Help Urgently Needed

[RossAJ]

Dear All,

I've joined on behalf of my father in law, who's having significant problems with his Vaneo 170 Diesel.

Long story short, it went to a Mercedes main dealer for a minor service, and the next day it was losing a large quantity of oil (1.5 litres in 24 hours) - it went back to the garage, where they have denied that the problem is anything to do with them. Apparently, the oil is being lost though the breather pipe, the cause of the problem has not yet been identified but they are looking at somewhere in the region of £2000 for repair.

The vehicle has been owned from nearly new (it's on an O2 plate), has covered 85000 miles with a full service record (all done at the main dealer). It's also recently had new injectors and a new cat. It's driven very gently, and we can't understand why this could have occurred.

I would really appreciate any help or advice that anyone could offer.

Ross

 

[mattkh]

Hi

What was the rate of oil loss before it went in for the service ?
Can you see any oil drips on the drain plug ?

 

[television]

I was hoping that a Sprinter member would come on.

I do not have any info on this,but somewhere I have seen a fault listed where the turbo can suck the oil out.

Malcolm

 

[Parrot of Doom]

You have the right in law to have the vehicle returned to you in the condition which you left it.

I would speak to the dealer principal, and remind him how much money you've spent in his business.

Of course it could be a coincidence, or a previous failure made apparent by the service, but thats unlikely IMO.

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

I was hoping that a Sprinter member would come on.

I do not have any info on this,but somewhere I have seen a fault listed where the turbo can suck the oil out.

Malcolm

Hi Malcolm

I thought you meant me

The Vaneo is a kind of A class based people carrier and uses much of the same components. I believe the 1.7 diesel engine is also lifted straight from the A class. I had one of these diesel A classes for a while and I couldn't fault the engine for power, economy and refinement, it was probably the best bit of the car.

If the oil is coming out the breather system (rubber pipes?) it would suggest either damage to the pipes (cheap to sort?) or over pressuring of the crankcase which has burst/dislodged the breather pipes but I would also expect the second condition to show itself in other ways prior to the pipes bursting i.e smokey exhaust emissions or ejection of the dipstick rapidly followed by a puddle of oil (this happened when my van engine expired).

Usually, when a turbo oil seal goes it is quickly spotted by the copious amounts of smoke exiting via the exhaust or when the engine races out of control, running on the hot oil being passed through the air intake.

Other than the above I'm afraid I can't be more helpfull. Sit down with the merc workshop manager and get them to explain in detail what is wrong and why and why it is not their fault.

 

[jberks]

What are they suggesting is done for this £2000?
Its a hell of a lot for a rubber pipe so presumably there is something more sinister going on.
At the very least, I would expect the dealer to take this up with MB for a goodwill contribution, but I'd also get details of the issue and call a indie MB specilaist for a quote as they may still be cheaper, even with an MB contribution.

Major faults on a diesel engine at such a low mileage shouldn't happen so I'd expect some assistance from MB.

MB do help quite often, e.g. they are paying the full cost of new brake pipes on my Dads 02 E class.

 

[RossAJ]

Thanks to everyone for your comments.

In answer to a few questions, there was no oil loss prior to the service, and the engine had not become problematic prior either; no loss of power or black smoke. My assumption when i saw the oil was to assume that the garage had replaced the sump plug incorrectly rather than anything else...

Will speak to the dealership today and update.

 

[D3Less]

Could it be that they badly overfilled the oil that has then blown seals?

 

[RossAJ]

Further to last posting, I've been in touch with Mercedes customer service, who seemed quite helpful. The garage, however, are still denying that it's anything to do with them despite the fact that this problem occured within 18 hours of it coming out of the service bay. The cause of the problem has still not been identified.

Could have a fight on our hands here...

 

[orri95]

Hi this has happened to us. We have had constant creaking in the car which now shakes.We were pulled over on the motorway as smoke was coming from underneath the car due to oil loss.The garage put oil in and within 24hrs the dipstick is showing no oil yet when the mechanic looked underneath oil is splashed all under the car.The vaneo has been in the garage constantly having brakepads fitted etc etc they say they don't know where the oil leak is coming from.Since then it has took a turn for worse the car now shakes seeming to struggle to get out or into gear(its an automatic diesel)We have been told although they can't tell where the oil leak is it will now need a new gearbox and until they take it out, will not know where the oil leak is coming from,any ideas and what did the garage tell you since?Thanks Fay