CLK 320 engine cutting out

[KiwiCarGuy]

I'm new to this forum and based in Auckland, NZ. I have a 1998 CLK 320 (convertible) and it has just started cutting out at odd times usually when driving at 60 mph and hitting a bump - and getting hard to start occassionally - starts and then immediately stops - seems to be one of those intermittant things that is hard to show a mechanic. Car has done 98,000 km (60,000 mls) and has just had a service at official dealer. Any help is appreciated.

 

[eric242340]

Hi Mr Kiwi, and welcolm to the Forum. Hows the rugby going? Honk Kong sevens again soon. I dont know exactly why but every time I hear the word Kiwi, I think about your great rugby team. As to the engine problem, you say its intermittent and that means headaches even for a mechanic. I would start by having a fuel line pressure test. I say this because you say at 60 it cuts out and this means a hot engine and a fuel pump under load. What I would do is connect the fuel line pressure guage and tape it to the windshield. Then take the car for a test drive and watch the guage at different speeds. Obviously you dont have a guage but maybe you have a mechanic friend.

 

[BLONDIE]

The crank shaft sensor can cause this problem.
Does it happen when hot?
If so check the crank shaft sensor.
Remove it and check the resistance whilst heating it with a hot air gun.
You might find that the sensor goes open circuit at certian temperatures and closed cicuit again when cooled down. The sesor is not very expensive anyway. You might benifit from just changing it, as the fault is intermitant, and see how you go.

 

[FELLOW]

Diagnostics

I have a CLK 320 which had a similar problem - the differential was the same as the chaps above suggest and include the MAF sensor...the quick way to sort out the problem and check the electronics is to plug in diagnostic and Merc.... pull up the history and probably change the crank shaft sensor - takes about 5-10 mins but is fiddly as out of sight behind the block....does Mobiliolife work out there ? (Merc own breakdown service) and does yours have the rust problem too?

 

[eric242340]

I have a CLK 320 which had a similar problem - the differential was the same as the chaps above suggest and include the MAF sensor...the quick way to sort out the problem and check the electronics is to plug in diagnostic and Merc.... pull up the history and probably change the crank shaft sensor - takes about 5-10 mins but is fiddly as out of sight behind the block....does Mobiliolife work out there ? (Merc own breakdown service) and does yours have the rust problem too?

This post makes sense, have a Diagnostic check done first and go from there.

 

[KiwiCarGuy]

Wow - thanks guys for all your help. I just drove 300km (a few hundred miles) today with no problems but I think I need to replace that Crank Shaft sensor as it seems to point that way.
Oh, and on the Rugby front - We WILL win the world cup!!!
the reason I know is that when Auckland rugby is strong then Allblack ruby is - Auckland are kicking A%&#@ in the Super 14 - along with Canterbury