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W202 C200- Cutting out and wont restart for ~30min- Any ideas?

CompR

Active Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2011
Messages
64
Hi guys. I have a problem with the wifes W202 C200 auto, and it's driving me nuts.

Generally it drives fine (barring a slight off idle shunt, but can live with that), but sometimes (about 50% lately), after driving mostly stop start slow stuff for a good hour or so (seems only when at full operating temp, 2/3 up the temp gauge, maybe more) it will just cut out and refuse to restart.

If you try to restart it, it does various things....
Sometimes it will jump up to ~1000rpm and immediately cut out again, sometimes it wont even do that, just turns over on the starter.
Sometimes if you keep your foot to the floor as you turn it over it will rev up to the limiter, but if you lift off for a moment and then put your foot back down the revs drop like the ignition is off and it immediately stalls.
It's impossible to hold the revs steady when its like this too, it just cuts out unless you have your foot nailed as you turn it over, and keep it nailed.

Then, sometimes after a few mins, sometimes after leaving it for 30+, it will restart and drive like nothing has happened. This is far from ideal as it's my wifes car and it's stranding her all over the place, sometimes in the middle fo the road.

I've spoke to my local MB specialist and they've never came accross this one, but have STAR they can check it on, but can't be sure it will flag up anything of course. No warning lights appear on the dash btw.

I've had a poke around myself, and the only odd thing I've noticed so far is the car seems to start and rev normally wether I have the cam sensor (the one on the side of the block at the front passenger side) plugged in or not. I'm no MB expert, but on other cars they either wont start or run badly without that plugged in?

ALSO, it has an occasional problem (maybe related)? That when driving (mostly slowly, it's a fantastic motorway and long distance car!) it will lose most of it's power, drive like a slug, feels like it has about 10bhp, no shuddering, just slow. Then you key off and on (even while still moving) and it's perfect again. This one isnt a big deal compared to the other issue though.

Anyone came accross the cutting out problem before? I've seen people say crank sensor gives similar issues, but not sure if it's the exact one, but that looks a PITA to get to, and it's a good 40-50quid to buy too for a pure guess.

I'd rather diagnose properly than throw parts at it until it works correctly!

Thanks in advance
 
Last edited:
^+2
 
The year- R-reg, late 90s.

Crank sensor then, not cam?

The crank sensor looks a total ballache to get to- On the bellhousing by the starter motor, right?
Looks kinda like an inlet off job to reach it from above, not sure how do-able from below.

Is there more than one kind of crank sensor for this car? Just a local motorfactor said there was various different ones for that car/reg, and would need to see the one off the car.
Sounds dubious or BS to me.
 
Where are you located?

Someone will know a good MB independent who has a Star diagnostic machine that'll be able to pinpoint the problem..

Don't start replacing parts willy-nilly in the hope you pick the right one. It can be expensive.
 
A crank sensor fault gives different symptoms than this. I am pretty sure that this won't be the cause.

It could be just as simple as a faulty air mass sensor. Need to go on a Star firstly to see what the score is as neil has suggested. Be aware you WILL have cam sensor fault codes logged if you have unplugged it with the engine running.
 
When my Maf went west,it gave the same symptoms you describe,however the only sure
diagnostic is to have it read on star as the guys who know have already mentioned.
 
As mentioned in my original post, the local Merc specialist has a Star diagnoistics and will happily look at it, but he said he couldn't be sure it would show anything that will help.

If unplugging the sensor will flag a fault (this is something I've done with a few things, inc the MAF i think, to see if anything did or didn't have an affect, inc at least twice when trying to get the thing started) on STAR, it's not going to tell us anything is it?

I wouldve thought a MAF problem would show itself in a lot more conditions than just this, but hey, all cars are different.
 
I have a friend with STAR diagnostics in SW London, very reasonably priced
 
it could be just as simple as a faulty air mass sensor. Need to go on a star firstly to see what the score is as neil has suggested. Be aware you will have cam sensor fault codes logged if you have unplugged it with the engine running.


+1
 
Other possibility is that you have a faulty electronic throttle sender/pedal link or electronic actuator unit if you have the electronic setup rather than the old accelerator cable ?
 
Yes, it certainly is an electronic throttle, and that's crossed my mind at times, but I dont think that would stop it idling at least (depends on the design tbh).

As mentioned, I can get it on a star locally for £30, this isnt the issue, so all the '+1' don't matter.
The issue is, will it tell us anything as I've unplugged loads of things already, so if the Star will only flag up that, it may not be all that useful.
 
It's getting far worse, done it constantly today, took the mrs about 3hrs to do a 1hr job so far.

If only anyone knew what it was.

Booking it in for STAR now. Hopefully that flags something of use.
 

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