CDI 270 - Sounds like a bag of bolts until warm

Doctorrog

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I have a 2005 CDI 270. Had it 2.5 years and done 90K in it. Great car. She ran well for 20 months but since then it has been a catalogue of failures. First thing was leaking plastic fuel hoses, next item to go was water pump. The belt was damaged and several pulleys noisy - so they were replaced. Then the MAF sensor and injector seals, (diesel gunk across the top of the engine). Lastly the Transmission Control Module went and was replaced. The car used to be quieter in the mornings, a good puller and have higher MPG. However, now its rough/noisy, does not pull so well and I am sure has dropped 8 - 10 mpg on the mileage. It used to do 43, now I am lucky to get 34 out of it. Shell fuel helped on the MPG. OK, it's an old/high mileage car, but its in great condition otherwise and I would like to keep it for another 20K. I am pondering timing...and wondering if that is out due to the work done. Wondered if anyone in the forum had a suggestion as to where to start getting this car back to its best. Been told the next obvious thing to go on a c class is the suspension arms..then i have the set...
 

mersum1es

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Noisy run of very often due to injector problem. Has the leak test performed? And check the correction values too.
Lower mpg may be caused by several reasons, is the engine temperature ok (thermostat), air filter changed, no smoke (turbo ok), cooler clean atc.
 

brandwooddixon

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I would get in in for a thorough check over, pretty quickly.
There have been a few incidents recently of cars suffering timing chain failure.

I may be wrong, perhaps do a quick search to see that the car engine matches yours.

Typically as the chain stretches it gets noisy. Ultimately it jumps teeth and can cause catastrophic engine failure.

Certainly I've had a car in the past (not MB, nor a diesel) where the timing chain tensioner gave up the ghost and initially it only jumped a tooth or two giving an apparent loss of power. Then it failed big time.
 

alexanderfoti

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No timing chain issues on these engines. I would start by making sure all the glow plugs are working and checking injectors

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Doctorrog

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Still rolling along

Thanks all. Have got it checked into a specialist for Monday. It is still doing motorway speeds comfortably - but again I just sense there is "something" not smooth there that shouldn't be. Getting a complex now but frankly driving it for the first 20 min is v unpleasant so summuts up. Will report back. tks.
 

ThinkPad

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Would be keen to hear back. Same engine in my clk, and just had a couple of issues too! So follow with interest!
 
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Doctorrog

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News from my diesel specialist

So....put it in to a specialist. Yesterday he advised that they had checked the cylinder/engine etc and no issues in terms of pressure or otherwise. The lumpy running issue he thought MAY be injectors, but could also be something in the fuel system, or a transmission issue. his view was that more than one injector was playing up. Anyways, today they have had the injectors out (all 5), tested them and advised they are all bad at the top end of revs, but apparently not at the bottom. Means the lumpy problem is somewhere else...no idea where...so conclusion is to get shot of it. Was hoping to get a £300 solution but one is not in sight so there we are..:-(
 

mersum1es

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What was the leak test results, was it even between injectors? Both idele and higher revs? How about the ecu correction values idle/revving? Uneven run should be seen there, and noise points to injectors anyway.
Was the rail pressure investigated during lumpy idle? If there is deviation, it could be pressure regulator, fuel quantity valve, injector leak or hp-pump. Filters changed when?
 
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Doctorrog

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Leak test was ok. I am disappointed really as they were diesel specialists and I expected Something in the way of info. The injector seals are new as of 6 weeks ago. I am wondering if its worth having the fuel filter changed to see if it does owt. However rubbish it's injectors are, its still doing 80mph no problem so it isn't a useless car, by no means. It seems they just did not feel it right to investigate further on such a high mileage car...:-(
 

alexanderfoti

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May I ask which specialist? Normally indies get the injectors sent off, spray pattern tested, flow rate etc, and then the info from a company that specialises in diesel fuel systems only.
 

alexanderfoti

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Do check that the heater booster option is set to off in the cluster, there have been reports of this causing lump running when on.
 
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Doctorrog

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Heater Booster Option?

Do check that the heater booster option is set to off in the cluster, there have been reports of this causing lump running when on.
- How would I do this? tks.
 

alexanderfoti

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- How would I do this? tks.

Scroll though the menu until you get settings. Then select heater booster menu option and choose off. See if it makes any difference.



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giuseppe

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try running it on shell V max plus, mine used to run rough, but the V plus fuel seems to cured it
 

Rotorhead500

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try running it on shell V max plus, mine used to run rough, but the V plus fuel seems to cured it

Just a thought, have you tried running a tankful of Diesel Detox, or Redex (or similar) through it? Just wondering if it's been used locally a lot by previous owner..... Prob too obvious, but worth a punt for £10!
 

ThePoet

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Leak test was ok. I am disappointed really as they were diesel specialists and I expected Something in the way of info. The injector seals are new as of 6 weeks ago. I am wondering if its worth having the fuel filter changed to see if it does owt. However rubbish it's injectors are, its still doing 80mph no problem so it isn't a useless car, by no means. It seems they just did not feel it right to investigate further on such a high mileage car...:-(

Let us know how you get on, I have a C270 with similar issues. It doesn't quite sound like a bag of bolts, but it is boomy and noisy at start until it get to about 40 degrees, then its seems to settle down.
 

malcolm E53 AMG

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Badly worn injector tips usually result in a poor tickover, my 320CDi suffered this and an injector refurb cured the problem. Take the car to a diesel specialist for a second opinion before you give up on it.
 

ThePoet

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Seems I may have cured my problem.

Initially I remembered on my previous diesel I regularly added 2 stroke oil to the tank, about 250ml per tank full. Started doing this on the C270 and the noise was definitely reduced. Found one of the fuel lines was damp, definitely diesel leak. Changed filter and all 3 lines, filled the filter with a product called Seafoam, to clean the injectors.

Car was a non starter !! Oh dear killed battery trying to start her. At which point I was cursing the Seafoam, looking up on google to find a few people reporting problem...was too dark to continue, battery on charge overnight.

New day fresh eyes. Immediately found I had put the fuel lines on incorrectly!! DOH! :Oops: Swapped over, 2nd turn of key started. Seafoam not responsible....user input error..literally.

Car running lovely, even other half noticed the difference, car is much much quieter at start up. :lol:
 
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Doctorrog

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Specialist was Gee Diesel in Hucknall, Notts

The car is still struggling on. Normally ok after 20 mins still - doing 300 miles in it per week - so it keeps going. Merc dealer will take a look at it for £120. Really don't know what to do with it - they claim they are the only ones to do the diagnostics - are they really going to come up with anything new folks? V frustrating.
 
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