Limp home mode on cold start

[Russell1959]

I have a mercedes Vito w447 which on mornings where the temperature is 5c or below has problems driving from cold.I allow the engine to idle for 2 to 3 min then pull away..coil warning light flashes then traction control warning light comes on and stays on and limp home mode kicks in..cannot go above 10mph.Only when the water temp climbs above 50c does the Vito drive normally..if I try to drive before then the same problems occur...any thoughts

 

[Passo]

Have you got sound proofing mat fitted under bonnet?

This sounds stupid, but I had similar issues in summer - when in a hot day, van was parked in a sunshine, after starting engine wouldn't pull. I had to drive a few miles, stop, switch the ignition of for a few seconds, start again and the beast was back. It did that number of times until I realised there was a pattern. So when I went to a dealer, to do a service, I asked to check it, …and coincidentally I wanted to order this sound insulation, just because I wanted to make it a bit more quiet, and I didn't like the look of the "unfinished" product, as there were holes for plastic rivets etc.
When I went to take my van back, the mat was fitted, so I wanted to pay for it, but they said it is included, which was confusing for me and for them, as they didn't know why. And the they went through the paperwork and realised, that the sound insulation mat was a MB recommendation for the issue, as apparently there is a temperature sensor somewhere on top of the engine, and when you start it on hot or a cold day, and that one sensor is reading very different temperature than some other sensors around the engine, it does exactly that. So i did ask, why there is no recall for that, and they couldn't answer.

So basically that sound insulation also acts as thermal insulation, and makes the sensors measure similar temperature.

Sounds weird, but id did help with mine, so perhaps it is worth trying with yours?

 

[Russell1959]

Have you got sound proofing mat fitted under bonnet?

This sounds stupid, but I had similar issues in summer - when in a hot day, van was parked in a sunshine, after starting engine wouldn't pull. I had to drive a few miles, stop, switch the ignition of for a few seconds, start again and the beast was back. It did that number of times until I realised there was a pattern. So when I went to a dealer, to do a service, I asked to check it, …and coincidentally I wanted to order this sound insulation, just because I wanted to make it a bit more quiet, and I didn't like the look of the "unfinished" product, as there were holes for plastic rivets etc.
When I went to take my van back, the mat was fitted, so I wanted to pay for it, but they said it is included, which was confusing for me and for them, as they didn't know why. And the they went through the paperwork and realised, that the sound insulation mat was a MB recommendation for the issue, as apparently there is a temperature sensor somewhere on top of the engine, and when you start it on hot or a cold day, and that one sensor is reading very different temperature than some other sensors around the engine, it does exactly that. So i did ask, why there is no recall for that, and they couldn't answer.

So basically that sound insulation also acts as thermal insulation, and makes the sensors measure similar temperature.

Sounds weird, but id did help with mine, so perhaps it is worth trying with yours?

Thank you for your reply will pass it by my mechanic and also mercedes dealership where the Vito is at the moment...best regards Russell

 

[arking78]

Thank you for your reply will pass it by my mechanic and also mercedes dealership where the Vito is at the moment...best regards Russell

Hi Russell

I have the exact same problem you describe with my W447 van ... Did the insulation Passo suggested help at all?

I am going to put my van on laptop to get diagnostic. This is my first winter with the van. Problem only occurs when engine cold. I can keep turning off van and restarting until it's warm then no issue

Thanks Aaron

 

[Russell1959]

Hi Russell

I have the exact same problem you describe with my W447 van ... Did the insulation Passo suggested help at all?

I am going to put my van on laptop to get diagnostic. This is my first winter with the van. Problem only occurs when engine cold. I can keep turning off van and restarting until it's warm then no issue

Thanks Aaron

Aaron Hi ....I have my van with a mercedes specialist at the moment and hopefully he will come up with a solution ...I have not looked into the bonnet insulation as yet...will advise once I hear back from the garage...regards

 

[arking78]

Aaron Hi ....I have my van with a mercedes specialist at the moment and hopefully he will come up with a solution ...I have not looked into the bonnet insulation as yet...will advise once I hear back from the garage...regards

Just checked and I have no insulation on my van bonnet, so im going to add some and see if it helps, will let you know if it works

 

[Russell1959]

Just checked and I have no insulation on my van bonnet, so im going to add some and see if it helps, will let you know if it works

Aaron copy that ...
I seem to have a lining of sorts which I would not say is very insulating and certainly not as effective as the lining used on the V class...

 

[Russell1959]

Aaron copy that ...
I seem to have a lining of sorts which I would not say is very insulating and certainly not as effective as the lining used on the V class...

Aaron can I ask what engine is in your Vito.and have you had your engine tweaked?...about 8 months ago I had mine tweaked to around 180bhp from 136bhp and the garage where it's being looked at said he has come across this issue once before with a tweaked engine?...have you had any recall notices as I have where they have tweaked the emissions online with Eu regulations? Regards Russell

 

[arking78]

Aaron can I ask what engine is in your Vito.and have you had your engine tweaked?...about 8 months ago I had mine tweaked to around 180bhp from 136bhp and the garage where it's being looked at said he has come across this issue once before with a tweaked engine?...have youhad any recall notices as I have where they have tweaked the emissions online with Eu regulations? Regards Russell

Hi Russell. It's a 114 bluetec. 140hp but I had it remapped to 190hp.

I don't think this is the issue though as the remap just changed the van to a 119 which is 190hp. The engine, drivetrain and turbo are all the same on 114, 116 and 119. The only difference is the map. I think you can remap them more but I didn't bother.

I thought it might just be glow plugs. As it is the plug light that flashes on before limp mode. My van has 90k miles. Would make sense that diesel is not warm enough and it is trying to protect itself..... I'll put it on laptop this week

 

[Russell1959]

Aaron that is exactly the reason for the problem....I had mine tuned as well and I took it to a mercedes specialist Finch Motors who know Mercedes inside out and the main mechanic marcin's first question was have you had the car tuned...he said that the tune was not bad but the tweak had not factored in cold weather where the air is more dense and with the extra boost of the tune makes the air intake register over boosting and hence the van goes into limp home mode....Marcin took the engine map back to the mercedes standard map and I then paid him to do a tune....the van has no cold start running issues and pulls like a train....the place is called Finch Motors in Brentford they know their stuff ....give them a call regards Russell

 

[arking78]

Aaron that is exactly the reason for the problem....I had mine tuned as well and I took it to a mercedes specialist Finch Motors who know Mercedes inside out and the main mechanic marcin's first question was have you had the car tuned...he said that the tune was not bad but the tweak had not factored in cold weather where the air is more dense and with the extra boost of the tune makes the air intake register over boosting and hence the van goes into limp home mode....Marcin took the engine map back to the mercedes standard map and I then paid him to do a tune....the van has no cold start running issues and pulls like a train....the place is called Finch Motors in Brentford they know their stuff ....give them a call regards Russell

Aaron that is exactly the reason for the problem....I had mine tuned as well and I took it to a mercedes specialist Finch Motors who know Mercedes inside out and the main mechanic marcin's first question was have you had the car tuned...he said that the tune was not bad but the tweak had not factored in cold weather where the air is more dense and with the extra boost of the tune makes the air intake register over boosting and hence the van goes into limp home mode....Marcin took the engine map back to the mercedes standard map and I then paid him to do a tune....the van has no cold start running issues and pulls like a train....the place is called Finch Motors in Brentford they know their stuff ....give them a call regards Russell

Hi Russell

I'm not 100% convinced...

If this is a solution would it not always go into limp mode if the outside air temp is the same? When my van is warmed up slightly it doesn't go into limp mode ... The intake air temperature is probably the same?

Glad it worked out for you though... I might try it alright

Thanks

 

[vitow447]

Hi,

I have the exact same issue as the OP. Have 2018 Vito 116 remapped to 190bhp.

Has anyone resolved the issue?

 

[damo1023]

Hello,

New guy here... Se problem, 2020 Vito 114 remapped to 190hp. Also have bonnet insulation already installed.

Has anyone solved it?

 

[vitow447]

Hello,

New guy here... Se problem, 2020 Vito 114 remapped to 190hp. Also have bonnet insulation already installed.

Has anyone solved it?

Hi,

I removed the map and it solved the issue. Didnt want to get another map so installed a racechip plug n play ecu boost with Bluetooth control on my phone. Works well.

 

[vitow447]

Hi,

I removed the map and it solved the issue. Didnt want to get another map so installed a racechip plug n play ecu boost with Bluetooth control on my phone. Works well.

I also had bonnet insulation before and during time with the remap. Can't say if it had any effect on the problem.

 

[damo1023]

Huh removing map and going back to standard 114

Have also 639 115 and it goes far better than standard 447 114.

Now in a dilemma if is selling old one really a good idea??

 

[vitow447]

Huh removing map and going back to standard 114

Have also 639 115 and it goes far better than standard 447 114.

Now in a dilemma if is selling old one really a good idea??

Going back to standard to hard to take but if you can't drive from start on cold mornings thers no point in having the van at all. It will wreck your head, believe me. The racechip I have gives good fuel return and power now. No issues in the cold.

 

[damo1023]

Just a thought- when remapping 114 to about 190-200hp why not just use standard mercedes 119 map?