Noisy w211 e220cdi

[haydar]

Hi everyone

Wanted some advice on an issue I'm having with my w211 e220cdi. The car is a late 2002 and has covered some 100k miles.

The engine seems to have a clatter to it, which does not sound right. Reading previous reports I thought it might be the injectors and was on the verge of ordering some when the MB dealer tried some spares they had to just to check. It turns out that this did not solve the problem! (Lucky really as a set of 4 injectors costs £1400!!!!!!!)

So the question is, what could be the noise? Now there is also a noise from the rubber belt, which sounds like a bit of a whistle and when one turns the engine off there is sometimes a queak. This I've been told is likely to be the belt tensioner. Could this also be causing the clatter?

The MB guy here believes it could be tappets or something? Could it be anything else? Air con pump, alternator?

The one interesting thing was that just recently, after the car has run for a while, it does quieten down a bit.

Thanks for all advice.

PS. The car performs faultlessly. Flys up to over 125mph (200kmph).

 

[Parrot of Doom]

What oil is it using?

 

[haydar]

It's been serviced by Mercedes Benz so I guess it's the oil they generally use??

 

[Parrot of Doom]

I'd phone up and ask them.

 

[haydar]

Why? Do you think there could be an issue with the oil? If so what? Thanks

 

[haydar]

Are the tappets know to wear out on this engine? Could the noise be coming from a faulty tappet?

 

[Robbo]

the noise could be tappets. if non synthetic oil has been used, they could have become partly sludged up meaning that they are not filling with oil properly and therefore noisy.

You could try filling with fully synth like mobil 1 0W40 oil. This oil may well clear out some of the sludge and reduce the noise.

 

[haydar]

OK guys, an update on this. Took the rubber belt off the front and replaced the belt tensioner. Noice got a lot worse. A real metalic click. Took belt off and noice completely gone! Put belt back on and noise is back! Then tried a belt that was slightly longer (12mm) and noise not so bad but definately there! Noice get's worse when AC is turned on, but mechanic seem pretty sure it's the water pump. With the AC off he (very carefully) stretched the belt tensioner and the noice was back.

With the belt off he shook the water pump pully and there definately was a click there. It's hard to be 100% sure without a belt the size one can by pass the water pump completely and start the car. Anyway, I've got a water pump winging it's way to Pakistan at the moment (a surprising cheap part at £100) and let's see what gives.

PS. Can has always had mobile 1 fully synthetic oil used during services.

 

[Carlo]

Take a look at the free-wheel pully on the alternator.Check if it is not stuck.Common problem that will make a lot of noise.

Carlo

 

[haydar]

My alternator is not the clutch type I've been told. Can an alternator without the clutch be creating noise? Car has no electrical/battery problems.

 

[haydar]

#13

Today, 07:06 PM
haydar

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Question:
The noise that is heard is a metalic clicking! The noise got worse when the belt tensioner was replaced. Also, when the belt tensioner is manually extended while the engine is running, the noise get's worse. The noise is a loud harsh metalic click. The following items are connected to the belt, alternator, water pump, power steering and AC. So it's got to be one of these! With the AC off, the noise is still heard when the belt tensioner is extended so it's unlikely to be the AC. That leaves the alternator, water pump and power steering.
Which one of these can cause a metalic click? The power steering works flawlessly, the car gives no trouble from an electrical point of view and the car never gets hot. Even in a Pakistani climate. Please help.

 

[Dieselman]

Try using a stethoscope or a long screwdriver as a listening device on each of hte components on the front of the engine. You should detect the noise easily.

 

[Carlo]

Your'e 220 cdi should have a free-wheel pully.Check it before you change anything like waterpump etc...

 

[haydar]

OK and update:

Water pump changed (this item probably needed replacing anyway as it noisely) but the clicking has not gone! I'm pretty sure now it's not the AC or the power steering. The car only clicks when the belt is under load. Took belt off, put the car under load by putting it in drive and gently pressing the accelerator. No click at all. Car beautifully quiet (for a diesel). Put belt back on, clicking is back. Turn AC on clicking get's worse. Put the steering wheel on full lock with AC off, clicking get's worse.

Had a brand new belt tensioner put in before so pretty sure this is not the problem. Had the minor free wheel pulleys changed, no difference.

The only thing I can imagine now is the main drive pully? The main drive pulley has a rubber damper and I'm wondering if this had become weak? There is a slight anomoly here as the main drive pulley seems to be a little too far in causing the belt to rub very gently against the engine block. Also, it is possible to pull the main drive pulley outwards quite easily! Could it be this that is causing the problem. Like I said before, the noise is like two bit's of metal touching.

3 mechanics and I all tried the screw driver thing to see if we could work out where the noice is coming from but it's just not conclusive. Maybe again pointing to the main drive pulley!

The infuriating thing is that the car runs fantastically, probably better than most 220cdi's I've driven. On Saturday I travelled nearly 600 miles in it, mostly at over 100mph (once even saw 130mph) on the speedo. No smoke from the car. Accelerates fantastically. Hence now pretty sure it's not main engine related.

All advice appreciated.

 

[Dieselman]

If the dual mass pulley is splitting change it soon, it could wreck the chain cover and go out of ballance. It sounds like it is either loose or shot. A loose pulley will make a nasty knocking noise so it could be that.

 

[haydar]

Dieselman

Just to confirm the dual mass pulley is the one from the main engine block, or the main drive pulley as I've called it. It's the one that pushes the belt around?

Cheers

 

[haydar]

OK, seemed to have finally discovered the problem. It was the main crank pulley that was making the noise, the rubber damper had split or something. The MB guys have temporalily fixed it but it needs replacing.

 

[Dieselman]

Good job you found it before any damage occurred.

 

[haydar]

Yes, thanks everyone for helping. Now, just need to get one shipped over to Pakistan, which is an adventure in it's own right!