Serious Problems After Taking Car In For Smog Work! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

zeronero · #1 06-12-2008, 10:02 PM

Hello once again,

I just picked up my car (1992 400E) from my smog mechanic and needless to say it now has some issues that weren't there before, some serious issues.

To begin with last month I took my car into to get smogged at a test only station since this years registration required it. It failed, being marked as a Gross Polluter. Here's those test results:

15 MPH Test

RPM: 1350 - CO2: 14.1 - O2: 0.6
HC(PPM) MAX: 105 - GP: 280 - MEAS: 232
CO(%) MAX: 0.69 - GP: 2.19 - MEAS: 0.59
NO(PPM): MAX: 757 - GP: 1943 - MEAS: 2356

25 MPH Test

RPM: 1361 - CO2: 15.1 - O2: 0.2
HC(PPM) MAX: 80 - GP: 230 - MEAS: 102
CO(%) MAX: 0.56 - GP: 2.06 - MEAS: 0.15
NO(PPM) MAX: 696 - GP: 1743 - MEAS: 417

Since it failed as a Gross Polluter I qualified for the Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) and was accepted. What this meant was that the state would cover up to $500 towards smog related repairs if done at an approved facility. In the acceptance packet was a list of approved facilities; after some brief internet research I found what I thought was a good shop.

I called the place up, spoke with the owner, had a good conversation, during of which he assurred me that the repair would most likely only take a day or two and come in under the CAP limit of $500. Great I thought, so I made an appointment to bring it in, on a Tuesday (6/3). The weekend before I brought the car in I used it for a trip that probably had about 15 hours to total drive time and no issues whatsoever, running better than ever.

So come Tuesday I bring my car in and wait for a call to see what the specific problem is. Well, I get a call later that day and he says the car doesn't have enough power get through the smog test and has to abort it. He says he tried it 4 times but had to abort everytime since the car didn't have enough power. I thought this was a little strange since when I had smogged last month it had no issues getting through the test at all. He said he'd try on Wednesday.

Now Wedensday he says he tried it and had to abort it again. Meanwhile he started some diagnosis on it, but since it couldn't pass the smog test CAP would not pay for it so that would have to come out of my pocket, that amount being around $180. Finally I told him to just do the test and get the car through it no matter what, and he did. Here's the results:

15 MPH Test

RPM: 2006 - CO2: 4.3 - O2: 10.8
HC(PPM) MAX: 105 - GP: 280 - MEAS: 1956
CO(%) MAX: 0.69 - GP: 2.19 - MEAS: 8.21
NO(PPM): MAX: 757 - GP: 1943 - MEAS: 213

25 MPH Test

RPM: 1895 - CO2: 10.6 - O2: 0.9
HC(PPM) MAX: 80 - GP: 230 - MEAS: 3624
CO(%) MAX: 0.56 - GP: 2.06 - MEAS: 5.56
NO(PPM) MAX: 696 - GP: 1743 - MEAS: 29

If you compare these results with the other they're vastly different. Something would have needed to happen that I would think would be very noticeable for the different results. The time between the smog tests the car ran like a champ, no issues whatsoever.

So after some more diagnosis these problems were discovered: One bad ignition coil, plugged up cats, possible bad O2 sensor, possible bad MAF sensor, and other small misc. issues included leaking coolant. The whole time my car was in the shop he always made a big deal that the car didn't have enough power, which was due to plugged up cats. Of all those issues he replaced the bad coil since he said that would need to be replaced first since it could be affected some of the other issues. Since the cost of doing all the other things is $$$ I told him to stop working on it and that I wanted to pick it up. After my car being in the shop for 9 days I finally picked it up today.

Needless to say after all this I go to pick it up and pay the bill, which I'm expecting to be $680, with my payment being $180. Well, the bill comes to $840.08, which surprises me, so I pay my part of it, and decide to get on the road. I go to start the car and it's out of gas so I have to get a gas can from him and walk to the gas station to fill it up, whatever though, I'm happy to have my car back.

I start it up and it immediately has a bad idle, something which it never has had, something which I attributed to being out of gas. But then as a start to drive I notice the car has absolutely no power and is running like *****. It revs and idles very roughly, accelerates barely and seems now have a minor exhaust leak. Wondering just how bad it is I pull into a gas station and pop the hood and what I see is the aftermath from a sloppy horrible job. One of the plastic panels over the engine is busted, the spark plug wires are not in there correct paths, the air filter box is not completely clipped back together, and a fair amount of coolant is leaking from under the car.

Once I get home which is accross the city (San Francisco) I immediately call him to give him my mind, telling him that he ruined my car, but he says that how he got it and it not his fault, but I know for a fact thats not how he got it. Since he's clear in his position I called the Bureau of Automotive Repair and filed a complaint which has now turned into an investigation. The BAR seems to have fastracked this case, I called them just this afternoon and it's already been through three offices to the local SF office. We'll see how this investigation goes.

To quickly recap, after bringing my car into this BAR approved shop a repair bill of $840.08 came, the only positive thing being the ignition coil replaced. All the negatives being everything!

If anyone reading this has any suggestions or thoughts, on the situation itself or the new smog readings, I'm all ears.

Thanks!

riorust · #2 06-13-2008, 12:22 AM

Your story reminds me of how much I hate other people messing with my cars, it also reminds me to finish my smog job under the CAP program.

I'm not a smog tech, but with the extreme changes in the HC and NO, it would seem to me he tried to fix the problem by diddling with your A/F mixture. High NO usually points to an EGR problem, while high HC is usually un-burnt fuel (possibly coil related), it is a bit odd that they both went through the roof on the second test.

Was this work done at a "Gold Shield" station?

Keep us posted on the outcome please. I'm sweating it because I am in the Glendale area, home of the highest auto insurance fraud in the country, neighboring Love Craft and Green Benz. Every one seems to have a family member in auto wrecking, parts, body shop or insurance. I wouldn't doubt if half the MERC's I see here are salvage titled.

I hope the BAR can help you to a resolution.

EDIT ____ I miss read the OP, scratch the NO comments....I don't know about the elevated CO% levels...

zeronero · #3 06-13-2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riorust

Was this work done at a "Gold Shield" station?

Yes, the work was done at a "Gold Shield" station from a list that the BAR sent to me. I would have thought that the mechanic I went to would have been trustworthy because of this.

Once the investigation gets rolling I'll keep the forum informed.

olpos · #4 06-15-2008, 09:34 PM

Cap stations have a 10 day ,1,000 mile guarantee on repairs.Did they change your 02 sensor?Maybe not a direct fit 02 that is not wired right.When you see the smog investigator make sure you tell him you did not ok that much money for repairs.Customer must be notified of the cost of extra repairs.
Did your car pass in the end?
Thanks
Rich

zeronero · #5 06-16-2008, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olpos

Did they change your 02 sensor?

No, they tested the original sensor and found it to be in working order. The only part that was changed was one of the ignition coils.

The fact is that they purposely did something to the vehicle to make it run the way it's running in order to do as much work to the vehicle as possible. From what I can tell they for sure plugged up the exhaust system somewhere, as well as other things. They claim that it ran like this when they received the car from me, which is just not true. They smogged it the same afternoon that I dropped it off, so whatever they did to the vehicle they did almost as soon as they received it. It's a smart move on their part.

The weekend before I dropped the car off I drove nearly 1000 miles and actually just got back into the city the morning of dropping it off, I have Fastrak records that prove the vehicle went across three separate Bay Area bridges, all of which are on the proper routes to get to where I was, I just don't know how much prove that actually is since the transmitters can be moved from car to car. I also have witness that can attest to the way the car ran and who were on the trip with me. At the cars current state there is no way it could have made it on the trip.

TimFreeh · #6 06-17-2008, 07:02 AM

I find it a bit interesting that your car was apparently emission tested using a dyno - Did the people doing the testing and repair work realize that your car apparently can't be tested using a dyno?

http://www.bar.ca.gov/80_BARResources/02_SmogCheck/Engineering/Traction.html

After reading further it appears that only cas fitted with ASR have this restriction, is your car equipped with ASR?

LUVMBDiesels · #7 06-17-2008, 07:30 AM

Here is a tip... when I drop a car off at a mechanic I open the hood with him there and snap some digital pix of the engine and whatever he is supposed to be working on. That way I am covered if he rips it apart and says "it waslike that" Having him watch me take the pictures makes him understand not to try to pull that *****.

For your exhaust restrictions try making a probe out of a coat hanger and stick it up the tailpipes. I bet he stuffed a rag up there. Probably is blocking one pipe.

280EZRider · #8 06-17-2008, 08:59 PM

I am sorry for your terrible experience. This guy appears to be either a criminal or someone more stupid than Forest Gump. I have noticed that a lot of mechanics out there don't know a thing about MBZs. Since the state requires smog checks, it should also provide mechanics who know what the hell they're doing, and be responsible for the morons and criminals they certify.

olpos · #9 06-17-2008, 11:12 PM

Taking pictures of the motor,don't worry no one is stealing motors.
Putting a rag in the tail pipe,COME ON,maybe try it if you want.Rag will pop right out when you hit the gas or it will burn.
Coat hanger!!!!
Some one who messed some thing up cause they did no know their stuff,OK NOW
I work in a CAP station in San Diego doing repairs and I feel most places are honest.Down here only a few places do Mercedes,BMW,Jag ... CAP repairs. I know because we get most of them.
Changed a coil on that 400E,sounds like a shop that is pretty bad.car drove in on eight cylinders not four.
Maybe smog dude touched a bad wiring harness but even that sounds wrong.I know lots of bad shops but only cause they are not very good at what they do not cause they sabatage cars or steal stuff.
So has the car come back to life?Looking at those readings this car must run pretty bad.Is the wiring harness new or O.E.? Too bad you are so far away,looking in person is the best way to handle this problem.
Maybe look where they had their hands under the air cleaner to see if anything is unplugged.
Oh,these cars are dyno'd if they don't have trac. control
Rich

mr300ce · #10 06-29-2008, 11:00 PM

Like olpos said. I manage a CAP repair shop. And yes, most shop don't know MBs or other euro cars. We do. Sounds like they did not. So the messed around with it, and screwed it up.

Also, ALL $$ that goes over the $500 + the co-pay, MUST be authorized first. You are not liable for any $$$ over what yo OK to spend.

This is what will likely happen:

The BAR will investigate, but thet are generally on the side of the shop. They will ASK the shop to either repair your car properly (but you DO NOT want them to touch ever again), or pay for another shop to fix it right.

The bad shop will likely so NO. So then you will file a 'small claims' court case to get your $$$ back.

You will have to go get your car fixed first by another shop, and then ask for that amount in court.

I HATE ripoff shops. Line them up and shoot 'em down !!!!!!!

zeronero · #11 07-01-2008, 08:26 PM

So here's the current situation, after dealing with BAR and CAP I've moved the car to another CAP approved shop and will be getting another $500 allowance towards smog related repairs. This new shop seems to be much more knowledgeable, though I can tell they don't know they're way around a Mercedes as well as I do. Since the car won't get through a smog test CAP won't pay for any work done on the car. The new mechanic has done a bit of good will work to the car and did find that the engine wire harness is shot. I took a look at it today and can say that it's going to need to be replaced without a doubt.

The whole situation seems to be quite clear to me now. The first mechanic while working on the car must have ruined the harness enough to where it put the car in its current state. Judging from the sloppy work I can't imagine they were very delicate around the harness, and since it was already in a bad state ruining it was bound to happen. What I can't believe is that the first mechanic didn't realize this since it's so obvious; instead every other thing was to blame.

It really angers me that so called professionals don't know *****, and this applies to every profession. At this point in my life I seem to know vastly more than most and just do things myself because of this. The one time I don't, with my car at least, it gets ruined by lack of knowledge and stupidity.

I'm going to tow the car to my place, install the harness myself and hope that solves the issue. Then take the car back to the new place and try to get some smog related repairs fixed with the new $500 CAP money. This time though I'm going to take close watch.

280EZRider · #12 07-01-2008, 11:31 PM

Your ongoing saga just proves once again that if you want something done right, do it yourself. Did you ever consider going to one of those test-only stations and then using the info to tweek the engine yourself?

And speaking of test-only stations, recently I took my mom's 98 saturn (48K miles) for its check. Everything passed with the exception of the gas cap. I've heard others coment on this gas-cap test and I am just wondering if these are bogus tests or if all these gas caps really fail to hold pressure. Of course, these stations have new caps for sale even though they can't make repairs.

zeronero · #13 08-05-2008, 02:22 PM

So finally my car runs the way it should, but it still hasn't been smogged yet.

Since I had no clue what was making my car run so horribly I decided to take it to a specialty Mercedes mechanic here in the city (San Francisco) called "Octane". This shop is terrific, they have an excellent facility, great staff, and understood where I was coming from. When I brought the car in I told them that I only needed them to diagnose the problem then I would work on it myself. One of the techs there knows the 400E inside and out and went through the car, checked all the systems and found out that it only needed new rotors, since it was an easy fix they installed them without any extra charged and got them for a good price. I would highly recommend them, they had older models (123's) as well as newer models (272's) in the shop.

Once I got it back from them it ran great but it just so happened that the water pump was going out and couldn't be smogged because of that, so last weekend I put a new one in, and had some minor issues related to that which can be found in another post. So now that's done which is great, and doing it myself saved about $850. Now though, the air pump needs to be replaced, the pulley bearing is going out, I just ordered one off mbpumps, I'll be doing that in a week or two, fun!

I called the new shop that's going to deal with the smog test under the CAP program and they said they can't touch the car until the California Budget passes since CAP won't have any funds until then, so at this point it's a decision for me as to wait until the budget passes, or apply for a smog exemption which I will get. Since my car at the moment isn't registered I'd like to do the exemption now but then will miss out on my $500 CAP money and since a car gets only one exemption in its lifetime if it fails next smog test I'm screwed. I'll probably just wait it out and drive with the expired tags.

So now going back to the first shop in which this all started, that mechanic said he took out and cleaned the cap and rotor which he then put back in the car, that was the main cause of this whole issue. If he never would have touched them I'm sure there would have been no issue whatsoever. Coincidently all this other stuff happened with the car which showed no signs of anything really going wrong, not even the water pump. Because of all this I don't think that I really have a case against him, a bit agrivating.

Luckily all of the cost went into the car parts with only a small percentage of the cost going into labor, so this whole situation while bad was not as bad as it could have been. But it's still not over...