 

[frog1520]

It was revving rather high today before changing gear but didn't get stuck in a gear this time. Could the long startup times and noisy fuel pump be related?

If it gets stuck again, try changing it manually down to 2 and then up to 3 - see if that makes it change up.

One other thought - is the MAF sensor OK? When mine was on the way out, it caused all sorts of weirdness with the gear changes!

 

[neilz]

If it gets stuck again, try changing it manually down to 2 and then up to 3 - see if that makes it change up.

One other thought - is the MAF sensor OK? When mine was on the way out, it caused all sorts of weirdness with the gear changes!

That didn't make any difference when it happened. I think the MAF sensor is okay, I'm going to the garage tomorrow as the man there's got my old central locking pump which Carl at W140.co.uk wants back before he'll send me my new one.

 

[neilz]

Turns out it's tomorrow I'm going, but does anyone thing the long startup and the very loud fuel pump are related?

 

[nigel cross]

Sounds like blocked fuel filters and your auto fluid level is down.

 

[BTB 500]

Re. the gearbox, could be the electrical plate. Common problem on the 5-speed auto, sign is intermittently going into limp home mode (usually fixed in 3rd gear). Happened on my 1997 SL at about 45k miles. The good news is that it's not too major/expensive to fix, if it is this there are likely to be fault codes stored if you hook the car up to STAR.

 

[neilz]

Thought so re the ATF, and the fuel filter. So nothing worse than that, you think...

 

[neilz]

Re. the gearbox, could be the electrical plate. Common problem on the 5-speed auto, sign is intermittently going into limp home mode (usually fixed in 3rd gear). Happened on my 1997 SL at about 45k miles. The good news is that it's not too major/expensive to fix, if is this there are likely to be fault codes stored if you hook the car up to STAR.

It was gear 1 or 2, had to go up as high as 5500RPM to go at 25mph, and it hadn't happened before in over a month of owning it (thankfully). The fact it revs quite high before changing gear recently shows it may be low on ATF. Tomorrow I'll ask for the level to be checked and if the fuel filter should be changed while it has another couple of things done. I need to have some idea of what may be wrong as I'd have to pay by the hour for checks etc. to be done usually.