My car just broke down

[PeterE320Cdi]

I just got a call from my wife, the E class has broken down. Apparently lost all power while going up a hill and now will not restart. It is showing 1 malfunction ASR. The AA except it to take an hour to arrive and then I am not sure what they will do as we only have roadside assist. Which says they will take you to a garage if they can not restart the car. As it's a Sunday I assume most garages will be close, does anyone know if they are likely to bring the car home?

 

[verytalldave]

Not unless you have recovery - which you say you don't. However, if the nearest Mercedes garage is further than your home, you might be able talk him round.

 

[television]

Peter this could be the fan mod that cuts the engine and blows a fuse in the control box.


Open control unit box,, un plug the fan and replace fuse K40/4f4.

The other is Crankshaft sensor.

 

[ibrar]

Don't worry, get the car towwed home and then when Monday comes around, book it in with the AA to get it towwed to a garage of choice. This will come under the same call-out so don't worry if your thinking if it will use another one.

I'm in constant use of the RAC (usually for stupid things), so I know a few tricks when it comes with roadside recovery!

 

[E55.AMG]

Hope it's nothing serious mate.

On a lighter note, if my missus broke down somewhere she would expect me to be there within five minutes, even if she was in Australia or something.

 

[whitenemesis]

The AA will recover to your choice if they can't repair. You don't have Mobilo?

 

[jadefox]

Hope it's nothing serious mate.

On a lighter note, if my missus broke down somewhere she would expect me to be there within five minutes, even if she was in Australia or something.

Well of course!!

 

[PeterE320Cdi]

Thanks for the advice. The AA came out quite quickly but as we only have the cheap cover they would only take the car to the nearest garage which luckly was Coverdale II (a merc specialist in Bovey Tracey). When I opted for the low level of cover I did not consider what would happen on a Sunday when garages are closed. Turns out the AA take you to the garage and leave you there even if it is shut. It's a good job they were only 15 miles from home so I could go and collect them. My car is not serviced by Mercedes so no Mobilo.

Good news - spoke to the guy who runs Coverdale and he came out and collected the keys from his post box, moved the car into his garage and will look at it Monday.

Bad news - while driving to collect my wife in her car it started to overheat, temp at the top of the red. Checked it out and the coolant was low so have treated it to a bottle of tesco mineral water which allowed us to drive home at normal temperatures but the water level dropped a couple of inchs during the drive. How can both cars break the same day!! I have to work out how to get to Gatwick on Monday now.

 

[television]

Peter if you can check out that fuse that I put up, if it has blown you just have to unplug the little fan in the same box and that is the fix it is so simple.

Just one fuse

 

[television]

National Express 2 hourly service from Exeter £15 return to Gatwick

 

[PeterE320Cdi]

Hi Malcolm

Thanks for the tip. If the fuse was blown would the car start as when I went to collect my wife I tried the car and it started fine and seemed to be running normally?

Cheers, Peter.

 

[television]

Hi Malcolm

Thanks for the tip. If the fuse was blown would the car start as when I went to collect my wife I tried the car and it started fine and seemed to be running normally?

Cheers, Peter.

OK that clears that one. this means that it is the crankshaft sensor that I also mentioned £50 from bosh and easy to fit

 

[television]

With you other car that boiled up,,, It could have been that the car is not used on that many long or fast journeys.

If the water level was low that could have caused it to overheat, water is pushed out under these conditions and when you re filled it its possible that there was an air lock so that when you stopped the car it gives the appearance of being low again.

I would top it up,, then squeeze the bottom big hose to get any air out and try again. do keep your eyes on the temp gauge making sure that it does heat up within the correct time. Once overheated the thermostat could be US

 

[reflexboy]

Malcolm-You need to go on Matermind dear boy-You seem to have a knowledge of absolutely everything and always seem to be available when people need your assistance. Bet you don't get this level of service on the Beemer forum.

 

[Silestanix]

Malcolm-You need to go on Matermind dear boy-You seem to have a knowledge of absolutely everything and always seem to be available when people need your assistance. Bet you don't get this level of service on the Beemer forum.

Having a 'Beemer...I have to agree...you don't get service like this.

 

[PeterE320Cdi]

My cars all sorted now, seems the break down was linked to the poor starting as the garage found some leaks around the fuel filter housing and fuel pipes. I also got them to sort the leak by the injector and look at the rear suspension as one tyre was wearing badly at the side. New upper and lower struts and a new tyre have the car feeling stable again at motorway speeds.

 

[television]

Thank you for posting back Peter,, we always wonder what happens sometimes,, and its good to pass the info on

 

[glojo]

I do hope you received good service from Coverdale II as I cannot speak highly enough of this individual. He has always been a first class technician and hopefully his businees will go from strength to strength.

Regards
John

 

[PeterE320Cdi]

John, I am happy with the service - in summary he: Came out on a Sunday so my car was not parked on the road overnight, Phoned following the diagnostics to let me know the problem/prices, Let me leave the car all week as I was working away, Fitted the same brand/model tyre as on the other back wheel and kept the old parts to show me the damage.

On a different subject, my wifes car used 2.5l of water last sun/mon so I added a bottle of Radweld then completed a 500 mile round trip with no further problems.

 

[Madeira Jon]

Peter, I dont know if you car has a crossflow radiator, but I was always told my motor mechanics. NEVER to add Radweld to that type.