E220cdi engine seized on motorway!

benm

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Partner reported car (w210 e220cdi) was making a ticking noise but not too bad. Continued driving and within 5 miles the engine seized whilst driving at 70mph on the motorway - no loud bang or noise.

Once car had been recovered checked water and oil - all ok. Tried turning engine by hand - seized solid.

What could have happenend? Is this an interference engine?
 

Blakey

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television

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So sorry this has happened, almost unheard of these days,there are plenty of engines around cheap, and much cheaper than re building.

With a good body the 210 is well worth doing
 
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andy@pcd-ltd

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Sorry to here this has happened i have worked on mercs for many years and have never seen this happen just like that.

The only time i have seen an engine seize is when the were driven through large puddles and water goes up the intake and goes bang that way.

It would be interesting to find out why it has happened
 
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benm

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It was certainly wet and raining hard but nothing that unusual.

The loud ticking would indicate that something started failing over the the space of 5 or so miles. I am wondering if the timing chain could have snapped?

Does anyone know if this is an interference or non-interference engine?
 
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andy@pcd-ltd

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Or it could have been the oil pump had failed and the ticking was the lack of oil getting to the top of the engine.

imswure these engines are interferrence
 

Xtractorfan

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Most probably water or oil pump failure, warning lights would have flashed up to signal the problem, not sure if the engine will turn without damaging the pistons or valves, ..ie if the chain breaks..
 
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andy@pcd-ltd

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One quick check to see if its water just take out the air filter and if its water it will be soaked
 

Alex Crow

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yes, it is an interference engine.
 

turbopete

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if the car has full MB service history and the failure is the oil pump. i BELIEVE that MB will repair under 'warranty' as they have not provided any way for you to safeguard the engine ie no low pressure warning light or pressure guage
 

jberks

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if the car has full MB service history and the failure is the oil pump. i BELIEVE that MB will repair under 'warranty' as they have not provided any way for you to safeguard the engine ie no low pressure warning light or pressure guage

Is there really no low pressure warning mechanism? I'd have thought that there was a light on the pre-facelift 210s and the computer would flash up in red on the facelift ones.
Are you sure the bulb hasn't gone on yours?
 
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benm

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Will check if the airfilter is wet although not sure how this would signify water pump failure.

No warning lights or messages were displayed before termination.

Unfortunately car does not have full service history.
 

roadhog

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I think Willow may have meant that a wet air filter would suggest water having been ingested into the engine rather than a water pump failure.

The fact that you can't turn the engine may well be due to the cylinders being full of water (for whichever reason), hydraulic lock rather than seized. I think the only way to find out what happened is to open up the engine and have a look, everything else is just guesswork.
 
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andy@pcd-ltd

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Yeah sorry should have been more descriptive.

If you suspect water in there you could also remove the injectors and then try turning it over and see what happens as if it is full of water it will give the water somewhere to go
 

turbopete

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Is there really no low pressure warning mechanism? I'd have thought that there was a light on the pre-facelift 210s and the computer would flash up in red on the facelift ones.
Are you sure the bulb hasn't gone on yours?

unless it flashes up on the mileage/assyst screen on my pre facelift, theres NO oil pressure warning. neither was there on either of my previous W202's, thats how i found out about the MB 'guarantee'. may be worth enquiring about regardless for the OP.
 

Xtractorfan

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yes it would have flashed up on the screen ..check oil..stop.. call service ..etc
 

Alex Crow

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they only have oil level monitoring, not pressure. it has been debated before, but the level warning is far far more important than pressure, the argument being that when pressure dissapears you will kill the engine in seconds anyway.
 

jberks

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they only have oil level monitoring, not pressure. it has been debated before, but the level warning is far far more important than pressure, the argument being that when pressure dissapears you will kill the engine in seconds anyway.

Thats rather alarming IMHO. I once had a Ford where the oil pick-up became clogged up. The light came on (at traffic lights fortunately) and within a few seconds the tappets went down and started to rattle. With the warning light I knew what the issue was instantly and switched off immediatley and had it towed home. Had there been no light I may have left it too long, thinking it was the water pump or alternator bearing.

We removed the sump and replaced the pick up and oil pump and the engine ran on for many years without a problem. What would happen if the oil pump was failing and putting out too little pressure? Surely a pressure sensor is a small price to pay to safeguard the whole engine?
 

Alex Crow

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i understand the concerns people may have on this issue. i would like to point out however that we simply NEVER see any mercedes (since the mid eighties) with failing oil pressure. we do often have people calling by for oil top ups though, usually as a result of the level monitoring - hence my assertion that level warning is far far more important that pressure warning.
 

47p2

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Oil level monitoring is fine as long as the sensor is working correctly. I have seen a number of Mercedes where the sensors are faulty.....

Give me an old fashioned dipstick any day
 


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