I've had a reoccuring problem on my 2003 S320 CDI for a number of weeks now. I've had the car to my local Merc specialist ( Auto Elite in Hull, who I find to be very professional and competent) a couple of times now but unfortunately the problem has returned. Any help therefore would be much appreciated. Sequence of events as follows:
1) Car went into a reduced power / torque state whilst exiting a roundabout to enter the slip road of a motorway a few weeks ago. Problem seems to occur when there is minimal load (accelerator) applied. Car essentially fells like it has 50% power, won't go down gears through pushing the throttle lower down and won't kick down. Restarting the car clears the problem.
2) I took the car to my specialist who diagnosed a faulty EGR valve. The valve was cleaned and I was told that the problem may reoccur because wear of the valve is allowing exhaust particulates to build up hence causing incorrect operation (sticking).
3) The car was fine for 2 weeks and circa 1000 miles. Then the problem returned. I fitted a brand new OEM EGR valve and the car was fine for 50 miles or so before the limp home mode was activated yet again.
4) I returned to my Merc specialist for the second time to have the fault codes read and yet more EGR valve fault codes were found and cleared. Following this the car ran fine for 300 miles this last week before the limp home mode appeared on Thursday (downshifting using tiptronic from 5th to 4th as catching slower traffic on incline) and again last night (with cruise control set to legal motorway limit).
I cannot see any signs of soot build up in the manifold where the EGR valve is sited and in the presence of a new EGR valve, it is now a mystery as to why the problem is still occuring. If anyone can help, your time would be much appreciated.
1) Car went into a reduced power / torque state whilst exiting a roundabout to enter the slip road of a motorway a few weeks ago. Problem seems to occur when there is minimal load (accelerator) applied. Car essentially fells like it has 50% power, won't go down gears through pushing the throttle lower down and won't kick down. Restarting the car clears the problem.
2) I took the car to my specialist who diagnosed a faulty EGR valve. The valve was cleaned and I was told that the problem may reoccur because wear of the valve is allowing exhaust particulates to build up hence causing incorrect operation (sticking).
3) The car was fine for 2 weeks and circa 1000 miles. Then the problem returned. I fitted a brand new OEM EGR valve and the car was fine for 50 miles or so before the limp home mode was activated yet again.
4) I returned to my Merc specialist for the second time to have the fault codes read and yet more EGR valve fault codes were found and cleared. Following this the car ran fine for 300 miles this last week before the limp home mode appeared on Thursday (downshifting using tiptronic from 5th to 4th as catching slower traffic on incline) and again last night (with cruise control set to legal motorway limit).
I cannot see any signs of soot build up in the manifold where the EGR valve is sited and in the presence of a new EGR valve, it is now a mystery as to why the problem is still occuring. If anyone can help, your time would be much appreciated.
