W210 E55 Kickdown Problem

[91pat]

Hi Guys,

Car is a 1998 E55 with 77k. Car was driving fine in and around town, nothing funny then got onto the motorway.

Floored it going around 30mph and no kickdown, just gradually built the revs. Then when I let off the accelerator, the car slowed as normal but the car would not accelerate, nothing, just idled. So I let the car roll off the motorway into the shoulder. Car would not rev in drive, nothing. Put into Neutral, car would rev, but very slowly. Switched car off and back on, all fine took off quickly, no problems, did not try kickdown as i didn't want a repeat, drop the car home.

So I suppose my question is, I assume the no revving thing was some sort of safe mode - albeit one I've never seen before?

What could be causing the "no kickdown" at speed, that would lead to the above safe mode?


As a bit of further background, I had to jump the car about two weeks ago as the battery was flat with a little power pack. Car was just serviced. New crank position sensor.

 

[Dee-124CAB]

Im no expert with these and im sure someone will be here soon to help.....

But could be a transmission issue?.... If there is no record of it, I would recommend a gearbox oil and filter change....

 

[BlackC55]

I would say the air mass sensor is faulty

 

[AndyPCD]

Agree with olly.

Possible maf sensor. But needs to be plugged in and get the fault codes read and actual values checked.

 

[91pat]

Great thanks, do you think a bad MAF would manifest itself that way? When I sit at lights, the car does seem a very slight bit "wobbly", as if its running a slight bit rough.

 

[renault12ts]

Great thanks, do you think a bad MAF would manifest itself that way? When I sit at lights, the car does seem a very slight bit "wobbly", as if its running a slight bit rough.

I think they just said so.

 

[91pat]

Very True

 

[billywhiz]

MAF sensor on these is certainly a weak point - I've changed two on my 55 and each one displayed different faults. Just make sure when you replace it you don't go for a £30 ebay china jobbie, might as well just burn the £30 - Get the OEM Bosch unit.

But age of car - ATF change would not hurt I suppose as well

 

[91pat]

GB oil change is on my list to do alright, only thing I'm slightly worried about is removing GB sump as I have terrible luck with bolts shearing. Is it a waste of time to do the change without changing the filter?

 

[louwdj]

I have a low mileage 1999 W210 E240 which displayed no other symptoms other than lazy kickdown or hesitation/slow change up when passing on the open road, at speeds over 100km/hr. I suspected a gearbox issue and diagnosticss showed nothing untowards. Took it to an indy who correctly diagnosed blocked catalysators. The previous owner had done less than 60,000kms (37,500Miles) in 9 years, mostly short trips. Replaced both cats with small resonator (silencer) boxes (sorry greenpeacers - I live in South africa, no MOT tests) and problem was solved for under 100 pounds.

 

[cl55 amg]

had this also on my CL55 and it was blocked cats.

 

[IRISH E55]

Try this and see how ya get on it worked for me!....

Under the bonnet on drivers side near the brake servo is the throttle potentiometer, screw the outer part of the cable in so as to slacken off the cable will take 30 secs to do. As I say it worked for me

 

[91pat]

I just tightened up this cable today to get the throttle a little more responsive. What will it do by slackening it? Is there any way to check blocked CATS? It just passed an NCT (MoT) with no emissions problems.

@Irish E55, is there a decent Indy you use in Dublin for your E55?

 

[IRISH E55]

Basically it was going over the full or 100% throttle so was giving a fault so winding the cable back off stopped this and hey presto!,,,,,!!!!!!!

Yeah where you based?

 

[ice643]

unplug the MAF,and see if the car runs let it warm up first.mine did the same thing and it was the maf.Then take it for a spin see what it drives if it runs fine its the MAF.

 

[A1EK]

I had the same issue once on my CLK the car, I would kick down, but the revs just built up very slowly. As others have said it was the MAF. I found I had oil issue due to a blocked breather nozzle and the MAF was coated in oil. Cleaned the blockage to stop the oil issue and bought a new MAF, problem gone.

ps DONT BUY A CHEAP MAF IT WILL FAIL, GET BOSCH !!