Untapped power?

[philharve]

Hi All

Twice in the two-and-a-half years of ownership of my C230K and incident occurred whilst driving my Merc' that scared the life out of me. Neither incident lasted more than a few seconds but it made me wonder if there was untapped power beneath the bonnet.

Perhaps coincidentally, I was climbing a hill when the incidents occurred. All of a sudden the car accelerated with such force that it felt as though it was being propelled by a far larger and more powerful engine. In each case I backed off on the accelerator and all was normal again.

Were these incidents of the ECU momentarily getting its calculations wrong but in so doing releasing untapped power? Doubtless these incidents will recur but it's a pity they cannot be more predictable or controllable.

I've often wondered what would have happened had I not backed off the accelerator. Probably lose my license for one thing.

Has any other member experienced anything similar or is able to explain what may have happened?

REGARDS

Phil

 

[busby20]

Hi All

Twice in the two-and-a-half years of ownership of my C230K and incident occurred whilst driving my Merc' that scared the life out of me. Neither incident lasted more than a few seconds but it made me wonder if there was untapped power beneath the bonnet.

Perhaps coincidentally, I was climbing a hill when the incidents occurred. All of a sudden the car accelerated with such force that it felt as though it was being propelled by a far larger and more powerful engine. In each case I backed off on the accelerator and all was normal again.

Were these incidents of the ECU momentarily getting its calculations wrong but in so doing releasing untapped power? Doubtless these incidents will recur but it's a pity they cannot be more predictable or controllable.

I've often wondered what would have happened had I not backed off the accelerator. Probably lose my license for one thing.

Has any other member experienced anything similar or is able to explain what may have happened?

REGARDS

Phil

Hi Phil, strangely enough I had a similar experience recently with my 02 SLK 230K, and this was going up a fairly long rising gradient as well ? however, the next day my engine warning light came on (although power output doesn't feel down from normal) I haven't had a chance to get the light checked out yet, but it there was definately more power that day.

 

[philharve]

Just coincidences?

Hi busby20

Perhaps I should have added that the hill I was climbing when the incidents occurred could be described as 'a long rising gradient' with three lanes in which a high overtaking speed is possible. Consequently, our experiences are very similar. However, no warning lights came on in my C230K.

Your SLK230K engine isn't to dissimilar to mine. Another coincidence?

In your case, however, your warning light was trying to tell you something. But what? It might give a clue as to what our engines were doing when the incidents occurred.

Did the warning light eventually extinguish and is everything now back to normal? I assume no damage was done to the engine?

REGARDS

Phil

 

[busby20]

Hi busby20

Perhaps I should have added that the hill I was climbing when the incidents occurred could be described as 'a long rising gradient' with three lanes in which a high overtaking speed is possible. Consequently, our experiences are very similar. However, no warning lights came on in my C230K.

Your SLK230K engine isn't to dissimilar to mine. Another coincidence?

In your case, however, your warning light was trying to tell you something. But what? It might give a clue as to what our engines were doing when the incidents occurred.

Did the warning light eventually extinguish and is everything now back to normal? I assume no damage was done to the engine?

REGARDS

Phil

Hi Phil, there doesn't appear to be anything wrong with the engine but the light is still on (haven't had time to get it down to garage yet,) and it still revs to max. - co-incedently, the time it felt as if it was really moving the revs weren't any higher than normal ? my other slk has never had this, but somehow seems faster than the other one-don't know why.

 

[philharve]

Hi Phil, there doesn't appear to be anything wrong with the engine but the light is still on (haven't had time to get it down to garage yet,) and it still revs to max. - co-incedently, the time it felt as if it was really moving the revs weren't any higher than normal ? my other slk has never had this, but somehow seems faster than the other one-don't know why.

Hi busby20

You've just mentioned another of the characteristics I experieced but failed to report.

" ... it was really moving the revs weren't any higher than normal ... "

The torque produced by the engine was greatly increased, if only for a moment. I wonder if it has anything to do with the supercharger?

Maybe an expert member will be able to answer this question.

REGARDS

Phil