Detail Summary: 1995 C220 Mercedes major engine problems after cat in engine, belt came off, engine hot for less that 3 minutes, and washed motor- now $3200 repair bill.

On Wed., April 27, 2005, at around 5 p.m. I started my car, it immediately died. I started it again and backed-up, it seemed I had no power steering. I drove approximately 2 miles and the car started running hot. I immediately parked and I called for help. My neighbor opened my hood and there was cat hair, flesh, and blood everywhere. I had had a problem w/ a cat earlier in the year and basically nothing happened. I had taken my car into the service department and had everything checked. The technician said that I should start planning to replace my wiring harness in the next year. After replacing the belt, we washed the motor and then my car would not start without keeping a foot on the gas. I called the merecedes service department (which is around 90 miles from my home) and they said to open my hood, that I had water in the engine, etc. After several days, nothing improved- I borrowed my sister's car and had my car towed to the service department on Thurs., May 12, 2005- the technician called on Fri, May 13 and said "What did you do to this car?- this did not happen because you washed the motor- there is no compression in cylinder 1. We will need to pull the head, etc. Did the car run hot?" I explained that the car was hot for less than 2 to 3 minutes. After doing some searching, I found out that my insurance may cover the damage. So, I called my insurance company- I was told that my insurance did cover damage done by animals. But guess what- my claim was denied today, because the insurance adjuster said that what happened to my car was normal wear and tear. Also, the service technician would not say that the engine running hot was the reason my valve was burnt, etc. I want some advice- please post positive and negative comments. In the end, I will have to pay $3200- for labor and valve being replaced. This also included a new wiring harness. I need advice- is there anyway that I can prove that my car running hot could cause my valve to burn. My car's problems immediately happened after washing the cat's blood, flesh, and hair off of my motor. Could this all be just a coincidence?

With the first appearance of the presumed "cat". I would have called my insurance company and towed to MB.

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I am not as perceptive as the other guy who posted. I would likely have done just what you did.

I think you need to figure out what actually happened. To do that you do need to remove the head, and have it checked. A burned valve is not typically a result of a momentary overheating. Also, you never really said how hot it got.

You will need some cooperation from the shop working on your car. Once they get the head off, you need to photograph the condition of the head, the valves, the cylinder and the piston on the cylinder with the low compression, and the others. I have had a valve burn because I failed to adjust the valves for too long a time, resulting in the valve throttling the exhaust flow to the point where it got much too hot. The result was not subtle.

An overheating event is more likely to warp the head and cause a compression leak to either an oil passage or a water passage at the block to cylinder head interface. So, make sure you get the burned valve back, and get some photos of the head, have it checked for flatness, and get some photos of the other parts.

If you truly have a burned valve, I would be inclined to conclude you suffered a failure that just happened to coincide with the cat incident. Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

Still not able to figure out how the cat can make the belt to snap. Maybe tha cat was traped in to one of the "cat carriers" like the one below.



Just trying to make you laugh a bit. Good luck with the repair.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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Radu Negru

how can you honestly post this without falling on the floor laughing? i would imagine on start up, you would had to have heard a loud, screeching, cat-getting-chopped-up-in-the-friggin-fan sound, unless you had your Britney Spears cd up too loud. unless there are no turns anywhere nearby, you would have had to make a slight turn, and noticed you had no power steering, but still kept cranking "Oops, I did it again" oblivious to the world, and motored down the road. You admittedly noticed the temp gage getting hot, but still drove it for a few minutes, just in case it was only kidding. 2-3 minutes of driving at overheat temperatures will ruin your engine, especially these kraut motors made of aluminum. you might get away with that in a chevy small block, but not here. most likely the head warped from the heat. I'm sure it had low compression in that cyl, and the shop probably told you that you had a burnt valve because they couldn't fathom you driving the vehicle for miles with it overheating.

but here's what really happened, the fan belt broke, you drove, you overheated, kept driving to a shop. when you got to the shop, your engine was already toast, and you shut it off. according to your post, this is the last time it ran right. they replaced the belt, but after start up, it runs like crap. this is because all the damage from the overheat has already been done. the shop pulls the head and finds a burned valve. ONE burned valve will not cause the symptoms you describe. a head warped like a pretzel with blown head gaskets will. being that you didn't notice the cat blender going on under the hood, lack of power steering, or overheating, would guess you also didn't notice the car probably didn't run right months or years before this, when the valve actually was burned. i would say it overheated bad, and the valve was burned long before hand. overheating an engine will NOT burn valves. it runs like crap because you warped the head.

I wish that I would have known the insurance company covered animals in the motor- but then my insurance company only takes my money. A stranger shared this info w/ me at the bank when I was waiting to see someone about getting a loan to fix my car. But thanks for the presumed "cat"- I really appreciate your help. Because a cat did get in my car and my belt did come off, car ran hot, and the motor was gross- and I am the one stuck w/ paying $3300. Also, I had to bag the cat up and guess what I am still feeding the rest of the stray cats. Thanks again for your help- you sound just like the insurance adjuster. I guess if I would have been a guy just like you- I would not be in this situation. Have a great life!

but here's what really happened, the fan belt broke, you drove, you overheated, kept driving to a shop. when you got to the shop, your engine was already toast, and you shut it off. according to your post, this is the last time it ran right. they replaced the belt, but after start up, it runs like crap. this is because all the damage from the overheat has already been done. the shop pulls the head and finds a burned valve. ONE burned valve will not cause the symptoms you describe. a head warped like a pretzel with blown head gaskets will. being that you didn't notice the cat blender going on under the hood, lack of power steering, or overheating, would guess you also didn't notice the car probably didn't run right months or years before this, when the valve actually was burned. i would say it overheated bad, and the valve was burned long before hand. overheating an engine will NOT burn valves. it runs like crap because you warped the head.[/QUOTE]

For your information- this car ran great until this incident- everything is completely documented at the dealership. Actually just a few weeks before all of this I had car checked on the computer when I got my oil changed and they said that I would need brakes soon. Since the service is over an hour and half away - I had the brakes changed. Remember this is all documented- therefore your statement that it probably didn't run right is not true- what happened was a cat was in my motor and belt came off and I washed engine. I thought everything was associated with washing the engine- but if you really know what you are talking about. Please answer one question for me- What would cause a prefect car to immediately miss-up w/ no warning? Also, the head was checked and it was fine ($600 to pull it off and $150 at the head job- does that sound funny?) thanks again- Also, just a side note- I didn't know why the stearing was different- it wasn't until I got help that everything made sense. I just was not sure- I wish I could go back in time and know what was going on but that is life...

thanks- I wish I could laugh- but this is terrible. I guess it would have been better if I would not have been told that insurance pays for stuff like this. I was better off when I felt like "what is going to happen next" instead of if this was someone else they would get some help.

[QUOTE=JimSmith]I am not as perceptive as the other guy who posted. I would likely have done just what you did.

I think you need to figure out what actually happened. To do that you do need to remove the head, and have it checked. A burned valve is not typically a result of a momentary overheating. Also, you never really said how hot it got.

You will need some cooperation from the shop working on your car. Once they get the head off, you need to photograph the condition of the head, the valves, the cylinder and the piston on the cylinder with the low compression, and the others. I have had a valve burn because I failed to adjust the valves for too long a time, resulting in the valve throttling the exhaust flow to the point where it got much too hot. The result was not subtle.

The technician took pictures- is adjust the valves something that I should ask for in the future. I am picking the car up tomorrow- I get a one year warranty on labor and parts. What should I watch for? I will not be able to handle another $3300 repair. I am just a regular person trying to get good advice. Thanks again, Angie

An overheating event is more likely to warp the head and cause a compression leak to either an oil passage or a water passage at the block to cylinder head interface. So, make sure you get the burned valve back, and get some photos of the head, have it checked for flatness, and get some photos of the other parts.

If you truly have a burned valve, I would be inclined to conclude you suffered a failure that just happened to coincide with the cat incident. Jim[/QUOTE]

Angie
have you actually talked to your insurance company, even at this late stage. I think your actions were quite reasonable so I would have thought if you were insured for cat infestation you might get them to pay in retrospect. its worth a go surely - what is there to lose?

Keith

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Keith

1995 E300D auto Wagon

Crap and if it happened after washing the engine the first place I would have looked would have been a coil pack if they have them on the C220 of that vinatage! They get wet and cause a mis-fire! Somehow I do not think the valve was the issue, but may have just been there. You can very well have one burnt valve and the engine will still run right. A bad coil pack causing a severe miss though is much more noticeable. And 3200 bucks to pull a head and put one valve in! Wow the good old MB shops are raping the **** out of you for that. Just my opinion!

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~Jamie
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2003 Pewter C230K SC C1, C4, C5, C7, heated seats, CD Changer, and 6 Speed. ContiExtremes on the C7's.

1986 190E 2.3 Black, Auto, Mods to come soon.....

Angie:

I've seen people "kill" their car by wshing their engine... water gets into all sorts of places it shouldn't [electical connectors, wires... and causes all sorts of problems... that's why when pros do it > they spend an inordinate amount of time with plastic wrap, baggies and wire ties and waterproof all possible "best-to-stay-dry" places.

running a car "hot" for 2-3 minutes can really jack-up the engine... usually the head gasget...and possibly warp the head....

burnt valves are usually caused by improper valve adjustment [too tight - which results in ovreheat condition].. usually the exhaust valve to go [as opposed to the "intake" valve.

Hope your engine gets fixed ok

Drove my 190e 39mile w/temp gauge pegged.. and till it stalled .then fixed the belt and it still runs beautiful that was 12yrs ago and i still own her.
So in other words German cars are better that you think. http://www.xlisiv.com./indexa.html

1986 190E 2.5
2003 CLK55 AMG

For your information- this car ran great until this incident- everything is completely documented at the dealership. Actually just a few weeks before all of this I had car checked on the computer when I got my oil changed and they said that I would need brakes soon. Since the service is over an hour and half away - I had the brakes changed. Remember this is all documented- therefore your statement that it probably didn't run right is not true- what happened was a cat was in my motor and belt came off and I washed engine. I thought everything was associated with washing the engine- but if you really know what you are talking about. Please answer one question for me- What would cause a prefect car to immediately miss-up w/ no warning? Also, the head was checked and it was fine ($600 to pull it off and $150 at the head job- does that sound funny?) thanks again- Also, just a side note- I didn't know why the stearing was different- it wasn't until I got help that everything made sense. I just was not sure- I wish I could go back in time and know what was going on but that is life...[/QUOTE]

it didn't mess up with no warning, it has a temp gage, that's the one with the little picture of the termometer in the water, and numbers indicating degrees of water temperature. you should look at this gage on occasion, they usually place them where they are easily viewed. as the car started to get warm, you should have shut it down.

in all honesty, this was all caused by the cat breaking the belt. it overheated and caused the damage. the burned valve was already burned. overheating will not burn valves. the head was obviously not fine, as they did a head job on it. the burned valve may not have been severe enough to cause a poor running condition, or maybe you didn't notice it, who knows. the real damage was caused by a cat. your insurance should pay in my opinion. and take the cat remains to the local chinese restaurant, they might trade you an egg roll for it.

lol some 1s pissed