(More!) C 220 power problems

[thespirit3]

OK, picked up a 2004 C220 CDI last week, 44k on the clock.

Yesterday when driving home the car lost power (drove fine for 10 mins from cold, then considerable power loss). It would still drive - but behaved exactly as I'd imagine if the turbo failed. No smoke, but no surge of power as the turbo does it's job - climbing uphill was painful.

I pulled over, called my dealer (who promised to call me back) - and after 10 mins I thought I'd restart the engine and try again. Pulled away fine, and was fine for the remainder of the journey last night and also the journey back down this morning (180 miles in all).

The dealer said if it happens again to take it in for diagnosis.

My question is this:- Any obvious reason for the turbo to just fail like this (if in fact that's what it was)?

I see from the other thread with a similar name that I should check the MAF sensor - and possibly the exhaust. If it doesn't do it again anytime soon - it could be a difficult one to track down. The car hasn't had any other problems in the week I've had it, and no problems are reported via the dash display.

*confused*


Steve

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

that sounds VERY much like the MAF. I had exactly the same symptoms on my Audi A6 TDi. Changing the MAF made it feel like a new car.


read the thread entitled "Flat spot and smoking, and NO it's not the MAF!" and you'll see what I mean.

 

[thespirit3]

ok, thanks

 

[thespirit3]

Thanks again - your description does sound almost identical to mine. I may have a quick look over the weekend - and if I continue to get problems take it to the dealer.

 

[jberks]

MAF is a possibility - but all it's really done is to switch off the turbo and there are several sensors that could cause this.
Given that it's a 2004 and is still under warranty, the idea of 'seeing if it does it again' would be unnaceptable to me. Theoretically, it has deliberately tripped out and therefore should have a fault code logged on the ECU to explain why. If mine did it, I'd insist it went in for an immediate diagnosis. Alternatively you can see if it happens again, as it will, probably when you're late for a meeting, sometime around xmas and you can't get into the workshops for 3 weeks!

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

JB I don't think he said the Turbo did fail, he said it was "as if the turbo had failed", and that is exactly how it feels when the MAF goes on a diesel. Can he just unplug it if it goes funny again to see if it then runs ok?

Like you say though, I'd want it sorted now rather than wait for it to go wrong. Trust me, you don't want to be in some town centre somewhere surroounded by people doing their Christmas shopping with a car that wont do more than 15 mph!

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

ok, I may have misread your post. The MAF actually does switch off the turbo does it? I didn't realise that.

 

[robbi-wan]

Had exactly the same symptoms over the last 3-4 weeks (thread "Intermittent lack of oomph"), when it was plugged to the STAR diagnosis machine, MAF was indeed faulty. Now it is fixed. It is an easy DIY job and the element required is approx £50.

rob

 

[jberks]

ok, I may have misread your post. The MAF actually does switch off the turbo does it? I didn't realise that.

One of the aspects of safe mode I believe. If it can't measure the incoming airflow, having the turbo running would only make things worse, so I imagine it will turn the turbo off.