first humming, now smoke - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jivadent · #1 12-26-2005, 08:20 PM

I went on about a 50 miles trip around the city today, picking up a friend, going to the movies, and the reverse. On our way to the movie, I was accelerating, and I heard the car whimper, and in the rear view mirror I saw a cloud of black smoke had puffed out the tail pipe. I also felt the car lose some power.

As we kept driving, the car kept whimpering when I would step on the gas, but it would only do it in drive. After the movie, the whimpering turned into a humming or wheezing, and it had gotten louder. It seemed like the car didn't have as much power accelerating either. When I was going home, the humming stopped for a few minutes, then came back. Then I noticed that I was getting white smoke as I was accelerating, but no humming or smoke if I would keep a constant speed.

Finally, as I was getting back home, if I would sit at a stop light for a while, after about 30 or 45 seconds, it would start to idle VERY roughly, and put out a lot of white smoke out the tail pipe. Again, this would subside if I started driving again.

Any ideas as to what's wrong with it?

kmaysob · #2 12-26-2005, 08:27 PM

check your oil for water. white smoke kinda sounds like a headgasket

jivadent · #3 12-26-2005, 08:33 PM

funny you should mention that, because about 2 months ago, I did have blown headgaskets, and I got them fixed by the local MB dealer.

kmaysob · #4 12-26-2005, 08:38 PM

i would check the oil, and pressurize the cooling system and see if it holds pressure. i could have blown again if they did something incorrectly like improperly tourque the head or if the head or block was warped not correcting it.

jivadent · #5 12-26-2005, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmaysob

it could have blown again

I would agree with you if it wasn't for the humming/wheezing. Granted, my knowledge of mechanics is mediocre, but the last time my gaskets were blown, there was no humming.

jivadent · #6 12-27-2005, 09:30 AM

I was thinking my problem might have something to do with the turbo. The humming noise is coming from the passenger's side of the car, and it only happens while driving, and I have a loss of power. Since it's eating oil too, it might be the turbo seized up, or maybe the valve leading to the engine? Does that sound about right?

Brian Carlton · #7 12-27-2005, 09:37 AM

Remove the U shaped air inlet to the turbo and reach in there (engine cold) and try to spin the impeller. It should turn very easily. Then try to push the impeller side to side. Any free play, side to side is NG. The try and push the impeller axially backwards and forwards. The free play should be minimal.

Report back with results.

I had a bad turbo recently that would suck up so much oil it was shocking.

jivadent · #8 12-27-2005, 02:10 PM

I took it to a mechanic this morning to look at it, so I haven't been able to check the turbo. But he says it's my fuel injection pump. I know nothing about fuel pumps, so do you guys think that would fit the symptoms?

He also says the pump would be a couple of thousand to replace, and so I should take my car somewhere to get it "set" which I think means repaired. He doesn't have to equipment to set it. Does that sound right?

Also, this all happened while I'm visiting my folks in the Ft. Lauderdale area. I don't know any mechanics down here, so if anyone can point me to a reliable diesel mechanic around Hollywood or Ft. Lauderdale, I'd appreciate it.

Brian Carlton · #9 12-27-2005, 02:52 PM

It's difficult to second guess the mechanic when he as seen the vehicle and we have not.

However, I will tell you that nearly everyone who has determined that the IP was the culprit, right out of the box, has revised their opinion after a new IP was installed and the problem remained.

Don't spend any big money unless you get a second opinion from a very knowledgeable diesel mechanic.

And, if you decide that you need an IP, one can be had on e-bay for less than $200., typically.

jivadent · #10 12-27-2005, 03:07 PM

Well, the reason I'm skeptical about it being the IP is that I asked him if the humming/wheezing was from the IP, and he said that it was from the turbo, and that I have a problem with the turbo as well. Now, I find it hard to believe that two things went wrong yesterday (first the turbo, then the IP), unless one caused the demise of the other.

And $200 for a new IP sounds great... he said they'd be around $2000. I'm gonna take it to another mechanic I found in the phone book today and take my chances. He seemed to think it was the turbo too, based on the symptoms I described over the phone.

Brian Carlton · #11 12-27-2005, 03:20 PM

Please do the simple checks of the turbo that I requested above in post #7, and report back.

Diesel Giant · #12 12-27-2005, 03:58 PM

1) oil in water?
2) water in oil?
3) Bubbling in water?
4) thick white smoke (not gray)at tail pipe
All these mean the head gasket is deep 6.
Do a pressure test on cooling system and eliminate that.

I have seen so many problems mask themselves as others and start a cascading effect. Mercedes injector pump rarely go bad as a general rule as the turbos, but they do on occasion.

Get a second opinion. You can get your injector pump rebuilt for about $500 if that is what the real problem is.

jivadent · #13 12-27-2005, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

Please do the simple checks of the turbo that I requested above in post #7, and report back.

I didn't take the car home, so I couldn't do the check. I just took it from one mechanic to the other. The second one seemed to think it was the turbo, based on what he saw in 2 minutes after I brought it there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel Giant

All these mean the head gasket is deep 6.
Do a pressure test on cooling system and eliminate that.

I have seen so many problems mask themselves as others and start a cascading effect. Mercedes injector pump rarely go bad as a general rule as the turbos, but they do on occasion.

Get a second opinion. You can get your injector pump rebuilt for about $500 if that is what the real problem is.

I had the head gasket replaced 2 months ago. I was hoping that's it, because that's still under warranty. But from what I can tell, the smoke's all oil, and I'm not losing any coolant.

I'm not sure what to hope for now - the IP or the turbo. They both seem to cost about the same to rebuild, and hella expensive to replace. I should find out in the morning.