Please help - Stalling when put in gear 2003 CDI E270 Auto
 

Stalling when 1st put in gear - cold
Second time lucky - put it in the Gas section 1st and got no reply, help!!!

2003 E270 CDI Auto estate Avantg- When I start the car, hot or cold weather, it is fine and tics over well. When eng cold, if I put it in gear, it stalls in either Drive or Reverse; If I wait a few mins, it is o.k. but sounds as if it is trying to stall (eng Labours). Once it is driving it goes well but in 4th, at speed, if I apply power when going uphill it seems less willing to accelerate unless I give it more welly – not ideal; sort of feels like clutch slip on a manual???
When 1st starting, If I throw in into gear when cold there is a clunk as it engages, or more of one than I remember ( might just be me being paranoid).
Loads of explanations and none that I understand elsewhere and no other problems exactly the same as mine; any other little tips would be most helpful until I go to the money eating dealer, cap in hand!!

You could have a glow-plug or two out, How does it start when completely cold?--Does it blow a puff of smoke when cold? You say it has unsteady idle when cold, this points to poor combustion that can be caused by glow-plugs. How many miles on it?--You could well be suffering from Injector wear, Some of the CDi have a bit of a rep for poor injectors after a few years....

Get 'leak-off' checked at a specialist and also check glow-plugs and timer....

Alastair,

Thank you for your reply.

It has 69K but it seems to be running normally with no puff of smoke, I can't feel or hear a difference from normal, it has only just started to do this.. The Idle isnt unsteady, when you put it in gear it drops dramatically and if this is the 1st time in gear from a cold start- it stalls. Once it has warmed up, there is no prob apart from the labour at higher speed. No loose wires but the under hood is so stuffed - I wouldn't know where to start. I did wash it and fill the screen wash today - quite proud of that!!!

check your hot flim mass air flow sensor

i have info i can send on the problem

Oracle, yes please I cant even spel HFMAFS let alone know what it does - sounds impresive.

need email addy

Should def be tripping a code if the MAF is faulty enough to affect low idle.

Have you looked for any fuel/air leaks on and around the fuel filter housing and the couple of lines leading to the pump?

Not always seeing how it just started. For it to trip a code has happen more times to store a fault code in the pcm. CDI system is much different than the system on your 99 300D.

not much in terms of vacuum. Its very similr to a gas car having many sensors and electronic components.

A TSB on general engine running compliants

This sounds like good stuff and you know what you are talking about.

It is only when put in gear so could there be a problem with the gearbox or the drive train causing the eng to stall. Like a failed free wheel on a bike would cause the pedald (eng) to react to the drive train?

Also inj/choke sort a problems where the car is just not reacting to the extra load came to mind and when warm, perpetual feed stops the problem?

Thanks for the docs.

Not vacuum Oracle.....The air/fuel leaks I refered to would be the clear plastic fuel lines sealed by orings. The CDI, to a lesser extent, retains those lines like the 606 family before it. Look for bubbles at idle and under load.

Lacking a code I'd concentrate on more mechanical than electronic problems.

A fuel pressure test would verify if there was leaks or not.

Since it only does it when the car is cold Im thinking the preheating valve could be faulty which is on the fuel filter housing

I read that it labo(u)rs when warm also; as well as under higher load (more "welly") in 4th gear. The former may suggest frothy fuel which costs nothing but 5 minutes time to confirm or reject.

It seems to me that at speed, if I put power on under stress or particulaly at low revs (slow ish speed top gear) it judders but I do not recognise an engine change of note, it is like a slipping clutch of a manual - the best description I have or a trust bearing chattering is a similar felling but there is no noise.

If I rev on 1st start, the eng gets warmer (I know not trying to teach egg sucking) and the car runs when put in gear. The revs drop to almost stall but then recover. If I was to hold on for 2 mins, it might not even labour - I must try that.

Ihave always used top end Shell diesel as I believe it is more fuel efficient and better for an engine, so, poor fuel is out - I think????

Left it for a while before engaging gear and it dropped revs but didn't stall. Will try blowing it out on a motorway see if that helps.

Thanks for your efforts so far.:rolleyes:

Update, it looks like the Tq converter is having a dickie fit - ah well off to the dealer.