W203 C Class Loss of power

[Hillsie]

Hi,

I have recently bought a W203 C Class 200 SE Kompressor Auto. It's a great car but I have had a reoccurring issue with a loss of power. The issue means that from a start even if I put the excelerator to the floor the car only creeps forward and then picks up. This has proved quite dangerous at roundabouts. This could be the car starting in second but even in park the car won't rev. This issue has only occurred when I first start driving or if I change gearbox modes whilst going along. If I stop and remove the key it is usually resets and works correctly when I start the engine again.

Any ideas what the issue is?

Thanks

Matt

 

[Hillsie]

Someone on another site has suggested a split in the air intake pipe.

What do you think?

 

[Hillsie]

Can anyone offer any advice please?

 

[DSM10000]

It could be many things, you need a local independent with Star otherwise you are into guessing and throwing money at it aimlessly.

 

[Hillsie]

Hi,

I went to the garage for a service and the fault codes they detected were

P0172
P0123
P0020
P0101
P2600

Have I bought myself a money pit?

Thanks

 

[markjay]

Someone on another site has suggested a split in the air intake pipe.

What do you think?

The typical M271 engine issues are:

Split vacuum hose and/or blocked engine breather (both located under the air cleaner box)

Oil-in-loom - leak from one or both camshaft position sensors at the front of the engine, allowing oil to creep up the loom and contaminate the ECU

Timing chain and gear issue - the simplex timing chain and/or the sprockets fail which can result is serious valve and piston damage

Sorry I can't say if the fault on your car is related to any of the above, but just to say that these are the 'typical' issues with this engine.

 

[markjay]

On another note, don't forget to cover the basics first, i.e. replace air and fuel filters, and spark plugs if due (every 40k / 4 years).

 

[mbenz1]

Hi,

I went to the garage for a service and the fault codes they detected were

P0172
P0123
P0020
P0101
P2600

Have I bought myself a money pit?

Thanks

You can Google these fault codes and get a good idea of what they are. I just did a quick Google check and 3 of those relate to a faulty MAF and the other two relate to cam shaft sensor and aux. Coolant pump.

The MAF sensor is a very common issue on that engine. I'd personally change the MAF and reset the codes as faulty MAFs are a common issue for power loss on this engine. The part should be around £100-150 mark but not 100% sure and get a genuine part.

Alternatively you can take it to a local MB Specialist and get their advice.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using MBClub UK

 

[Hillsie]

It does have a years warranty so I'm going to try and claim. The codes that were picked up were


P-0172 - 201C-1 SELFADAPTION OF MIXTURE FORMATION. THE MIXTURE IS TOO RICH IN PART LOAD RANGE

P0123 - 2002-1 B37 ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR HALL SENSOR 1 SHORT CIRCUIT TO POSITIVE

P0020 - 2054-8 CONTINUOUS CAMSHAFT ADJUSTMENT INCORRECT POSITION OF THE EXHAUST CAMSHAFT

P0101 - 200A-1 B2/5 HOT FILM MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR PLAUSIBILITY ERROR MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR THROTTLE VALUE INTAKE MANIFOLD PRESSURE

P2600 - GEAR BOX FAULT CODE

The garage believe that I will need a gear box specialist

 

[mbenz1]

It does have a years warranty so I'm going to try and claim. The codes that were picked up were

P-0172 - 201C-1 SELFADAPTION OF MIXTURE FORMATION. THE MIXTURE IS TOO RICH IN PART LOAD RANGE

P0123 - 2002-1 B37 ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR HALL SENSOR 1 SHORT CIRCUIT TO POSITIVE

P0020 - 2054-8 CONTINUOUS CAMSHAFT ADJUSTMENT INCORRECT POSITION OF THE EXHAUST CAMSHAFT

P0101 - 200A-1 B2/5 HOT FILM MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR PLAUSIBILITY ERROR MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR THROTTLE VALUE INTAKE MANIFOLD PRESSURE

P2600 - GEAR BOX FAULT CODE

The garage believe that I will need a gear box specialist

As others have mentioned you are better off taking it to a reputable MB Specialist or Independent and get the car on STAR and also have a look at the live data, if this has not already been done.

I had a faulty MAF which also threw up the accelerator pedal sensor error code. A new MAF sensor cured these error codes.

I'd guess your rich mixture error code could be caused by the MAF giving faulty air flow readings. Hence as a calculated guess my money would be on the faulty MAF sensor.

Not sure about the gearbox error. Hopefully someone else can comment on this.

As Markjay mentioned also, these engines suffer from timing chain and sprocket issues so there are a couple of culprits with this engine.

If you have a warranty with it it then it's indeed worth to see what they say or can do. Good luck.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using MBClub UK

 

[avoidme]

Indeed live data and fuel trims will tell more about the issue/s. In some cases disconnecting the Maf would make the engine run better if sensor is dirty/faulty.

 

[Hillsie]

Thanks for all the advice.

Do the codes that the garage picked up look like they came from a star reader?

Also can anyone recommend a good Indy specialist in the Southend-on-Sea area?

 

[Auto-mobile]

It does have a years warranty so I'm going to try and claim. The codes that were picked up were


P-0172 - 201C-1 SELFADAPTION OF MIXTURE FORMATION. THE MIXTURE IS TOO RICH IN PART LOAD RANGE

P0123 - 2002-1 B37 ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR HALL SENSOR 1 SHORT CIRCUIT TO POSITIVE

P0020 - 2054-8 CONTINUOUS CAMSHAFT ADJUSTMENT INCORRECT POSITION OF THE EXHAUST CAMSHAFT

P0101 - 200A-1 B2/5 HOT FILM MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR PLAUSIBILITY ERROR MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR THROTTLE VALUE INTAKE MANIFOLD PRESSURE

P2600 - GEAR BOX FAULT CODE

The garage believe that I will need a gear box specialist

Take it to a mercede specialist, going buy that list you have a split pipe, a faulty throttle pedal and the chain has probably stretched.

This needs to be checked by someone familiar with Mercedes, saying you need a gearbox specialist is just going to cost you another diagnostic fee and you will still have all these faults.

 

[Hillsie]

Thanks for the advice!

I'm going to try and find a Mercedes specialist in Southend

 

[Hillsie]

Looks as if it is the throttle pedal so I'm getting a new one fitted at the weekend.

Another issue I have is the indicator not sticking for right turns. I will get it fixed at some point but I was wondering is it an MOT fail? (my MOT isn't until November)

Thanks

 

[HITECH]

defo a typical w03 limp mode. i just advised somebody on another post to unplug their MAF and try a drive. that is my advice to you. unplug it. clear codes. drive it. try it without MAF. They are very common for going at higher mileage over 100,000. One I worked on before had a faulty throttle position sensor and a faulty DPF sensor. Them combined threw up all sorts of false errors pointing to fuel problems and all sorts. about 10 DTC's in total when it was only 2 parts. Replaced the throttle position sensor and the dpf sensor and job was a good un. Disconnecting the MAF to check before anything else is always good to do before you start looking elsewhere.

 

[Hillsie]

New throttle pedal installed and problem gone!

Thanks for all the advice!