Bad Service from MB dealership

[munzi791]

Dear All,

I had the ignition switch changed on my car, S320L and since then it has developed a problem where the engine keeps on switching off and will not start for about 30 minutes.

Mercedes collected it and had it for a couple of days and droped it back off, doing no work to it and said nothing is wrong but it still has the same problem.

Can i complain to an autority or somthing?

Thanks.

 

[BlackC55]

It sounds like the crankshaft sensor problem to me.

That is unrelated to the ignition sw BTW.

 

[munzi791]

Thank you BlackC55,

that is what i thought it was, but shouldn't Mercedes have diagnosed this instead of droping the car back saying that nothing is wrong?

Thanks

 

[panason1c]

shouldn't Mercedes have diagnosed this instead of dropping the car back saying that nothing is wrong?

Thanks

Sounds like c/shaft sensor to me (cps)

In answer to your question.........An intemittently faulty cps wouldnt throw up a stored fault code and if the sensor happened to work perfectly during the time MB had the car (sods law) there is no reason for them to suspect a fault due to the fact that the MB 'technicans' cant think for themselves and only know how to plug a machine into the obd socket and read off the results..........if there aren't any, they just scratch their heads in bafflement! (I'm speaking from personal experience!!)

 

[munzi791]

Dear panason1c's,

Yes you are right, but i have told them that this might the the fault and still they have decided not to do anything!

I have been in with the car a 3 times now!

 

[panason1c]

Dear panason1c's,

Yes you are right, but i have told them that this might the the fault and still they have decided not to do anything!

I have been in with the car a 3 times now!

Unfortunately, where it comes to MB's technicians if 'the computer says no' then thats it i'm afraid, us mere mortals cant tell them anything.

 

[munzi791]

i know, but it seems like i can not get my car fixed at the moment, i have even diagnosed the problem for the and told them what they need to do!

Is this an easy job to do, can i do it myself?

thanks

 

[panason1c]

i know, but it seems like i can not get my car fixed at the moment, i have even diagnosed the problem for the and told them what they need to do!

Is this an easy job to do, can i do it myself?

thanks

Yes, it's a very easy job....the cps is located just above the starter motor near the top of the engine .....you will be able to see it...it is secured by a single bolt......should take you no more than 15 minutes to replace and no resets are necessary, it's 'plug and play'

The cps is about £80 from MB but you can get one directly from Bosch for approx £48

EDIT......For some reason, i was thinking yours was a CDI engine......nevertheless, the diagnosis remains the same and the position of the cps should be similar to my description.

 

[Ellsy Tanners]

Ok so, they dont charge you for not fixing something they cannot fault at moment, you complain.

They charge you for supplying and fitting a crankshaft sensor at about 80 quid just for part plus labour on the back of a hunch, it may fix it great, or it dont fix it and you complain even more at spending your money and not cureing it.

dammed if you do dammed if you dont.

Tell them you are willing to take a chance on the sensor and you understand that it might not cure it.

The very good chances are that it will fix it.

 

[jberks]

Ok so, they dont charge you for not fixing something they cannot fault at moment, you complain.

They charge you for supplying and fitting a crankshaft sensor at about 80 quid just for part plus labour on the back of a hunch, it may fix it great, or it dont fix it and you complain even more at spending your money and not cureing it.

dammed if you do dammed if you dont.

Tell them you are willing to take a chance on the sensor and you understand that it might not cure it.

The very good chances are that it will fix it.

Valid point, but, they should still suggest it themselves. After all, if there wasn't this forum, how would he find out?
If a dealer says that the most likely cause is X but its £y and unfortunately there are no guarantees then at least the customer has an option and doesn't feel abandoned. I've been there myself with 'its fine sir' and you're left with selling the car as your only option, and often that isn't an option either.