Occasional drop in power?? safe mode? sl55 amg

[NickH72]

HI all,

Just purchased a 53 SL55 AMG
I was driving it earlier today and a couple of times i kicked down to overtake whilst doing somwhere close to the legal limit and it kicked down ok, the revs went up by i didnt get any more power.. (or anywhere near 517hp)?? it just kinda wafted about the same speed. I was in sport mode.

Is this a common issue? is it some sort of safe mode? is it confused?

I also noticed that you cant rev it in neutral very hard above 3000 rpm, it starts off fine then tails off even if the rpm counter goes up.
Its not all the time.. so any ideas? typical merc are shut until Tues!

Cheers

Nick

 

[DSLiverpool]

Sounds like a slipping supercharger clutch but the more mech members will be along soon - do you have a good warranty on it ?

 

[NickH72]

I have been googling and it would appear to most likely be the intercooler pump failing..ecu shutting charger down, apparently MB replaced 500 last year on this engine.. i wonder if they provide it with any goodwill? arghh
apparently not a big job but will be £500 for sure..

 

[Scorcher]

I had my intercooler pump replaced by Mayfield garage when they installed my Kleemann Stage 2 - very common problem, and unless under warranty, won't be replaced by MB

Much cheaper to get an indie to do it!

Whereabouts in the UK are you? Mayfield are in Sussex and I'd thoroughly recommend them

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Intercooler pump most likely. Much cheaper to buy in the US. Get an upgraded Johnson pump like this one:

http://www.letmotorsports.com/mb.asp?model=sl55&category=all

IIRC there's a control in the ECU to stop over-revving in neutral.

 

[James Rothwell]

Deleted-

Sorry, complete load of rubbish. Didn't make sense after I had the original posters post.

 

[NickH72]

Thanks, it doesnt look like it will cost the earth then! thank god!

I am considering the DMS stage 2, how does the Kleemann or any other Mercedes tuner fair up?

If i get this, does the kit comprise of a new pump anyway?

I am based in Leatherhead Surrey.

Thank you for the responses so far,

Nick

 

[H13BS M]

it will defently be the intercooler coolent pump.they always die, on so meny of supercharged mercs.sthe standard one just doesnt last very long depeneding on how hard the car has been driven in its lifetime.They just stop coolin the charger proply, which then the ecu says that charger is getting 2 hot, so then puts the engine in limp mode.The best ic pump is a johnson cm30 ic pump from l.e.t motorsport in the states but have fun trying to get it as its pretty rare!!.They say are climate isnt hot enough to need much to keep the charger cool, but defo worth getting a heat exchanger for your charger too, so you can divert the heat away from the charger.with the pump and h/e your engine will be very happy indeed!code 3 heat exchanger is the one to get though its very good!!

 

[gbjeppm]

Nick

Welcome, I am based just up the road from you.

I go down to Olly (BlackC55 on this forum) at PCS in Horndean near Portsmouth for any work that I need doing, then I know that it is done properly.

 

[BlackC55]

We can put it on the Star and see what has come up but my money is in the IC pump.

 

[NickH72]

Hi and thanks.

Does anyone stock these in the UK, how much am i looking at to repair it?

Was thinking on the DMS upgrade, so uprating things like that can only help right?

Cheers

Nick

 

[Scorcher]

I'd happily vouch for Kleemann - great chaps, great products and prices have come down this year too

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Do a search for Ford Lightning intercooler pumps. It uses the same unit as the AMG but has slightly different electrical connectors. IIRC you cut off the new ones and replace with the ones from your current unit.

You should find a Ford dealer somewhere in the US with one in stock.

 

[NickH72]

Merc have diagnosed the problem to a Low temperature coolant pump which is £509 fitted.. does that sound right? apparently there are 2 pumps this is the other one to the intercooler pump?

 

[NickH72]

We can put it on the Star and see what has come up but my money is in the IC pump.

HI,

Any chance we can have a chat about this? [email protected] and i will give you a call or give u my number.

Regards

Nick

 

[partsspecialist]

If it is the intercooler air pump, or 'auxilary air pump' as our wshop asks for them by.
We have 2 in stock and MB have sold 381 in the last 12 months nationwide.
Retail is £442.75 inc vat
Forum price is £387.40 inc vat

 

[Swabes]

I have the same problem..

Nick, I have the same problem with my 03 SL55. It would be great to know where and how and what it cost to get it fixed

Thanks

 

[BlackC55]

We fixed it at my workshop.

A new intercooler pump was fitted to cure the issue. All ok from then on.

 

[stats007]

Assume the car was bought privately or this should have been fixed by the supplying dealer?

 

[Gridlock]

Forgive the mild hijack, but what does an intercooler pump do? The supercharger itself moves the air through the cooler, surely, and if it were pumping coolant to the intercooler then wouldn't this more accurately be called a chargecooler?

Or does the intercooler actually have air forced past it mechanically rather than just aerodynamically? Not seen this setup before but then mechanically I'm still at about 1994 tech