Stalling C230 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 07-02-2002, 09:38 AM

I have twice experienced a stalled engine in my month-old C230. Yesterday the engine simply died, on the turnpike at 80 MPH, total loss of power without warning - kinda scary. Engine would turn over but would not restart for over an hour. MB dealer could not duplicate the problem and could not diagnose it. Any ideas out there?

Gilly · #2 07-02-2002, 09:46 AM

What year have you got?
Gilly

#3 07-02-2002, 09:49 AM

It's a 2002. About 1,000 miles on it when this happened. Cruise control was engaged at the time. Weather was hot, but not outrageously so. I'd been driving without incident for about 4 hours.

Ethan · #4 07-02-2002, 10:18 AM

maybe a tech would know better, but don't they have flight recorders, hook up's
to the engine that record activity. If it happens again have one connected and drive till it reoccurs.

Another test, maybe a tech can verify, quickly when the car stalls glance at tach, if the tach immediately falls to zero electrical problem. If the tach falls gradually or hesitantly to zero a fuel starvation problem.

Gilly · #5 07-02-2002, 10:21 AM

Oh yeah, sorry I just noticed that you said it's a month old. So it's a C230 SportCoupe. I haven't seen these act like this. Hard to believe it would just stall like that and leave no diagnostic codes for the tech to investigate.
It really shouldn't come down to asking for advice on the net like this, but happy to discuss it. I would tell them to put you in a loaner or rental car until they find what's wrong with it, maybe get a tech specialist from MB to look at it, they're some based right there in Chicago. It's an unsafe situation. Tell them that.
Gilly

#6 07-02-2002, 10:30 AM

Thanks for your comments. The MB dealer in Ohio, where the incident occurred, reported no diagnostic code. Incidentally, the computer display in the car showed no malfunction at the time of the incident. The dealer hooked a fuel pressure gauge to the car and drove it for over 100 miles just to try and get a reading or to see if the problem would recur - nothing. I'll definitely bring it in to my dealer here in Chicago. Thanks again.

A friend reported a similar problem on a another model (also new). She was told there was a known problem with a "fuel sensor" - ever heard of that?

Gilly · #7 07-02-2002, 12:24 PM

MB did redesign the fuel level sensor, maybe that's what he means. It wouldn't lead to this problem though. I'm thinking, based on what happened, that it's a fuel pump, but that's just a guess. Glad the dealer in Ohio at least tried, ie fuel pressure guage. It can be really difficult when you have nothing to go on but the complaint, can't duplicate the concern, etc.
Gilly

#8 07-22-2002, 01:02 PM

My dealer in Chicago diagnosed the intermittent stalling problem as a short in a transmission control module. They replaced the part (# 030-545-2332) under warranty and the problem has not recurred. Thanks to those of you who responded to my post here.