Newbie daft question of the day alert!!

[wellingtons]

Hi peeps

I'm hoping someone can help me. I have a 2000 registered SLK (320 AMG) that has recently had to have the main cat replaced. The Merc specialist mechanics who replaced it (as opposed to the national chain of garages who seemed to want to replace the entire system and quoted me thousands ... ), could find absolutely nothing wrong with the engine other than the cat. They explained that this was unusual, and normally something would be going on that would cause the cat to breakdown.

I've taken it back to them for them to check it over and still there appears to be no problem with the engine. They think that at some point the car may have been grounded and that that could have physically damaged the cat, but they are a tad puzzled.

I've noticed though in the last couple of days that the car feels a little bit as if it may stall when it's cold (and boy has it got cold here all of a sudden!), but it doesn't stall and it drives perfectly.

I'm guessing it's best to take it to be checked over, but I wondered if this is normal when the engine is cold. The Merc boys are lovely, really helpful, but I don't want to turn into that nightmare woman who keeps coming back when there's nothing wrong!!

If this post is in the wrong place, I'm sure a mod will move me, but honest it isn't my fault I don't know anything about cars!!

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Hi peeps

I'm hoping someone can help me. I have a 2000 registered SLK (320 AMG) that has recently had to have the main cat replaced. The Merc specialist mechanics who replaced it (as opposed to the national chain of garages who seemed to want to replace the entire system and quoted me thousands ... ), could find absolutely nothing wrong with the engine other than the cat. They explained that this was unusual, and normally something would be going on that would cause the cat to breakdown.

I've taken it back to them for them to check it over and still there appears to be no problem with the engine. They think that at some point the car may have been grounded and that that could have physically damaged the cat, but they are a tad puzzled.

I've noticed though in the last couple of days that the car feels a little bit as if it may stall when it's cold (and boy has it got cold here all of a sudden!), but it doesn't stall and it drives perfectly.

I'm guessing it's best to take it to be checked over, but I wondered if this is normal when the engine is cold. The Merc boys are lovely, really helpful, but I don't want to turn into that nightmare woman who keeps coming back when there's nothing wrong!!

If this post is in the wrong place, I'm sure a mod will move me, but honest it isn't my fault I don't know anything about cars!!

First of all - Welcome.!

Someone will be along fairly soon to help you out.

 

[jibcl500]

Air flow Meter.

jib

 

[MIW615]

Welcome to the forum - could be the MAF (air flow meter) worth reading this link.................:wink:

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=25775

 

[wellingtons]

Thanks ...

... but heavens to betsy I won't be following the step by step instructions to looking at it myself.

I will take it to the Merc boys at least knowing that I'm not imagining things.

Would it be related the problem with the cat? Or just a coincidence?

 

[television]

It is a known fact the the bottom CAT's are not very good on the V6

If you park or sop on long grass, this will cool down the metal before the ceramic CAT has cooled and crush it, that happened to me when I reversed onto a track to let a tractor pass

 

[wellingtons]

oo-er ...

... I'll remember that. I have to be honest and say that I'm fanatic about looking after the car. It's absolutely immaculate, low mileage and looks gorgeous, inside and out. I bought it because I loved it from the word go, and I want to keep it long term. But I know I bought it at a good price, so I'm happy to cover the upkeep costs.

I will def remember that one ... it's normally either parked on my drive, in a private parking space outside my office or on a gravel drive. The Merc boys did show me the underneath of the car and I could see what they meant about the car being grounded. The assured me that there was no other damage done and I do trust them, they're superb and go out of their way to explain things.

I now don't do much mileage either, probably about 6 miles a day (but not stuck in traffic) ... and I do wonder if that is a good thing or a bad thing or neither one?

 

[television]

...
I now don't do much mileage either, probably about 6 miles a day (but not stuck in traffic) ... and I do wonder if that is a good thing or a bad thing or neither one?

This is a hard question, I am guilty of doing very short trips as well, they say it does not help the CAT's but who knows for sure

 

[MIW615]

This is a hard question, I am guilty of doing very short trips as well, they say it does not help the CAT's but who knows for sure

My wife's SLK is 8 years old, also does approx 5-6 miles a day and is still running on original cat's so I guess a lot of it is down to luck, as you will read somewhere in this forum that cat's have been replaced on newer / higher mileage cars

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Hi peeps

I'm hoping someone can help me. I have a 2000 registered SLK (320 AMG) that has recently had to have the main cat replaced. The Merc specialist mechanics who replaced it (as opposed to the national chain of garages who seemed to want to replace the entire system and quoted me thousands ... ), could find absolutely nothing wrong with the engine other than the cat. They explained that this was unusual, and normally something would be going on that would cause the cat to breakdown.

I've taken it back to them for them to check it over and still there appears to be no problem with the engine. They think that at some point the car may have been grounded and that that could have physically damaged the cat, but they are a tad puzzled.

I've noticed though in the last couple of days that the car feels a little bit as if it may stall when it's cold (and boy has it got cold here all of a sudden!), but it doesn't stall and it drives perfectly.

I'm guessing it's best to take it to be checked over, but I wondered if this is normal when the engine is cold. The Merc boys are lovely, really helpful, but I don't want to turn into that nightmare woman who keeps coming back when there's nothing wrong!!

If this post is in the wrong place, I'm sure a mod will move me, but honest it isn't my fault I don't know anything about cars!!

This may be of use:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mercedes-Air-...ryZ10398QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[jibcl500]

Dont even think about it!!!! thats a china made MAF and it will be crap.......

I read somewhere that a failing MAF can destroy a cat!!!!


jib

 

[wireman]

Just a note about parking on longer grass, the cat casing will be hot and the grass may just ignite if the cat is pressed down into it. More than the cat gets damaged when this happens.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Dont even think about it!!!! thats a china made MAF and it will be crap.......

I read somewhere that a failing MAF can destroy a cat!!!!


jib

How can you tell?

 

[bouncer]

If the engine is good, serviced regular and properly then short journys shouldnt harm the cat, it just means the cat wont be up to temp so may be slightly higher tailpipe emissions. Ceramic cat are very susceptible to shock damage, curbing or quenching can put a crack in the ceramic monolyth, these cracks ony get worse and the ceramic cat brick will break up and rattle. Thats when you do need to change them. If the cats show signs of grounding then i would go with the mechanics advice.

sTeVe

 

[jibcl500]

How can you tell?

Cant tell you as I see them cheap on ebay and can tell if gen or fake.


jib

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Cant tell you as I see them cheap on ebay and can tell if gen or fake.


jib

This is the one I have bought. It was described as a Mercedes-Benz part and new. The seller seems genuine, as does the full description.

What do you think?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....m=110183477870&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=001

 

[jibcl500]

This is the one I have bought. It was described as a Mercedes-Benz part and new. The seller seems genuine, as does the full description.

What do you think?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....m=110183477870&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=001

Fake

jib

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Fake

jib

Thanks - guess what's going back on ebay when it arrives?

 

[wellingtons]

Thank you for all your replies ...

... I'm off to see the Merc boys tomorrow morning and they're just going to plug it in to the diagnostics doohickey and see what's wrong.

The cat's already been changed by them, so that's done and dusted. But thanks for the advice about being careful where I park, etc.

It's much appreciated.

 

[wellingtons]

Took the car in this morning ...

... diagnostics show nothing, other than an intermittent fault in one of the sensors on the air conditioning.

So I'm going to stop panicking and keep driving. It's due for a service in 600 miles anyway, so they'll keep an eye on it.

Thanks for thoughts and help.

W