Lazy engine? New member...

[Floyd78]

Hello everyone, I am new around and I have a question about the engine on my 1,5 year old C-class...Namely, there's a slight delay between the reaction of the engine when I press the pedal, especially at low RPM. The first time I took it to the garage here in Holland they re-installed the software and said I should come back if the problem persisted, which is what I did today. They just called me back to tell me that I could pick up the car and that there was nothing they could do. It's not in my head as one of their mechanics drove it and said that indeed he knew what I was talking about. The car just does not respond as quickly as it should

Have any of you guys experience anything like it and is there a solution to the problem or should I just accept it the way it is? It is a 2.2 diesel engine..

Many thanks in advance!

 

[oscarisapc]

Turbo lag

I am not technical but that sounds like turbo lag and seems to be normal. The turbo charger needs engine revs to work properly and since you haven't got many revs at that point it isn't giving you maximum air induction and power. Yours could be on the limits of what M-B regard as abnormal. Maybe the more technical members here can advise whether there are some specialised tests you can have done. I had this problem in my previous C-Class and even after I purchased a different engine management chip it was still there to some degree. It put me off diesels with automatic gearbox for a while. I have now got a W203 320 diesel which still does not have a razor sharp response but makes up for it once you get going with lots and lots of torque. I can be overtaken on roundabouts by boy racers coming up on the inside who can go from 0 to 30 faster than I can - but who cares, its a diesel and I love it.

 

[Floyd78]

I am not technical but that sounds like turbo lag and seems to be normal. The turbo charger needs engine revs to work properly and since you haven't got many revs at that point it isn't giving you maximum air induction and power. Yours could be on the limits of what M-B regard as abnormal. Maybe the more technical members here can advise whether there are some specialised tests you can have done. I had this problem in my previous C-Class and even after I purchased a different engine management chip it was still there to some degree. It put me off diesels with automatic gearbox for a while. I have now got a W203 320 diesel which still does not have a razor sharp response but makes up for it once you get going with lots and lots of torque. I can be overtaken on roundabouts by boy racers coming up on the inside who can go from 0 to 30 faster than I can - but who cares, its a diesel and I love it.

Thank you very much for your input, this is exactly how I should have explained the engine behaviour, and I probably would have if English was my mothertongue As you say, it is a diesel, and it is automatic (I think this also contributes a lot). It is my first Mercedes, first diesel and first automatic and I guess this is how they work and I should just accept it the way it is. The only reason I took it back to the garage was that one of their mechanics confirmed the problem and I thought they would do something about it, as one of the receptionists said he was aware of similar complaints but not with new C-class models but with E-class. Another confusing thing was that I would get the same feel whether I am in Economy or Sport mode, and I thought it should be a bit sharper when in Sport. On the contrary, I would sometimes notice something that i can only describe as en engine stall when in sport mode, if that makes any sense...

Anyway, thanks a lot, I am off now to pick up the car and I am anxious to hear their explanation..