Re:EPC problem

[chesterpiglet]

Hi all
I was on here a few weeks ago with a problem with the car cutting out. I had a new cam position sensor fitted as this showed up on the Star machine. I left home this morning and it didn't feel quite right when I started it but off I went. About 2 miles up the road it cut out and I got EPC on the computer visit workshop. I called the breakdown service and in the meantime I disconnected the battery. After 20 mins I reconnected it and kept churning the car over and lo and hehold after about 5 mins it did start but got ABS BAS fault lights and then briefly EPC but the car didn't stop this time. It appears then that the fault might not have been the CPS but the EPC?
Any help at all would be gratefully received as always!
Regards from France Rob!!!

 

[chesterpiglet]

Re:EPC

I should have said that initially it was EPC but then I got Electronic Power Control. I have had a quick look at some threads and I always run the car quite low on fuel(I know I shouldn't), I think I read somewhere that the system is pressurised and will cut out if there is not much fuel in it? Do you think this could be the problem?

 

[grober]

its important to distinguish between the cam position sensor and the crank position sensor. The crank position sensor is quite a common fault and leads to the engine stopping suddenly and cannot be restarted. HOWEVER sometimes because the fault is actually induced by engine heat if you wait till the engine cools the crank position sensor starts working again. Eventually it will fail completely tho. Your fault sounds like a crank position sensor not a cam one.

In terms of the warning light display------ that could have been caused by you disconnecting the battery or the battery voltage being low after all your attempts to start?

 

[chesterpiglet]

Hi there
I meant crank position sensor, which was replaced as it had shown up as a fault on the star machine. The symptons were exactly the same this morning except I was driving along and the car wasn't just idling which it was on the previous 2 occasions when it cut out. (although this time I got the EPS Electronic Power Control come up on the computer)The 1st time was on the garage forecourt and I thought I'd just run out of diesel, after much turning over again it started, as it did on the second time. I then had the CPS changed and had driven 2000 miles with no problem until today............

 

[grober]

Is it possible you got a poor quality pattern part or faulty replacement CPS?

 

[chesterpiglet]

Hi
The garage is a Mercedes Independant Specialist and said he fitted a MB one, he also showed me the one he had taken off. I am really wondering if it is lack of fuel, going around a bend on a hill etc etc. The difference this time is on both previous occassions the engine was idling, this time it was under load and I got the EPC light come on.
Regards Rob

 

[grober]

How about a faulty or corroded engine earth strap?

 

[Rorcus]

This happened to my 320 3 weeks ago.. kept getting EPC - Visit workshop beep and complete shutdown coast to the side of the road, mostly when I put her under light load.

Mine was the short plastic fuel line from the Filter housing to the feed pump, I could see it was damp around the pump end and when I shut her off you could see air bubbles fizzing slightly as it sucked air back in to the line which in turn was allowing the fuel to drain back to the tank so this would cause her to crank for ages before restarting as she had to refill the filter housing and rail.

Pull the engine cover off and take a look at the clear line out of the filter housing, before I changed mine when she was cutting out under load you could see tons of air in the line running through it on tick over and then when I turned her off you could see the fuel drain back and the line empty.

Now I have a new one on there (about 5 min diy replacement) the line is completely solid with fuel with no air never drains back and of course no more EPC Power issue.

This is one like mine was except mine was more obvious like a sodastream
YouTube - W210 air in fuel pipe 0001

 

[chesterpiglet]

Hi there
Many thanks for the reply. I will have a look tomorrow when I get a chance. The more I think about it the more I suspect my problems were/are due to very low fuel, going up a hill and then around a corner too! It seems given your problems too that if air gets in the EPC shuts the power off to the pump? Anyway I have done another 350 miles since mine last stopped and it was 2000 miles before that. I am hoping that always having at least a 1/4 tankful and more will keep it at bay! Diesel here(France) today has dropped a bit again and is down to £1.16 now at the cheapest garages. I did a 121 mile run today and averaged 46.9mpg so was quite pleased with that. What do you get out of yours?
Thanks again