a160 cdi judder? please advise

[kirky]

i have just bought the wife a 2002 a160 cdi automatic.everything seems ok apart from when you are getting to about 30 to 35 mph there appears to be a juddering which seems to be like a clutch judder ? it also does it now & again if you are accellerating with a little more spped?
hope someone can help.
kind regards
kev

 

[MarkCL]

Hi Kev - not 100% sure but it could be something called the Vaneo radiator problem. Essentially this is where due to a manufacturing fault with the rad coolant leaks in to the g'box oil and causes contamination. This in turn leads to the juddering as things "slip" in the 'box. In best case situations getting the rad replaced and the g'box fluid thoroughly flushed is sufficient to deal with the issue but in some cases it has been known to damage the 'box enough that it needs to be replaced My advice would be to try and get it checked over by a Merc specialist (independent or dealer) as soon as you can and go from there. Good luck!

Cheers,
Mark

 

[100%Bitch]

Hi Kev - not 100% sure but it could be something called the Vaneo radiator problem.

You were close Mark, it's Valeo, just in case you want to google it.

 

[television]

Not on this car

 

[MarkCL]

You were close Mark, it's Valeo, just in case you want to google it.

Oopsy - thanks Helen

Cheers,
Mark

 

[MarkCL]

Not on this car

Hmm - ok. Thought it was all the ranges between 2001-2003 ish. Never mind. In that case then if it isn't the rad then how about low fluid level perhaps? Or maybe there's an issue with something being out of balance perhaps? If it happens at two different speed ranges then it could be related to something being out of whack maybe - question then is what? Anybody else with ideas?

Cheers,
Mark

 

[television]

The valeo issue only affected the 211,209 and 203 cars built up to the 20-09-03

OK any rad could leak and it indeed does,,but too hard for me to guess at