Sprinter, turbo and smoke issues

[Kenn310D]

Hi all
This is my first thread although I have been browsing here for a while. I have a problem with my 310D '98 Sprinter and was hoping someone could shed some light, any help would be greatly appreciated. After just having the clutch replaced the van started to make a loud air sucking sound from behind the steering wheel. I brought the van back to the garage (2nd hand sprinter specialist) who found that the turbo gate (I think that's what it is called) is not staying open. It opens on ignition but closes as soon as the van is revved. This was put down to an electrical fault so they changed the ECU and told me to drive on, although the air noise is still there she had a good bit of poke until a few days ago. After leaving the van idle for a week when I went to start it again white smoke started to billow from the exhaust and the van had no power at all. Turning the van off and on again seemed to sort this out, I think the ECU reset itself. Today after revving the van I have seemed to have lost the turbo again and the white smoke is back. Any ideas? Anyone? Thank you

 

[dava]

Turbo pipe split, common fault, it's the one from the turbo intake to the intercooler.

 

[Kenn310D]

Thank you Dava. Would the Turbo pipe being split explain the noise and the white smoke as well? I forgot to mention the van has 300.000 miles and never any real problems

 

[dava]

Yep loads of fuel no air, 300k just run in. Look for signs of dirty oil around the pipe, gives a woosh noise as the split opens up allowing the pressurised air to 'whoosh out'.

 

[Kenn310D]

Thank you very much. You're a Legend.

 

[Kenn310D]

Thanks again dava, but the problem is not sorted yet. I found the split hose. It was the one that runs along the top of the of the engine from the intercooler after the hard plastic pipe screwed to the body. The hose had a very big gash on the underside. I had a mechanic reconnect my ECU and then I changed the hose. The "whoosh" noise is gone but there is still no turbo. Feels like I'm dragging a 10 ton trailer behind. Could the ECU have registered the original problem and be in limp mode? If so can these codes be cleared to have the van drive like normal again? Thanks in advance.

 

[dava]

Try changing the stop light switch, about £11.00 ish, when this goes it drops into limp home mode and wont rev past 3k. Also check for a stop light bulb out, gives the same sort of fault, the element of the bulb sometimes shorts across and gives open circuit, not as common as the stop switch, but worth checking. To be honest if it's the original switch just change it as if it aint gone yet it will.

 

[Kenn310D]

Here is the update. All bulbs and stop light switch were O.k. After plugging the van into the diagnostics a fault regarding the injectors showed up, the first injector with the wire was gone giving no volt reading at all. Rang Mutec (Ireland's main Mercedes commercial dealer) for a quote for a new injector and they wanted €567 (£450). Forget that so we put a second hand injector from a 312D in and hey presto she's driving better than ever. Now I just have to find a replacement injector giving a good volt reading to give back to my very helpful mechanic so he can sell the 312. Thanks again dava for the speedy responses. I hope this is the end of my problems for a while.

 

[phasesonix]

Try changing the stop light switch, about £11.00 ish, when this goes it drops into limp home mode and wont rev past 3k. Also check for a stop light bulb out, gives the same sort of fault, the element of the bulb sometimes shorts across and gives open circuit, not as common as the stop switch, but worth checking. To be honest if it's the original switch just change it as if it aint gone yet it will.

Hi,

Do you know of any other common faults with these engines relating to power loss?

i.e air mass flow meter?

Is the air mass flow meter the tiny little sensor that goes into the hard plastic pipe at the front of the engine(facing)?

On my van it makes a noise like it goes out of time(rattly,tappy) when you let the revs off a bit.It stops if you put your foot down or release the pedal.

Thanks,loz

 

[phasesonix]

Here is the update. All bulbs and stop light switch were O.k. After plugging the van into the diagnostics a fault regarding the injectors showed up, the first injector with the wire was gone giving no volt reading at all. Rang Mutec (Ireland's main Mercedes commercial dealer) for a quote for a new injector and they wanted €567 (£450). Forget that so we put a second hand injector from a 312D in and hey presto she's driving better than ever. Now I just have to find a replacement injector giving a good volt reading to give back to my very helpful mechanic so he can sell the 312. Thanks again dava for the speedy responses. I hope this is the end of my problems for a while.

Hi,

they come on ebay for about £40 brand new

hope this helps,Loz