W202 C200 Auto box and lack of power problems- Fixes itself by turning off ign???

[CompR]

As title really, I don't know auto boxes really, but these seem like two problems that are linked.

Basically now and again, almost always at very slow speeds, the car becomes incredibly sluggish for the rpm its at, barely driveable if trying to accelerate back up to speed, and usually (but seemingly not always) refuses to kick down while doing this.

Sometimes it seems like its stuck in a higher gear when stopped too, struggling not to stall and hunting when on the brakes in drive at a standstill. If I pull off when its doing this it will always be very sluggish.

No warning lights show, and if I stop, turn the ign off then straight back on it works perfectly for a bit, then does it again after a while.

Any ideas? Must be electrical due to it fixing by simply stopping and turning off, but is either box based and thats making the engine going in to limp home mode, or is both engine and box based.

Considering I do around 140 miles a day in this car, this is not ideal!

 

[gtvlusso]

Sounds like the car is in "limp" mode. is it a diesel?

MAF going bad can cause these symptoms, resetting the ignition clears the fault for a while, but really - it needs to get STAR analysis.

Check your gearbox oil level, engine oil level and so on - probably not much you can do, but worth having a poke about!

 

[CompR]

Normal 2litre petrol auto.

I'll check out the usual suspects, clean the maf, check the trans fluids, soon as I get home, as long as it will make it that is!!!

 

[CompR]

Ok, update! Its NOT the box, as I managed to make it happen near home so drove it back like that to check, its the ENGINE.

Massive lack of power, but rough running too, not even sure if its running on all 4. Happens in neutral or when driving.

BUT the second you turn off and on, its fine again, sometimes for a few min, sometimes for 30min+

Everything looks ok though, hmm, any ideas? Surely tis not limp home mode as that would be smooth but slow, this is rough as hell.

 

[BlackC55]

It sounds like an air mass sensor fault

 

[CompR]

Possibly, seems to happen as soon as it goes below about 1500-2000rpm when slowing/stopping.

Can drive for 100 miles on motorway at 80 no worries.

 

[gtvlusso]

Yerp - sounds like MAF.

 

[CompR]

Well, after wasting money getting another one, its NOT the air flow meter.

Im reckoning the Lamda sensor? Certainly electrical, and almost always at very low rpm and seems to put it in limp home mode.

Lamda fooked, making it run super lean/rich which is knocking it into limp home?

 

[NW_Merc]

What about the crank sensor?

 

[jonc78]

I had exactly the problems you described a few months ago. It turned out to be the electroplate on the gearbox. Cost £140 for the part from mercedes and 2 hours labour to change at my local indie. The fault did show up their diagnostic reader.

 

[BlackC55]

My advice is to get it put on a star to get it diagnosed firstly. No point in bunging parts on it until it fixes it. Proper diagnosis will save you £ in the long run.

 

[frady5]

what was it then?!

Hi Please let me know what fixed it, mine has the same issue.

cheers
fred

 

[frady5]

Hi

My car was solved with a new coil pack

Rgds

 

[CompR]

I still have this problem, its not too noticable on petrol, but much worse on LPG. I've been driving round it, but its not ideal.

Plugs helped slightly.
MAF didnt seem to help.

Pretty much fine if I keep it above 3000rpm, but terrible near idle.

Will a Star diagnostics system sense a weak coilpack? Cant see it doing that tbh, itd just sense a missfire maybe, and I know its doing that, lol.

Lambda sensor was another issue I think it could be, especially as though it doesnt seem to be any less economical, now and again at idle or from a cold start it smells a little fuely.

I take it ONLY Merc specialists have a Star diagnostics system? Its a Merc only thing?

 

[martyz]

look at/clean,replace MAF just been through same stuff

 

[horgantrevor]

any update

take and get faults read on a star machine but make the fault happen when the car is being tested

good luck its the fastest way to get it sorted

also check engine for any pipes that are broken or loose and all electrical connectors

keep us posted

 

[transit1]

hi guys first time on site this is my second c180 love the car wen i bought car exhaust sounded goosed very throaty specially in morning so replaced whole system europarts 280 pound car still ran lumpy two weeks l8r still not happy was told by mechanic ther was a misfire so he changed plugs car ran betr but not great he reckon i destroyed new cat as pure petrol ran thru it caused by misfire took it to deustche tek glasgow they said mas air flow metre was goosed so replaced that to still throaty specially in morning from cold have been advised now to replace cat to merc original any help would greatly be appreciated in acquiring this item car is 1999 w reg c180 single down pipe running out of patience and cash but will solder on as really like my poor mans merc.had car out on run to newcastle and felt as if she was holding bak on power at about 60 mph yellow triangle in dash flasshed repeatedly also happend on speed build up 0 to 60 reckon i to heavy handed wae ma foot then al of a sudden at 60mph on motorway she felt as if she broke thru and started pulling like a train and then esp abs and bas light came on and stayed on all the way home this is best car has drove since i bot it .with these lights on heeeeeelp out this morn no lights on dash feels sluggish again big sigh any way gonna replace cat as feel as if this is wer ma problems started so any one got one thats in good working order let me no soorry for rant and thanxs for any assistance