2001 S320 CDi - problem after problem - HELP!!!!

[ASIM]

Hi I’m wondering if anyone can help. My s320 CDi (2001), or I like to call it the drain on my finances, has been playing up for some time now.

It all started with water not draining away properly when it was raining as the drains were blocked. This caused water to enter passenger footwell and played havoc with the electrics.

Anyway having replaced the aircon unit and various other bits and bobs I’m still having problems. Three main ones being as follows:

1. The car blows a HELL of a lot of black smoke normally when pulling away. The smoke continues but is less obvious at higher speeds although does leave a haze of greyness for drivers behind me. Very embarrassing. The car’s passed its MOT no probs recently and I’ve previously had air/oil filters changed as well as having the glow plugs changed. Still no joy. Any ideas what I could be missing?

2. The EC button (below REST button?) on the air con module is always lit red – I can’t seem to find out why. Again any ideas? IT’s not causing any problems as far as I can see but I’d rather have it unlit!

3. I’ve had a new battery put in however it goes flat very quickly – every morning I need to jump start it using a portable jump start pack and again at lunchtimes. Once jump started it drives fine – no problems whatsoever. Only problem is I need to turn the car off at some point. To be fair I only drive a few miles a day, but even still I would’ve thought it would hold its charge – this is a new battery that ive only had in for about a week. The same happened with the old battery, and I though that because it was old (approx 4years) that’s what was causing the problem.

4. When driving I hear a knocking sound – it sounds like it’s coming from the back passenger side wheel, sounds a bit like a ticking as if its like a timing belt about to go or spokes on a wheel. I’m baffled!

5. Finally I had problems with the fuel lines – fuel leaked out and caused a bit of a smell in the engine bay as well as producing white smoke from under the bonnet. However, there continues to be a smell of diesel/oil and it causes the interior of the car to smell a bit too. There’s only so much air freshner I can continue to use!!

I think that just about covers everything! Any help is greatly appreciated – preferably before I have to remortgage my place.

Any ideas on a decent garage in the Newcastle area – good rates please!! - is also appreciated. I’ve tried Staithes in Dunston but they’ve never returned my call despite chasing a number of times.

 

[television]

Hi I’m wondering if anyone can help. My s320 CDi (2001), or I like to call it the drain on my finances, has been playing up for some time now.

It all started with water not draining away properly when it was raining as the drains were blocked. This caused water to enter passenger footwell and played havoc with the electrics.

Anyway having replaced the aircon unit and various other bits and bobs I’m still having problems. Three main ones being as follows:

1. The car blows a HELL of a lot of black smoke normally when pulling away. The smoke continues but is less obvious at higher speeds although does leave a haze of greyness for drivers behind me. Very embarrassing. The car’s passed its MOT no probs recently and I’ve previously had air/oil filters changed as well as having the glow plugs changed. Still no joy. Any ideas what I could be missing?

2. The EC button (below REST button?) on the air con module is always lit red – I can’t seem to find out why. Again any ideas? IT’s not causing any problems as far as I can see but I’d rather have it unlit!

The air con is turned off and this could be by a SAM in the next fault

3. I’ve had a new battery put in however it goes flat very quickly – every morning I need to jump start it using a portable jump start pack and again at lunchtimes. Once jump started it drives fine – no problems whatsoever. Only problem is I need to turn the car off at some point. To be fair I only drive a few miles a day, but even still I would’ve thought it would hold its charge – this is a new battery that ive only had in for about a week. The same happened with the old battery, and I though that because it was old (approx 4years) that’s what was causing the problem.

You have a serious battery drain, and this could be a SAM gone down, and this will cause faults in many other area's
4. When driving I hear a knocking sound – it sounds like it’s coming from the back passenger side wheel, sounds a bit like a ticking as if its like a timing belt about to go or spokes on a wheel. I’m baffled!

5. Finally I had problems with the fuel lines – fuel leaked out and caused a bit of a smell in the engine bay as well as producing white smoke from under the bonnet. However, there continues to be a smell of diesel/oil and it causes the interior of the car to smell a bit too. There’s only so much air freshner I can continue to use!!

I think that just about covers everything! Any help is greatly appreciated – preferably before I have to remortgage my place.

Any ideas on a decent garage in the Newcastle area – good rates please!! - is also appreciated. I’ve tried Staithes in Dunston but they’ve never returned my call despite chasing a number of times.

Just got to find you a good indie

 

[Xtractorfan]

The ec button is really an economy mode for the air con, so not a problem unless as malcolm suggests its a CAN gone down, tho if the air con/heating is working then things should be ok..

THE BLACK SMOKE.. as you have changed the filters, and I hope you have used genuine MB air filter,,some of the other makes can restrict air flow and cause mild smoking.. I would check the EGR valve, these have a habit of seizing and causing mountains of black smoke, they can be freed out with lots of penetrating oil..

THE DIESEL LEAKING.. you need to wash the front of the engine down with a pressure washer, be very careful and wash only around the pulleys and belt.

tHE DIESEL SMELL INSIDE THE CAR. It is possible you may have a blowpast on an injector, you need to remove the top plastic cover from the engine, start the engine up and run your hand close along the top of the injectors and you should hear, feel the blowpast on the offending injector..

Post back and help will be available

 

[Birdman]

I'm curious to know the history of the car, like previous owners, service history and mileage.

Have you got evidence of MB (or specialist) dealer servicing at all the scheduled intervals in the original logbook? I'm wondering if these troubles came about partly because of patchy maintenance.

 

[ASIM]

Hi the car is just coming up to doing 90,000 miles. It's been fully serviced at the correct times. The original owner used MB, the second owner used an independent lotus specialist (where I purchased the car from). I used them for servicing but the labour costs were high. For the past year or so I've been using an ex MB/ex Aston Martin employee with his own garage who is quite good - 20yrs experience but I think he left MB well before the W220 came into production. He has diagnostic equipment etc and is very cheap - but only open 3 half days a week and he's nearing 70 I think!!

 

[Birdman]

Well you're building on a sound foundation, which is essential with a car like this.

I can only say, stop going to specialists who aren't specifically Mercedes specialists. Go to a repair shop that specialises in Mercedes and check they are familiar with your model and year - and I mean, really familiar. They should almost know what's likely to be wrong before they even lift the bonnet. Eyeball the customers cars lying around the garage, that can tell you lots.

They say you shouldn't allow a surgeon to do routine surgery on you unless they have recently performed the exact same operation hundreds of time and the same applies here.

 

[Cosworth]

You seem to have a lot of symptoms that could relate to one thing.

As also mentioned by others. There is a very good chance that your SAM unit is faulty. It fits under the back seat base. Its conected to the fuses.

I had a similar situation where a friend of mine has split a bottle of water on the back seat and flooded the SAM unit, causing flat battery and electrical problems.

Take the back seat base out and see if there is any water in the well.

 

[television]

Well you're building on a sound foundation, which is essential with a car like this.

I can only say, stop going to specialists who aren't specifically Mercedes specialists. Go to a repair shop that specialises in Mercedes and check they are familiar with your model and year - and I mean, really familiar. They should almost know what's likely to be wrong before they even lift the bonnet. Eyeball the customers cars lying around the garage, that can tell you lots.

They say you shouldn't allow a surgeon to do routine surgery on you unless they have recently performed the exact same operation hundreds of time and the same applies here.

You are dead right on this, I have only made any money out of my job by knowing what the fault is at the time the customer phones in, I you need a job doing and the person doing it falters says well it might be X or Y generally it means they have never done it before.
And this goes for 98% of repairs, but there will always be the odd one out.

 

[ASIM]

I've had the glow plugs changed (3 needed replacing!) but there is still smoke. The indie had look at it and noticed it's a bit in the turbo - apparently there's a piece in there which shouldn't have any movement and mine does - reckons it would cost £1000 to replace so instead he's cleaned it up as oil was getting in there which was then being pushed into the engine....

The noise from the wheels persist as does the smell in the cabin. The indie's had a look under and the exhaust shield etc are all intact and everything looks sound.

Verdict? Buy a BMW.

 

[saniasamah]

asim im from newcastle and looking at a 2002 cdi but youve really put me off thanks sheraz westerhope is there a mercedes specialist in newcastle anyone knows of thanks for any help

 

[Naraic]

Welcome to the forum. Always best to look at the dates of threads and posts!!

ASIM hasn't been here since 5th October......2009.

 

[Renaissance]

I recently purchased a 2001 S-500 and did quite a lot of research re a good Indie near Newcastle. There is a company called Staithes situated near the Metro Centre. I understand quite good service but when I visited it is very much a back street garage and to be honest he told me not to buy either an E or S class as both are rust buckets. I looked further and found Prestige Servicing in Stockton. They provide a service where you can drop your car in and they will give a thorough check over and report what needs doing. The thing I liked was that Tony took me around the car and showed me everything that needed doing and explained why. He also said with some items that 'this will need doing but not just yet'. I liked this as you can then budget this in for the future. He also told me how much everything would cost before I booked the car in. One thing that was clear he knew exactly what he was talking about which gave me the confidence I had been looking for. Unusually for most Independents they will with a little bit of notice be able to supply you with a loan car. It won't be an S-Class but as least you remain mobile.http://www.prestigeservicing.co.uk/. Tel 01642 669100

 

[Alex M Grieve]

The thing I liked was that Tony took me around the car and showed me everything that needed doing and explained why. He also said with some items that 'this will need doing but not just yet'. I liked this as you can then budget this in for the future. He also told me how much everything would cost before I booked the car in. One thing that was clear he knew exactly what he was talking about which gave me the confidence I had been looking for.

These are the classic reasons for which many of us prefer Indies.

It is of course entirely possible for a dealership to do this too, but they very often have more people between you and the person who will do the work, so the message can be distorted, diluted or just not conveyed.

Indeed I currently have one non urgent job "banked" with a favourite Indy. It needs doing but there is no rush, so when he has a slack period with no work booked, he will call me up and we can get it done. His work flow is maintained, and I get it done by the guy I want to do it.

 

[saniasamah]

thanks for the replys

 

[pre9]

little red light aircon swithch

ive just removed control panel for aircon switch and found that the internal temp sensor was clogged up with dust also the fan a quck blow out now the aircon swich works fine and the little red light finally goes out hope this may help