Juddering

[Kennyb57]

Hi, I have just purchased a 2009 220 c class cdi estate. I’ve noticed on acceleration there is a juddering, bit like a misfire. My local garage ( not Mercedes dealer but Mercedes mechanics ) has told me it’s the torque converter that needs replacing. i was shocked as other people had indicated a MAF sensor fault. Looking for advice really guys ! many thanks in advance Kennyb57

 

[pgh13]

Hi, and welcome.
What milage and how long since the transmission was serviced?
Ie fluid and filter changed. There are lots of threads on here about this. MB used to say it was sealed for life but later revised to around 35k depending on which box, but often neglected even on FSH cars

 

[Kennyb57]

Hi, and welcome.
What milage and how long since the transmission was serviced?
Ie fluid and filter changed. There are lots of threads on here about this. MB used to say it was sealed for life but later revised to around 35k depending on which box, but often neglected even on FSH cars

It’s done 207,000 and I don’t know when last service. The above garage was going on about needing to have the radiator changed at the same time ??? Not sure what the connection is ?

 

[Blobcat]

It’s done 207,000 and I don’t know when last service. The above garage was going on about needing to have the radiator changed at the same time ??? Not sure what the connection is ?

Radiator changing is because some valeo radiators leaked between the engine coolant and ATF... this allowed engine coolant to mix with the ATF which damages the gearbox expensively...

 

[Doug1234]

If it has not been serviced for a while then change the fuel filter and see if its any better.
You may be lucky and its a blocked fuel filter issue

 

[Kennyb57]

If it has not been serviced for a while then change the fuel filter and see if its any better.
You may be lucky and its a blocked fuel filter issue

Thanks Doug, and if I’m not lucky ?

 

[Kennyb57]

Thanks Doug, and if I’m not lucky ?

Hi Doug, when I picked the car up it was at the very bottom of the fuel dregs, I needed to fuel up straight away so I suppose there could be some crap in there ?

 

[mioba]

are you using a merc specialist garage to diagnose as going from a MAF to TC and plus radiator is a lot of diagnosing.
Where are you located may be someone can recommend a merc indy.

 

[Doug1234]

If your unlucky then it may be the gearbox, but a filters the cheapest fix if it works.
Having driven thousands of miles on biodiesel and vegetable oil in various cars a blocked fuel filter gives lots of different results, some engines just hit a wall and refuse to rev further and slowly just lurch up and down a few hundred revs and others buck and generally shake the car as if a wheels about to fall off.
First 3 gears are normally ok to full revs and then they start to slow down and will not go over say 3/4 revs but back off the throttle and they run smooth and will often do all day until you go for a few more revs and hit the wall again.
You only normally notice a blocked filter when having to use all the revs but if its only a short burst like merging on motorway then you may not even hit the point where fuel is insufficient enough to cause trouble.

 

[Wighty]

Can’t be the Valeo rad problem on a 2009 car

 

[Blobcat]

Can’t be the Valeo rad problem on a 2009 car

Agreed but why recommend changing the rad?

 

[Wighty]

Agreed but why recommend changing the rad?

Extra money

 

[davemercedes]

Hi, I have just purchased a 2009 220 c class cdi estate. I’ve noticed on acceleration there is a juddering, bit like a misfire. My local garage ( not Mercedes dealer but Mercedes mechanics ) has told me it’s the torque converter that needs replacing. i was shocked as other people had indicated a MAF sensor fault. Looking for advice really guys ! many thanks in advance Kennyb57

You haven't added your location so nobody can suggest who you should get to check your car but we usually recommend that you take your car to an "Indy" - that's an Independent Mercedes specialist - people who are extremely skilled with Mercedes and carry out service work - normally for a considerably lower charge than an MB garage. We have a few of these guys as members on this forum and having learned so much over the years, they often provide advice and guidance here.
As customers we gain two ways - first from their hourly charge and secondly from their experience - which means they usually diagnose the cause of problems much quicker than non-specialists. You must be careful to avoid the "Let's try this/then that/if not we'll replace X" etc - which can cost you a bundle but simply leave you poorer with little or no improvement. When sorted and serviced correctly a Merc doesn't have to be an expensive car!

So post up your locality and hopefully someone will suggest who to contact for help and advice.

 

[Botus]

three common causes of juddering in Mercedes


dodgy coil pack (petrol cars and will show on diagnostics)
dodgy gearbox (may give a clue in diagnostics)
dodgy engine mounts

find another garage if you don't trust the first one

 

[Kennyb57]

You haven't added your location so nobody can suggest who you should get to check your car but we usually recommend that you take your car to an "Indy" - that's an Independent Mercedes specialist - people who are extremely skilled with Mercedes and carry out service work - normally for a considerably lower charge than an MB garage. We have a few of these guys as members on this forum and having learned so much over the years, they often provide advice and guidance here.
As customers we gain two ways - first from their hourly charge and secondly from their experience - which means they usually diagnose the cause of problems much quicker than non-specialists. You must be careful to avoid the "Let's try this/then that/if not we'll replace X" etc - which can cost you a bundle but simply leave you poorer with little or no improvement. When sorted and serviced correctly a Merc doesn't have to be an expensive car!

So post up your locality and hopefully someone will suggest who to contact for help and advice.

Hi, I did take it to an independent Mercedes specialist in Smethwick near Birmingham

 

[Kennyb57]

You haven't added your location so nobody can suggest who you should get to check your car but we usually recommend that you take your car to an "Indy" - that's an Independent Mercedes specialist - people who are extremely skilled with Mercedes and carry out service work - normally for a considerably lower charge than an MB garage. We have a few of these guys as members on this forum and having learned so much over the years, they often provide advice and guidance here.
As customers we gain two ways - first from their hourly charge and secondly from their experience - which means they usually diagnose the cause of problems much quicker than non-specialists. You must be careful to avoid the "Let's try this/then that/if not we'll replace X" etc - which can cost you a bundle but simply leave you poorer with little or no improvement. When sorted and serviced correctly a Merc doesn't have to be an expensive car!

So post up your locality and hopefully someone will suggest who to contact for help and advice.

Thanks so much for the advice Dave, I took it to an independent Mercedes garage in Smethwick near Birmingham, I’m happy to take it for a second opinion if anyone can suggest ?

 

[star]

By all means get a second opinion but don’t go guessing or changing stuff without a diagnosis. It’ll cost you. Tc’s judder on light accel 2-3-4 gear changes. All way good to do a glycol check as well as rad internal coolers can fail anytime and are not just a certain age year problem however it was more common in certain years.
You might be able to switch tcu off with a star to diagnose or a cheap get around fix for an old/cheap car, block the tc valve.
why don’t you trust the diagnosis of the specialist?

 

[Scott.G]

I have a serious judder at certain speeds between 20 to 45 mph. Fine on Motorway unless I slow down below 50. It feels like it comes from rear of car and it’s quite violent. My car is an E320 estate from 2004 . So far changed part of drive shaft which was worn. And had new tyres and tracking. I am in Croydon Surrey if anyone can recommend a local indi to take a look?

 

[ssheikh93]

I have a serious judder at certain speeds between 20 to 45 mph. Fine on Motorway unless I slow down below 50. It feels like it comes from rear of car and it’s quite violent. My car is an E320 estate from 2004 . So far changed part of drive shaft which was worn. And had new tyres and tracking. I am in Croydon Surrey if anyone can recommend a local indi to take a look?

One of the cheapest fix could be a road force balance. Costs about 20 per wheel. I use to have heavy juddering and vibrations. I changed many parts, then a simple road force balance and it was all fixed.

 

[mattkh]

One of the cheapest fix could be a road force balance.

Is a road force balance different from what I hear as wheel balancing..?