SLK 32 AMG - Engine Power Loss

[Abid_Nash]

About a month ago, I bought a 2001 slk32 amg with 19k miles from a mercedes dealer. I took it into a mercedes dealer as I have been experiencing performance loss on occasion. They have not been able to find any fault and say the car is immaculate. I'm not sure if they know what they're doing becasue as soon as I picked up the car, the fault reoccurred!

Basically if I red line the car and then back off followed by further accelerating, the car doesnt move any faster. Sometimes it will go as if there isn't a supercharger, othertimes the revs will increase but the car wont move faser, or somtimes it will kick down a gear and then not know what to do! Then othertimes, it will be perfect.

Can anyone throw some light on this one please?

 

[jgevers]

air mass sensor

 

[Brian WH]

Basically if I red line the car and then back off followed by further accelerating, the car doesnt move any faster. Sometimes it will go as if there isn't a supercharger, othertimes the revs will increase but the car wont move faser, or somtimes it will kick down a gear and then not know what to do! Then othertimes, it will be perfect.

Can anyone throw some light on this one please?

You have in a way answered your own question. The ECU is being fooled by your driving technique, you back off then accelerate again. The ECU backs off and then is confused by your change of mind. Depending on the situation it should possibly change down or just accelerate. However it is not a normal situation and the car is confused.

If you drive normally I am sure it will react as it should. If you are not happy with this then buy a manual box, and then you can abuse it all you want.

 

[GrahamC230K]

Come on Brian, this is suppossed to be AMG's finest. An out and out performance car. If it can't cope with being gunned, backing off for whaever reason, the going again, it isn't fit for purpose.

Get on some AMG specific forums. there may be gearbox ECU or ECU updates you need.

 

[Brian WH]

Come on Brian, this is suppossed to be AMG's finest. An out and out performance car. If it can't cope with being gunned, backing off for whaever reason, the going again, it isn't fit for purpose.

Get on some AMG specific forums. there may be gearbox ECU or ECU updates you need.

If you are right Graham then an AMG specialist is required to check the ECU.

 

[Billy]

This sounds very similar to what my C32 did, it also put the car in what always seemed to be the wrong gear & would hesitate before reselecting. But drive the car hard & everything was fine. AMG came & inspected the car & said "everything was within set perameters", but I have since heard that there was a softwear upgrade & a gearbox upgrade.

I would advise taking your car to a GOOD Dealer. (if you can find one)

 

[andy_cyp]

No probs like that on my c32
More than anything, if im in sport mode and im backing off after accelerating its the gearbox that gets confused and not the engine.

What i have leant over the 6 month period ive had it is to use the tiptronic whilst in sport mode as it hangs on to the gear ive selected and wont back off.

For normal driving use the W mode.

One other thing too use nothing but BP ULTIMA OR SHELL OPTIMAX in your engine, when flooring it youll know why. I was using 95 ron fuel and couldnt understand why car was sluggish and un responsive, now i know why.

Andy

 

[Abid_Nash]

Thank you for your replies. Brian, what you have said regarding driving technique is what one Mercedes dealer also said. But I argued Graham's point. The car is built to be raced hence 0-60 in 5 seconds and driving style should not affect performance - well not to the degree of the problem otherwise I might as well have bought a standard SLK. I had an SMG M3 prior and that never gave me any problems. Anyway, the car is booked in next week to the dealer where I bought it who seemed more than friendly - already a better service than when the car went previously last week. Will let you know the outcome. Having read a few sites, several people in the past have said it is to do with the Air Mass Sensor. Is this an easy problem to identify? It did not appear on the diagnostics report. Many thanks

 

[andy_cyp]

Thank you for your replies. Brian, what you have said regarding driving technique is what one Mercedes dealer also said. But I argued Graham's point. The car is built to be raced hence 0-60 in 5 seconds and driving style should not affect performance - well not to the degree of the problem otherwise I might as well have bought a standard SLK. I had an SMG M3 prior and that never gave me any problems. Anyway, the car is booked in next week to the dealer where I bought it who seemed more than friendly - already a better service than when the car went previously last week. Will let you know the outcome. Having read a few sites, several people in the past have said it is to do with the Air Mass Sensor. Is this an easy problem to identify? It did not appear on the diagnostics report. Many thanks

What was the outcome nash ??

 

[benzyone]

sorry to bring up old topics but I have the exact same problem and would like to know the conclusion ?

thanks
Matt

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Take a look here. Last few posts on the thread sound like the same issue? Suggests fuel pump.

http://www.amgpower.com/community/viewtopic.php?p=72663

 

[Bazzle]

There IS a current software and small hardware upgrade.
Also the IC pump blows the fuses and needs repalcing to keep enough fluid circulating.
Aslo unforunately the MB Intercoolers leak and coolant gets into inlet tract.

See many posts on http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r170-slk-class/

Bazzle

 

[miro]

About a month ago, I bought a 2001 slk32 amg with 19k miles from a mercedes dealer. I took it into a mercedes dealer as I have been experiencing performance loss on occasion. They have not been able to find any fault and say the car is immaculate. I'm not sure if they know what they're doing becasue as soon as I picked up the car, the fault reoccurred!

Basically if I red line the car and then back off followed by further accelerating, the car doesnt move any faster. Sometimes it will go as if there isn't a supercharger, othertimes the revs will increase but the car wont move faser, or somtimes it will kick down a gear and then not know what to do! Then othertimes, it will be perfect.

Can anyone throw some light on this one please?

Things to look at
- camshaft actuator
- wiring harness to actuator
- camshaft sensor
- crankshaft sensor
- MAF (pierburg insert replacement)

Depending on the age of the car it needs a diagnostic reading and the engine faults looked at. All of the module adaptations need to be set back to zero - engine and transmission adaptations.

There are 3 sensors in my list and none of them are serious or major work. The wiring fault can be one of the wires which rubs on the intake manifold and wears through the insulation. It is an area easily checked by eye.

 

[markbe]

sorry to bring up old topics but I have the exact same problem and would like to know the conclusion ?

thanks
Matt

Hi Matt,
along with all the excellent suggestions from everybody,also,
change the fuel filter.

Regards Mark.

 

[benzyone]

MB have told me its the Gearbox ecu ??

£470 + Vat ! !

Thats what there fault codes say.

Any thoughts ??????

 

[awg454]

Hi I had a similar problem on my e55,if you accercelerated fairly hard up to quite a high speed!! then backed off the car went flat for a while and wouldnt pull very hard,it was some sort of valve in the supercharger,i was told by my dealer it was a known problem.

 

[stats007]

Fault codes don't always tell the full story - MB seem to take them as gospel - they're an indication of something not working correctly - though in this case it's plausible.

 

[miro]

Fault codes don't always tell the full story - MB seem to take them as gospel - they're an indication of something not working correctly - though in this case it's plausible.

Im wondering if damage to the wiring harness doesnt produce the same result.

 

[Robbo]

Whats the betting that after replacing the ECU at great expense the problem will reappear!

 

[miro]

Whats the betting that after replacing the ECU at great expense the problem will reappear!

I will bet that they know what it is and can fix it cheaply but want the upsell.