Shane Smyth
New Member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2019
- Messages
- 5
- Reaction score
- 7
- Your Mercedes
- 2004 C180 Kompressor SE Sport (Automatic)
Hello all.
Firstly, I've only just signed up and I apologise if I come across as a noob. I really require some expert advice/opinion on some issues I'm experiencing with my Mercedes 2004 C180 Kompressor SE Sport (Automatic). 82000 miles.
Long story short. I recently just had the spark plugs and x4 coil packs replaced. £300 at a local garage after I was experiencing some intermittent shaking in the car when idle. The mechanic did the work in stages. Spark plugs first, but issue still recurring so I opted for coil packs to be replaced after he said the car would "perform like a dream". In all fairness, after driving the car away, it did seem as if the car was running as new. I was very pleased. However, only a few minutes later the check engine light comes back on and the car starts juddering again. Not as bad as before, but softly present in the background. Obviously this gave me cause for concern but in my naivety I just assumed it would sort itself out as the engine was probably "getting used to the new coils". Very silly assumption.
Anyway, yesterday and today I have had major problems. It has felt as if I was going to break down. When at traffic lights and roundabouts the juddering was so harsh it felt as if the engine was cutting out and power certainly affected. I had my foot to the floor and it was barely pulling. Worst thing is, it was all steep hills home and I was stuck behind a learner driver! But I managed to get home, but the car peetty much shook the whole way.
Starting the car up today with the engine cold. I decided to just pop down to the local supermarket to see if the problem persists. With the engine cold, it seemed like no issue. First five minutes were fine. No vibrating etc. As soon as it got warm, I could feel on breaking that the car was beginning to judder harshly again and losing power. Again, driving on a flat with foot to floor and engine doesn't shift as expected. Worrying. Btw, turning on the engine idle, it just sits there shaking at 8000-10000 revs. Not too much movement on that. When going up to about 18000+ revs the shaking seems to calm down a little. So it seems the issue only occurs when slowing down.
The mechanic did originally suggest the third thing to look at was the air pressure flow, but rather than fully investigating it, just replaced the coil packs, assumed the issue was resolved, charged me and hoped for the best I suppose. I understand he probably wanted to keep the cost down and complexity simplified as I understand Mercedes are difficult to work on.
I do understand that Mercedes are notoriously difficult to diagnose issues like this. And I've been researching and seeing people in some instances spend more money on the car than it's actually worth to try and fix with no success, so I'm not expecting a concrete answer to my question, but more of a guide. Based on experience, what is this likely to be? And of course the million dollar question, how much is it going to cost me?
I was thinking about purchasing a code reader and learning and understanding the codes for myself but I'm not really from a technical background so would probably be wasted effort. I just want to know how I can get my lovely first car that I've only had for 9 months back to performing like I know it can
Amy help/advice would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
SHANE
Firstly, I've only just signed up and I apologise if I come across as a noob. I really require some expert advice/opinion on some issues I'm experiencing with my Mercedes 2004 C180 Kompressor SE Sport (Automatic). 82000 miles.
Long story short. I recently just had the spark plugs and x4 coil packs replaced. £300 at a local garage after I was experiencing some intermittent shaking in the car when idle. The mechanic did the work in stages. Spark plugs first, but issue still recurring so I opted for coil packs to be replaced after he said the car would "perform like a dream". In all fairness, after driving the car away, it did seem as if the car was running as new. I was very pleased. However, only a few minutes later the check engine light comes back on and the car starts juddering again. Not as bad as before, but softly present in the background. Obviously this gave me cause for concern but in my naivety I just assumed it would sort itself out as the engine was probably "getting used to the new coils". Very silly assumption.
Anyway, yesterday and today I have had major problems. It has felt as if I was going to break down. When at traffic lights and roundabouts the juddering was so harsh it felt as if the engine was cutting out and power certainly affected. I had my foot to the floor and it was barely pulling. Worst thing is, it was all steep hills home and I was stuck behind a learner driver! But I managed to get home, but the car peetty much shook the whole way.
Starting the car up today with the engine cold. I decided to just pop down to the local supermarket to see if the problem persists. With the engine cold, it seemed like no issue. First five minutes were fine. No vibrating etc. As soon as it got warm, I could feel on breaking that the car was beginning to judder harshly again and losing power. Again, driving on a flat with foot to floor and engine doesn't shift as expected. Worrying. Btw, turning on the engine idle, it just sits there shaking at 8000-10000 revs. Not too much movement on that. When going up to about 18000+ revs the shaking seems to calm down a little. So it seems the issue only occurs when slowing down.
The mechanic did originally suggest the third thing to look at was the air pressure flow, but rather than fully investigating it, just replaced the coil packs, assumed the issue was resolved, charged me and hoped for the best I suppose. I understand he probably wanted to keep the cost down and complexity simplified as I understand Mercedes are difficult to work on.
I do understand that Mercedes are notoriously difficult to diagnose issues like this. And I've been researching and seeing people in some instances spend more money on the car than it's actually worth to try and fix with no success, so I'm not expecting a concrete answer to my question, but more of a guide. Based on experience, what is this likely to be? And of course the million dollar question, how much is it going to cost me?
I was thinking about purchasing a code reader and learning and understanding the codes for myself but I'm not really from a technical background so would probably be wasted effort. I just want to know how I can get my lovely first car that I've only had for 9 months back to performing like I know it can
Amy help/advice would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
SHANE