2003 E200 problems so far

[david arthur]

Hi guy's having bought my first MB previous bmw i am not happy.My E200 Kompressor is dangerous. In cold weather only cold weather when in a line of traffic in auto having travelled just a few miles coasting up to the car in front with the foot off the accele rator the car wants to accelerate. You have to brake hard to avoid driving into the car in front. If i put the car in neutral the reves do not appear to rise.Has anybody out there had a similar experiance?. And to cap it all today the computer says consumables are turned off then consumables turned on what does that mean (Help) the car has covered 16000 miles from new.

 

[television]

When you say cold weather, do you mean when the car is cold,and not at correct operating temperture. Is it OK when hot

Malcolm

 

[jberks]

The consumables off/on message relates to the battery current being too low so the car shuts off various superfluous functions to keep the essentials working properly. If you are doing little mileage in this weather with lights , demister etc then there is your cause. Quite common this time of year, just plug in a trickle charger overnight every few weeks. Being entirely computer controlled, down to the tail lights, its more sensitive to low current than conventional systems so its not that your car is worse than anything else in this respect, it just complains earlier. Most cars don't let you know until they finally don't turn over one morning.
The faster idle on warm up is technically understandable but shouldn't really happen on a newish Merc. Used to happen on cars with manual chokes if you didn't put the choke back soon enough but the injection system should be handling this better. As it's under warranty I'd pop it back to the dealer. Probably a lazy temp sensor or something. I assume its fine once warmed up.

 

[david arthur]

thanks malcolm & j berks i have booked car in on 12 dec they say may need car 3 days the racing is very strange it happened last year took it in could not find a fault.when you are vertualy stopped foot of gas going very slowly thats when you can feel the gearbox trying to move of. Putting the car from drive to neutral straight away obviously stops this and the revs do not rise.When the car is at normal temp its fine.I like the car appart from this and its very fuel efficient 38mpg on a run says computer.

 

[Bob Staines]

Ive got a 3yr old E class and the only problem i have had is the wheel nuts went rusty, i think that the build quality on the newer e class is not as good as previous models.

 

[david arthur]

E200 problems so far

Thanks Mr stains i think if my nuts were rusty i'd see a Doctor if i were you.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Maybe they're rusty because they're spending too much time around a rusty sheriff's badge.

 

[television]

Hi guy's having bought my first MB previous bmw i am not happy.My E200 Kompressor is dangerous. In cold weather only cold weather when in a line of traffic in auto having travelled just a few miles coasting up to the car in front with the foot off the accele rator the car wants to accelerate. You have to brake hard to avoid driving into the car in front. If i put the car in neutral the reves do not appear to rise.Has anybody out there had a similar experiance?. And to cap it all today the computer says consumables are turned off then consumables turned on what does that mean (Help) the car has covered 16000 miles from new.

the only thing that happens when you put your car in drive is that the engine is speed is increased to 900-1000 RPM this is done in the idle circuit and is nothing to do with the Main ECU or injection that only comes into operation from the throtle. the fault must be in the idle valve, you could take it out and clean it.

Malcolm

 

[Dr Claire]

Hi Malcolm
I had the same problem with my E 270CDI eatate. On diagnoisis the dealer told me it was either the control board which "often fails" or a defunct battery. They changed both and its now OK
Regards
Claire

 

[television]

Hi Malcolm
I had the same problem with my E 270CDI eatate. On diagnoisis the dealer told me it was either the control board which "often fails" or a defunct battery. They changed both and its now OK
Regards
Claire

Thanks, that would be the Idle control ECU/ relay that has a board within.

Malcolm

 

[fuzzer]

Ive got a 3yr old E class and the only problem i have had is the wheel nuts went rusty, i think that the build quality on the newer e class is not as good as previous models.

Those are consumables really.. I recon that the wheelnut rusting is directy linked with the use of acids on wheels to clean off brake dust.

Dealer may do them good will if you ask them nicely enough,.

 

[david arthur]

E200 problems so far

the only thing that happens when you put your car in drive is that the engine is speed is increased to 900-1000 RPM this is done in the idle circuit and is nothing to do with the Main ECU or injection that only comes into operation from the throtle. the fault must be in the idle valve, you could take it out and clean it.

Malcolm

Thanks television car has gone in to day say they will need it poss 3 days i will check to see if they have cleaned the idle control valve and will post reply when car is back. The car went in for same problem last year and they could find no problem the car had only done about 12,000 then its now done 17,000.I am happy with the car appart from this annoying problem that only appears in the winter.

 

[david arthur]

E200 problems so far

Hi Malcolm
I had the same problem with my E 270CDI eatate. On diagnoisis the dealer told me it was either the control board which "often fails" or a defunct battery. They changed both and its now OK
Regards
Claire

Thanks claire you say battery what battery the main one or one in the board that breaks down they say in the E class there are two batteries the main one in the boot and a smaller one under the bonnet that you cant see under the scuttle.Is there a battery in the ECU/relay control.Thanks for everybody's help.

 

[television]

Thanks claire you say battery what battery the main one or one in the board that breaks down they say in the E class there are two batteries the main one in the boot and a smaller one under the bonnet that you cant see under the scuttle.Is there a battery in the ECU/relay control.Thanks for everybody's help.

Relays and modules do not contain batteries, and I am not aware of any other small battery

Malcolm

 

[clive williams]

Those are consumables really.. I recon that the wheelnut rusting is directy linked with the use of acids on wheels to clean off brake dust.

Dealer may do them good will if you ask them nicely enough,.

Jason,

Your probably right about the wheel wash acid. The current wheel bolts are lightly galvanized?, which means that the acid attacks the galv and then rusting follows. Previous wheel bolts had a chrome hexagon finish, that was more tolerant to the antics at the car washes. I'm currently going round the barge taking the wheel bolts out, wire brushing them clean and spraying them with cold galvanising paint.

As an aside, but relevant to rusty wheel bolts is that the acid spray that is used drains down the back of the hub and starts to rust the wheel bolt threads poking through. My friendly wheel/tyre shop has constant difficulties arising from this problem but not with my cars. The kids earn their pocket money washing the cars and they clean the wheel with Muc Off, which I've found to be equally as effective as acid spray and doesn't cause rusting. Another good cleaner for brake dust is the kitchen power sprays available.

Clive

500E Chrome nuts
E320CDIT210 rusty nuts going galv.

 

[jberks]

totally off subject but I've applied wheel wax to my alloys now, so I don't need any cleaner. The dust just washes off with water and a brush.

The nuts are so deep inside the wheels on mine, I can't actually see them!

 

[television]

wheel cleaners

Reading the labels of contents on wheel cleaners the other day I am surprised that any one in their right mind would spray this stuff on their wheels.

Malcolm

 

[david arthur]

2003 E200 problems so far

Thanks television car has gone in to day say they will need it poss 3 days i will check to see if they have cleaned the idle control valve and will post reply when car is back. The car went in for same problem last year and they could find no problem the car had only done about 12,000 then its now done 17,000.I am happy with the car appart from this annoying problem that only appears in the winter.

H I guys got the car back today its been in 3 days the young guy said it did fault when he tested it.But no fault came up on diagnostics. Someone in the workshop said an ML had the same problem and it was swarf in the gearbox so he drained the box and put a new filter in to see if it helped.Anyway he now seems to think it may be a bearing in the gearbox braking up and he has to e-mail merc to ask there advice.you cant talk to them on the phone now they get back to you.Apparantly when the fault happened he thought the car was trying to drop a cog before trying to take of.Imentioned idle control valve he said they had not cleaned it because it was mostly electrical and nothing faulted on computer.He sugested i put it in winter mode because it started in second and it did not do it then. Last time i buy a merc.

 

[Bob Staines]

Hows it going now David ?

 

[Hans]

MB quality changed?

Ive got a 3yr old E class and the only problem i have had is the wheel nuts went rusty, i think that the build quality on the newer e class is not as good as previous models.

When you have a few moments, visit the "JD Power website" and review the feedback star ratings of the older Mercedes verses the newer Dahlmer Chrysler Mercedes vehicles. They have some very interesting details that could assist a potential buyer... regarding any vehicle for that matter. hans