E280 Creeping car - poor initial acceleration then bam! - light the blue touch paper

pendulum06

New Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2009
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
I bought a 2000 plate E280 a couple of months ago and have noticed that after standing overnight the car has really poor acceleration, it creeps unevenly along at 10-15 miles a hour for 5-10 seconds even with my foot right down on the accelerator, before oh my god warp factor 9 as it takes off :shock:. After cleaning myself up, it seems happy to sensibly run (even after it has sat in the office carpark for a few hours during the day it still runs normally). The engine management light has flicked on, but after a couple of days it has turned itself off. I am sure that this must be connected.
Can anybody out there give me a heads up on what might be the problem.

I can only assume at the moment my E280 likes mornings even less than myself and I am running out of unsoiled suit trousers.

Thoughts and ideals gratefully received....

Pendulum06 of Berkshire
 

Alex Crow

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2009
Messages
10,677
Reaction score
47
Location
Super Suffolk
Your Mercedes
W169, W124, w202, W203, KTM 250 EXC, VW T25 camper and a Polo in a pear tree
quite probably an air mass sensor fault. if you do a forum search for 'maf' you will get enough results to keep you reading for weeks!!

ideally get it to an experienced and competent independent mercedes specialist for assesment, if it is the maf sensor then it should be an easy diagnosis.
 
Last edited:

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
You can take the car into STAR of reading,,he is a good indie
 

monumen

Active Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2009
Messages
29
Reaction score
0
Hi,
Why isn't my life as easy as this lol.
My 1997 C230 Sport Kompressor is idling badly and extremely slow to pick the revs up so after reading loads of threads I thought it would be a doddle and back running perfect in a minit.................WRONG.
My set up is nothing like this. I have a butterfly valve like a choke control and after pulling pipes off and unplugging it nothing changed. Even ran the car with it off but still the same.
Anyone got any ideas. Throttle body ?????.
Also on this car it sometimes sticks in reverse. I have narrowed this down to the gear lever and when I loosen it off under the centre console it frees off.
HELP!!
Dave
Please feel free to e mail me monument7@btconnect.com
 

monumen

Active Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2009
Messages
29
Reaction score
0
Thanks
Thats like telling me I have a Kl462 interface on my interpolar LCD ha ha.
So now I know what I have how do I clean it or is this not the problem.
Once the revs are up it flies with no smoking or lack of power.
Dave
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
Just unplug the MAF and try the car see if it is better
 

monumen

Active Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2009
Messages
29
Reaction score
0
Malcolm,
I didn't see the link you posted. Thank you.
Mine is the top one and as I said I have unplugged it and the car ran just the same. Mind you it didn't get the chance to warm up as it was pouring down and I was hoping for a quick fix. Maybe i'll run it tomorrow but living in a town it's a pain in busy traffic.
I had found previously that a plug lead had a plug screw top stuck in it and this had just been jammed onto the next plug which was shorting but thought i'd cured that and its a nice snug fit on the plug now.
Dave
 

monumen

Active Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2009
Messages
29
Reaction score
0
Malcolm,
How thick am I.
From your link the MAF must be on the right of the engine as I look.
If this is the case I will disconnect it tomorrow and give it a clean with carb cleaner.
Thanks again for your time.
Dave
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
One thing that affects idle is the OVP relay, and this should be checked,,the temp sensors can be checked on an ohm meter, there are many other things too.
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
Malcolm,
How thick am I.
From your link the MAF must be on the right of the engine as I look.
If this is the case I will disconnect it tomorrow and give it a clean with carb cleaner.
Thanks again for your time.
Dave

One problem here is that cleaning may not prove anything,,the sensor can go out of spec, and upset Idle
 

monumen

Active Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2009
Messages
29
Reaction score
0
Malcolm.
Much appreciated and realise there could be a number of areas to look at.
Where would I find this relay.
Unfortunately I don't have a manual for this car.
Thanks
Dave
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
It is not easy to check,,it sits behind the battery and has a fuse on top.

When this relay fails completely the ABS light would be on,but there are several outputs and one feeds the engine ECU and the +12 volt feeds need to be checked to be sure that there is 12 v on these feeds
 

star

Forum Supporter
Authorised Forum Supporter
Joined
Oct 6, 2004
Messages
6,209
Reaction score
1,874
Location
Reading
Your Mercedes
Smart + others :)
Last edited:
OP
P

pendulum06

New Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2009
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #16
I bought a 2000 plate E280 a couple of months ago and have noticed that after standing overnight the car has really poor acceleration, it creeps unevenly along at 10-15 miles a hour for 5-10 seconds even with my foot right down on the accelerator, before oh my god warp factor 9 as it takes off :shock:. After cleaning myself up, it seems happy to sensibly run (even after it has sat in the office carpark for a few hours during the day it still runs normally). The engine management light has flicked on, but after a couple of days it has turned itself off. I am sure that this must be connected.
Can anybody out there give me a heads up on what might be the problem.

I can only assume at the moment my E280 likes mornings even less than myself and I am running out of unsoiled suit trousers.

Thoughts and ideals gratefully received....

Pendulum06 of Berkshire
Thanks Alexander, for the reply. I'II give Malcolms Stars guys in reading a call. I'm about as useful with mechanics as a pikkie is with a hammer. I'II let you know how I get on.

Cheers
P
 
OP
P

pendulum06

New Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2009
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #18
You can take the car into STAR of reading,,he is a good indie
Malcolm,

Are you on commission? :)

Thanks for the reply in any case, much appreciated.

I just need to find a good dry cleaner now.

Kind regards

Pendulum06
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
Malcolm,

Are you on commission? :)

Thanks for the reply in any case, much appreciated.

I just need to find a good dry cleaner now.

Kind regards

Pendulum06

Not at all just want folk to get a good job at a good price
 

AIB understand your special Mercedes deserves a special insurance policy. We have a refreshing attitude to insuring high performance, modified, imported or classic and vintage cars and deal with the UK’s leading insurers. We offer discounts for length of ownership, where the vehicle is kept overnight and limiting the mileage and can also cater for those clients who need higher mileage and business use. To obtain a quotation please call the team on 02380 268351 or visit us atAIB Insurance
Top Bottom