Anyone know what this might be ?

Elaine Ross

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Hi there . My husband has an E220 2007 and is having a lot of trouble with it . it’s been to 3 different mechanics and none of them seem to know what’s wrong .

The car is shaking badly , and sometimes cuts out . It’s driving but very very shaky . The fuel injectors have all been replaced . The glow plugs and the EGR has been looked at .
Supposedly one of the mechanics said that the glow plug tops broke off two of them and have gotten into the engine and that’s causing the shaking. Could this be possible?

if anyone on here at all has any type of solution to try we would be really really grateful.

TIA
 

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Hello and welcome

Where are you based because it sounds like the mechanics you’ve used are not MB specialists
 

onefortheroad

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The tops cant get into the engine .as the glow plug would be still in the hole. Does it run ok when hot. ?
 
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Elaine Ross

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Hello and welcome

Where are you based because it sounds like the mechanics you’ve used are not MB specialists
We are based in CO.wicklow . One of the mechanics only works with MB for many decades and he’s stumped .
Would it be a case of a new engine , or could it be something that no one has looked at already ? thanks
 
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Elaine Ross

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The tops cant get into the engine .as the glow plug would be still in the hole. Does it run ok when hot. ?
No it’s very shaky even when running for a good while . ‍♀️
 
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Elaine Ross

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No it’s very shaky even when running for a good while . ‍♀️
It’s actually just shaking all the time . And it might cut out once in a while too. We just don’t want to keep throwing money at it . If we can replace the engine and be done with it . So this forum is my last hope to see if we can solve the issue .
 

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Has it been connected to the Mercedes Star diagnostic machine?

If so what codes are coming up?
 

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Replacing an engine is a pretty drastic step and could easily introduce new or additional issues.

Basics...
1. Does it make any nasty noises?
2. Identify which cylinders are misfiring. There should be diagnostic codes to tell you.
3. Have the injectors been checked by a competent injector specialist?
4. Do you get any engine warning lamps?
5. Do you get any error codes when read with STAR? (Star is the only diagnostic kit that will tell the full story of what's going on).
6. What has been tried so far?

Don't go near whoever said the tops of the glow plugs had fallen in - they have no idea what they're talking about.
 

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Sorry to read this distress message. Take the advice from LostKiwi and Blobcat, they really know their stuff. Star diagnostics must be applied before you spend another farthing. Any mechanic who offers a different strategy should be avoided. Please keep the forum updated. We want to read that this has been resolved.
 

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as above, but some background

the glow plugs heat the air inside the engine to help it run in cold temp / starting. They wear out and need changing circa 60k miles. However it is very easy to break them whilst trying to remove. However if 4 work and the car gets warmed up it should still run OK (smoothly), so if the rest of the engine is OK (after the issues are resolved) it would be worth a specialist changing the two broken ones (its quite normal and do-able)

the fact it runs badly now and its just had new injectors fitted (and they broke 2 glow plugs suggest they were animals / incompetent / unlucky) and would point towards the refurb injectors are giving trouble (or have been fitted wrongly) we've had quite a few here where the replacements aren't working

get the car to someone who knows what they are doing and not just talking a good job
 
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Elaine Ross

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Thank you all so much for the replies .
I’m not sure what diagnostic kit has been used . But I’ve passed the name of the STAR one onto my husband and told him to check if one of these was used by any of the mechanics.
It’s going to another MB mechanic next week so I will keep you posted as to what happens and if it gets resolved at all.

I know there was no engine lights to come on when it was connected up before it just kept saying the fuel injectors , the 3rd cylinder to be exact, all the time saying this . So all of them were replaced . But to no avail . One of the mechanics said it might be the compression system ??? But who knows at this stage !
 
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Elaine Ross

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Also meant to add that the fuel injectors were done by a reputable person . So it couldn’t be that surely
 

LostKiwi

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Also meant to add that the fuel injectors were done by a reputable person . So it couldn’t be that surely
Never discount it.
This really does need to go on Star though a compression test is a very good idea.
Is there any smoke out the exhaust?
If injectors were replaced they need coding to the car.
The next thing to look at is live values when the engine is running to see what is going on in real time.
 

Rappey69

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What the guys on here are trying to tell you is don't waste your time and money taking it different mechanics for different opinions, just take it to someone who specialises in Mercedes as they will have the correct Mercedes "star" diagnostic equipment which should mean an end to paying for parts that are not needed.
 
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Elaine Ross

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Never discount it.
This really does need to go on Star though a compression test is a very good idea.
Is there any smoke out the exhaust?
If injectors were replaced they need coding to the car.
The next thing to look at is live values when the engine is running to see what is going on in real time.
Never discount it.
This really does need to go on Star though a compression test is a very good idea.
Is there any smoke out the exhaust?
If injectors were replaced they need coding to the car.
The next thing to look at is live values when the engine is running to see what is going on in real time.
 
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Elaine Ross

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Yes there is smoke from the exhaust . the injectors were coded also to the car .

My husband rang one of the mechanics and he did say they had used a STAR . But I’m sceptical now as no one is any the wiser . So we shall have to find a reputable dealer and get a STAR hooked up to the car and find out for sure what’s going on .
Thank you all for all the replies . It is very much appreciated . I’ll keep you posted .
 

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Supposedly one of the mechanics said that the glow plug tops broke off two of them and have gotten into the engine and that’s causing the shaking. Could this be possible?

TIA

When glow plugs fail, the tips can swell and when removing them, the tips can break off in the engine. If the engine is then turned over, the tips can jam a valve partially open. Piston then comes up, kisses the valve and bends it slightly. Then the valve will never make an air tight seal and you get loss of compression and a misfire on that cylinder.
 
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Elaine Ross

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When glow plugs fail, the tips can swell and when removing them, the tips can break off in the engine. If the engine is then turned over, the tips can jam a valve partially open. Piston then comes up, kisses the valve and bends it slightly. Then the valve will never make an air tight seal and you get loss of compression and a misfire on that cylinder.
So does that mean a new engine if that is the problem or is it fixable do you know? Thanks
 

js190d

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Personally i would say the solution to engine problems like this on a 2007 common rail diesel Mercedes is to accept it is at it's end of life and is probably uneconomic to repair. A set of injectors alone is going to be £400 fitted so may be time to call it quits and buy another cheap Mercedes diesel with a good working engine.
I would also avoid the mechanics you have used already as they sound pretty feckless. A simple compression test would not take much labour time and would tell the mechanic straight away if your engine was usable.
 
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