Ask Xulfiqar - An Automotive Encyclopedia

[muzammil_mian]

I am in trouble (in Lahore), my car 'Mira Custom' 2010 when accelerates the RPMs jumps to 4000-5000+ while the speed is 30km/h. This happened during drive (after 20 km drove without Air Conditioner) when i switched on Air Conditioner. I barely reached at home while driving at 20km/h.

Please suggest the reason and advice the solution (in Lahore).

[mhaderaziz_official]

@Xulfiqar, I hope you're doing good.

Today I went to see a 2002 W211 E270 CDI (the one with the OM647 I5 engine) today for myself. The car has almost all the options that were available at that time which include...
Panoramic roof, F/R parking sensors, COMAND NTG2.5, Distronic cruise control, Airmatic suspension and ABC dampers, multi-contour dynamic massage seats, memory seats and steering wheel, rear climate control with a separate digital display, front headlight washers, 18 inch AMG wheels with 245/35/R18 tires all around, rear blinds (manual for the rear passengers), keyless go and push start (with the button in the gear shifter), heated and cooled front seats, telephone cradle, first aid kit with fire extinguishers and some other knobs and buttons which I couldn't make out lol. I'm pretty sure it has it all.

Now the problems start here, the car currently has the following faults.

1. ESP not available, consult workshop.
2. Speedtronic, consult workshop.
3. SRS restraint system faulty, visit workshop.
4. Seat height adjustment not working, everything else works fine.
5. Push start is not working, the car has to be turned on the old fashioned way by turning the key in ignition.
6. The left rear door ash tray was broken.

I understand that problems 1 and 2 are interconnected which means solving 1 should eliminate 2. Now, I narrowed down the culprits to a faulty ESP sensor or malfunctioning brake wear sensors. If it were the sensors in the wheels, the ABS light would be on too I think.

The SRS problem is what scares me lol. It could be a CANBUS related fault I heard.

I don't understand why the seat height adjustment is not working. The heated and cooled function also works. All seat adjustments work fine except for the height adjustment.

The ash tray can be bought from ebay I think.

The owner told me that the push start and key less are not working because...

1. The batteries in the key are low (fishy, I know). The key had to be really close to the car to unlock it.
2. The switch for the push start is broken (not understandable to me).

Also, the owner says that he has changed the following parts on the car.

1. New turbo
2. New fuel pump
3. New injectors
4. New Airmatic shocks
5. New Airmatic pump
6. New brake pads
7. New EGR valve
8. New ECU
9. New EIS

Also, the car was not repainted from anywhere at all so exterior was fine. The left side-skirt was loose which can easily be fixed I think.

What attracts me to this car is the sheer array of options it has. I have never seen so many options in such a car in Pakistan till date.

Should I buy this car? I can spend around 3-4 lakhs on it if all the errors go away and I get a trouble free car.
I really value your feedback on this one.

Awaiting your reply.

[Xulfiqar]

@Xulfiqar sir you forgot to answer

you will need to pressure test the cooling system to find the leak, any history of headgasket repair?

[Xulfiqar]

@Xulfiqar, I hope you're doing good.

Today I went to see a 2002 W211 E270 CDI (the one with the OM647 I5 engine) today for myself. The car has almost all the options that were available at that time which include...
Panoramic roof, F/R parking sensors, COMAND NTG2.5, Distronic cruise control, Airmatic suspension and ABC dampers, multi-contour dynamic massage seats, memory seats and steering wheel, rear climate control with a separate digital display, front headlight washers, 18 inch AMG wheels with 245/35/R18 tires all around, rear blinds (manual for the rear passengers), keyless go and push start (with the button in the gear shifter), heated and cooled front seats, telephone cradle, first aid kit with fire extinguishers and some other knobs and buttons which I couldn't make out lol. I'm pretty sure it has it all.

Now the problems start here, the car currently has the following faults.

1. ESP not available, consult workshop.
2. Speedtronic, consult workshop.
3. SRS restraint system faulty, visit workshop.
4. Seat height adjustment not working, everything else works fine.
5. Push start is not working, the car has to be turned on the old fashioned way by turning the key in ignition.
6. The left rear door ash tray was broken.

I understand that problems 1 and 2 are interconnected which means solving 1 should eliminate 2. Now, I narrowed down the culprits to a faulty ESP sensor or malfunctioning brake wear sensors. If it were the sensors in the wheels, the ABS light would be on too I think.

The SRS problem is what scares me lol. It could be a CANBUS related fault I heard.

I don't understand why the seat height adjustment is not working. The heated and cooled function also works. All seat adjustments work fine except for the height adjustment.

The ash tray can be bought from ebay I think.

The owner told me that the push start and key less are not working because...

1. The batteries in the key are low (fishy, I know). The key had to be really close to the car to unlock it.
2. The switch for the push start is broken (not understandable to me).

Also, the owner says that he has changed the following parts on the car.

1. New turbo
2. New fuel pump
3. New injectors
4. New Airmatic shocks
5. New Airmatic pump
6. New brake pads
7. New EGR valve
8. New ECU
9. New EIS

Also, the car was not repainted from anywhere at all so exterior was fine. The left side-skirt was loose which can easily be fixed I think.

What attracts me to this car is the sheer array of options it has. I have never seen so many options in such a car in Pakistan till date.

Should I buy this car? I can spend around 3-4 lakhs on it if all the errors go away and I get a trouble free car.
I really value your feedback on this one.

Awaiting your reply.

ask for reciepts and job order of the EIS and ECU replacement. - These make it sound like a shady/fishy car to me.

the ESP program shutting down can be from a faulty shifter and faulty brake pedal travel switch too, but get the car on a STAR scanner to identify why it shut down. It can be linked to a CAN fault too as you also mention the touch button on the shift lever to start the car is inoperative.. and also mention the EIS and ECU were changed (all very loud alarms for me)

The SRS issue can be the passenger seat load sensor, its quite common on the W211 models. (again you need a star scan to identify the issues)

If there are so many options in the car - it must also be equipped with Sensatronic brake control - (if you open the bonnet and look near the brake master cylinder, you wont find a vacuum booster there) - if it is then the replacement time would be near too, when the system completes its life cycle you have to replace the module entirely, put about 1200 euro aside for it, I believe its a 10 year or some million pedal presses or so before it expires.

[mhaderaziz_official]

ask for reciepts and job order of the EIS and ECU replacement. - These make it sound like a shady/fishy car to me.

the ESP program shutting down can be from a faulty shifter and faulty brake pedal travel switch too, but get the car on a STAR scanner to identify why it shut down. It can be linked to a CAN fault too as you also mention the touch button on the shift lever to start the car is inoperative.. and also mention the EIS and ECU were changed (all very loud alarms for me)

The SRS issue can be the passenger seat load sensor, its quite common on the W211 models. (again you need a star scan to identify the issues)

If there are so many options in the car - it must also be equipped with Sensatronic brake control - (if you open the bonnet and look near the brake master cylinder, you wont find a vacuum booster there) - if it is then the replacement time would be near too, when the system completes its life cycle you have to replace the module entirely, put about 1200 euro aside for it, I believe its a 10 year or some million pedal presses or so before it expires.

I'll get more information on the ECU and EIS replacement.

I've read about the brake pedal switch problem. It isn't a costly replacement according to mbworld forums. If the push start gear shifter were to be replaced, would it resolve the problem?

Shahnawaz use XENTRY DAS to inspect fault codes and I've seen many people using regular OBD-II scanners on W203s, W204s and even W211s here. If I were to connect it to a regular OBD-II scanner that works on regular Hondas and Toyotas, would it be able to tell what is actually wrong because I don't expect Shahnawaz would be happy to read codes from a faulty W211 without over charging me. Their "Car Inspection" charges total Rs. 30,000.

If I use a regular OBD-II which has a designated option for Mercedes Benz, would it work? How would I know if the mileage on this car has been tampered with? Is using Star diagnostics the only way or is there another option?

I didn't look to closely at the brake cylinder but what I will point out is that it used to make a hissing sound when being turned off. The owner said that the boost pressure sensor was malfunctioning which he will get replaced before selling the car. When I drove it, the car felt sluggish for 177HP but above 3000RPMs it jumped back into life.

I hope it doesn't have SBC lol. I've seen many people complaining about it on the W211 AMG club lol

Awaiting your reply.

[Xulfiqar]

I'll get more information on the ECU and EIS replacement.

I've read about the brake pedal switch problem. It isn't a costly replacement according to mbworld forums. If the push start gear shifter were to be replaced, would it resolve the problem?

Shahnawaz use XENTRY DAS to inspect fault codes and I've seen many people using regular OBD-II scanners on W203s, W204s and even W211s here. If I were to connect it to a regular OBD-II scanner that works on regular Hondas and Toyotas, would it be able to tell what is actually wrong because I don't expect Shahnawaz would be happy to read codes from a faulty W211 without over charging me. Their "Car Inspection" charges total Rs. 30,000.

If I use a regular OBD-II which has a designated option for Mercedes Benz, would it work? How would I know if the mileage on this car has been tampered with? Is using Star diagnostics the only way or is there another option?

I didn't look to closely at the brake cylinder but what I will point out is that it used to make a hissing sound when being turned off. The owner said that the boost pressure sensor was malfunctioning which he will get replaced before selling the car. When I drove it, the car felt sluggish for 177HP but above 3000RPMs it jumped back into life.

I hope it doesn't have SBC lol. I've seen many people complaining about it on the W211 AMG club lol

Awaiting your reply.

you can scan a W211 with a higher end scan tool that can interrogate all the systems, I dont know any in islamabad, but I do know that @syncview has a good tool that can talk to nearly all modules in a w211 benz. But he's in Lahore.

[mustafa.masood.5011]

you will need to pressure test the cooling system to find the leak, any history of headgasket repair?

Yes sir got new head gasket installed last year

[Marschall]

SIr kindly tell me how to do a compression test on a m112 2600cc ,can it be done by a SDS??

[m_umairr]

@xulfiqar,
My vitz 2010 is taking long self of almost 3-4 seconds first of all, secondly i hear a strange cranking side from driver side in bonnet (not of knocking)
Any guess?
I changed belt few weeks back.
Issue arose after i installed hid fog lights

Sent from my iPhone using PW Forums

[Xulfiqar]

Yes sir got new head gasket installed last year

did you use a genuine gasket and use new headbolts and tighten according to factory service manual specs?

[Xulfiqar]

SIr kindly tell me how to do a compression test on a m112 2600cc ,can it be done by a SDS??

no it cannot be done via SDS,

to do the test you pop open the fuse panel and isolate the starter circuit, you need to find the purple/white (circuit 50) wire going to the starter motor and connect a wire to it.

remove all spark plug leads and coils and set aside (so you have some room) - now remove one spark plug from a cylinder and screw in a plain old mechanical compression gauge. Make sure you have the key in your pocket (out of ignition). Take that jumper wire you connected to the circuit 50 wire in the fuseblock and connect it to battery positive or the jump start port in the engine room. The engine should be cranking, record the pressure in the gauge and repeat on all cylinders.

Do not attempt to twist the key to run starter, the starter is controlled by the ECU. Always do this test with the starter circuit isolated.

[mustafa.masood.5011]

did you use a genuine gasket and use new headbolts and tighten according to factory service manual specs?

@xulfiqar sir
No new headbolts were used. I had taken my car to Toyota motors and they had made a big bill. I'm hoping it was genuine gasket but I remember no new headbolts were mentioned in the bill. What should I do now sir ? Is it a cracked head ?

[muzammil_mian]

I am in trouble (in Lahore), my car 'Mira Custom' 2010 when accelerates the RPMs jumps to 4000-5000+ while the speed is 30km/h. This happened during drive (after 20 km drove without Air Conditioner) when i switched on Air Conditioner. I barely reached at home while driving at 20km/h.

Please suggest the reason and advice the solution (in Lahore).

@xulfiqar Kindly response, wiating...

[arzaam.bhatti]

@xulfiqar Dewan wants to use castrol 5W-30 oil in my n62 x5 is that okay or is 5W-40 to be used? Considering that n62 engines have a habit of later in life consuming oil or premature wear on the valve stem seals although mine does not have any problem currently.

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[mkkd]

Aoa
Please suggest me good workshop for may Gli 2012(routine maintenance) in Islamabad

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[mkkd]

At Islamabad

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[mhaderaziz_official]

you can scan a W211 with a higher end scan tool that can interrogate all the systems, I dont know any in islamabad, but I do know that @syncview has a good tool that can talk to nearly all modules in a w211 benz. But he's in Lahore.

Sorry to bother you again @Xulfiqar

Just got the car checked again with an OBD-II scanner. Once again, the scanner showed a different story altogether. The ESP error on the car had disappeared today (fishy). The car had two faults on the odometer display today...

1. SRS defective, visit workshop.
2. Speedtronic, drive to workshop.

Today the owner told me that the car has had two transmission replacements in the past including a cluster change as well. Due to the cluster change, the odometer currently shows 273xxx miles but the car has 123xxx KMs on the original odometer (his claim. I will check that as well). Is there a way to verify the car's mileage without using Star? Is mileage stored under the ICM option? The OBD-II I used showed everything from CANBUS to airmatic.

The OBD also gave the following errors...

1. Leak in airmatic system (the airmatic did raise and lower the car as needed. It did not give a "Stop! Car too low" indication. Does this mean that the pump and shocks are okay but there is a leak somewhere in the pipes?)
2. Leak in dynamic seat pneumatic pump.
3. Loss of pressure in dynamic seat bolsters.
4. Boost pressure sensor! Boost pressure too high/low or implausible.
5. Loss of communication with ICM.
6. Active service system not available.
7. The SBC pump was dead.
8. Front left wheel level sensor malfunction.
9. KEYLESS-GO AND PUSH START INOPERATIVE.

What I don't understand is that the airmatic on the car was working when I checked it and no indication on the dash. I pressed the raise button and it went up. The sport I and II settings did lower the car. Could all this be due to the CANBUS fault? Is the leak in the system; in the shocks or the pump itself? From what I understand, the car should not go up at all if the pump is weak and the whole car should collapse. Blown shocks also keep the car collapsed. Also, what would a front left wheel level sensor cost?

The massage function on the seats was also not working. No bolster inflation at all. The OBD said that there was a leak in the dynamic seat pneumatic pump. How much does this cost (in euros, pounds, dollars anything...)?

The car did not go past 3k RPM which was due to the boost pressure sensor I think. It went up till 60 MPH and then stopped accelerating. The AC threw no codes on the OBD and worked fine. I kept it on the whole time at low setting. The car did not overheat but did puff out black smoke when accelerating. Could this be due to a failing cat-con or bad quality diesel?

The owner still has the original odometer with him. If I put it back in the car instead of the present one, would it resolve the CANBUS error? How would I revert it to the original mileage?

Is there a way to repair the SBC? The error went away when you restart the car. The owner had also put in a new brake switch.

Could the keyless go and push start problem be due to the transmission swap? If the wiring were to be corrected, would it resolve the issue?

Awaiting your valuable response.

[tahir.hashmi]

Aoa
Honda city vario 2004. Broke down in middle of road. Mechanic came and checked fuel pump, fuel was not coming... he tapped the fuel pump and car started but broke down again near his shop.
He changed the fuel pump with a new leppon - Malaysia made pump (Rs 1700 apart from labor) but the car still not started. Fuel pump was throwing fuel on cranking but car won't start. He opened the plugs and now showed water in plugs. Says gasket is blown. Will cost around 5500 for replacement including rs 1500 for good quality gasket.
The gasket was replaced around 3-4 months ago after overheating. Car has started reducing water in radiator for last few days but didn't overheat.
I am confused how come fuel pump and gasket gave way together? Is water in plugs sure sign of blown gasket?

What should be done to avoid blowing gasket again.

Thanks
Tahir

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[margallar]

replace mechanic

[tahir.hashmi]

replace mechanic

Last time gasket was changed by another mechanic. But I don't know how to confirm that diagnosis is correct and how to verify this time it is done right.

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