My SL55 AMG has developed a noise...
Discussion
My SL55 AMG has developed a noise...
When the supercharger clutch engages, it generates a loud 'chirp' noise. This happens almost every time the car pulls away, or changes gear, at low rpm - i.e. every time the clutch actuates.
To say that it's annoying would be an understatement! With the roof down, it's loud enough to spoil the fun and it can be heard from quite a distance. Occasionally theres a marked 'lag and surge' in the transmission pick-up when accelerating away from stand-still, particularly if the engine is cold or if the transmission has just changed from reverse gear.
I bought the car used from a local dealer, and they have been great. The problem has been pin-pointed to the supercharger clutch, and a new part was ordered. However... Mercedes have refused to send the part. I've been shown previous customer reports of intermittent "chirping supercharger clutch" and the Mercedes advice to their dealers is to NOT replace the part and to fob the customer off; "It's a known issue with AMG engines - they all do that Sir".
I'm sorry, but I can't believe that they "all do that"! Has anyone else had this problem? I bought the car 6 weeks ago and the problem started (over night, but progressively getting worse) about 4 weeks ago. The car is currently with the dealer for the third time...
Am I within my rights to reject the car (if they refuse to fix it under warranty) and ask for my money back?
Posted here because the Merc forum is as quiet as an empty library
When the supercharger clutch engages, it generates a loud 'chirp' noise. This happens almost every time the car pulls away, or changes gear, at low rpm - i.e. every time the clutch actuates.
To say that it's annoying would be an understatement! With the roof down, it's loud enough to spoil the fun and it can be heard from quite a distance. Occasionally theres a marked 'lag and surge' in the transmission pick-up when accelerating away from stand-still, particularly if the engine is cold or if the transmission has just changed from reverse gear.
I bought the car used from a local dealer, and they have been great. The problem has been pin-pointed to the supercharger clutch, and a new part was ordered. However... Mercedes have refused to send the part. I've been shown previous customer reports of intermittent "chirping supercharger clutch" and the Mercedes advice to their dealers is to NOT replace the part and to fob the customer off; "It's a known issue with AMG engines - they all do that Sir".
I'm sorry, but I can't believe that they "all do that"! Has anyone else had this problem? I bought the car 6 weeks ago and the problem started (over night, but progressively getting worse) about 4 weeks ago. The car is currently with the dealer for the third time...
Am I within my rights to reject the car (if they refuse to fix it under warranty) and ask for my money back?
Posted here because the Merc forum is as quiet as an empty library
Just guessing here, but I would have thought the clutch in the supercharger would be hydraulicly actuated.
If this actuator was say leaking it may cause the clutch to slip, causing the noise you mention.
Now there may (and I emphasise MAY (I am no expert and do not know this for certain)) be a 'problem' with the design of the seal which after x miles or x amount of time, it starts leaking.
If they cannot fix the design and given the number of reliability issues MB have been having recently, they will want to keep their flagship car selling.
My suggestion is try contacting top gear, see if JC has had the same problem (he has one), if MB won't do anything, see if you can get the TV to make an issue out of it.
If this actuator was say leaking it may cause the clutch to slip, causing the noise you mention.
Now there may (and I emphasise MAY (I am no expert and do not know this for certain)) be a 'problem' with the design of the seal which after x miles or x amount of time, it starts leaking.
If they cannot fix the design and given the number of reliability issues MB have been having recently, they will want to keep their flagship car selling.
My suggestion is try contacting top gear, see if JC has had the same problem (he has one), if MB won't do anything, see if you can get the TV to make an issue out of it.
Answers;
Yes, the car is under a full MB warranty.
My dealer showed me the previous customer complaints and the official Mercedes response from the central Mercedes database.
The car is 2002 and has covered 8,300 miles.
Yes, I think the clutch is hydrolic actuation. My dealer is going to suggest various courses of action to MB and see what they recommend; I'll pass on all of your suggestions for their consideration!
Sometimes when pulling away there is a half-second delay to the pickup and then woosh! It almost feels like something is playing "catch-up" and its certainly a worry. That problem did appear at about the same time as the noise, so there may be a causal link?
Either way, the car squeels like a pig and that can't be right. If they play hard-ball and take no action to fix it then I'll certainly be taking the matter up...
Yes, the car is under a full MB warranty.
My dealer showed me the previous customer complaints and the official Mercedes response from the central Mercedes database.
The car is 2002 and has covered 8,300 miles.
Yes, I think the clutch is hydrolic actuation. My dealer is going to suggest various courses of action to MB and see what they recommend; I'll pass on all of your suggestions for their consideration!
Sometimes when pulling away there is a half-second delay to the pickup and then woosh! It almost feels like something is playing "catch-up" and its certainly a worry. That problem did appear at about the same time as the noise, so there may be a causal link?
Either way, the car squeels like a pig and that can't be right. If they play hard-ball and take no action to fix it then I'll certainly be taking the matter up...
thats bad to hear man. you allways think that a company like that would do whatever they could to keep people pleased with its products! just goes to show you how messed up the industry is at the mo!
from the little i know about supercharger (mainly from US sites and aftermarket stuff) i would point to blet slip! how does the belt look? have you tried to get MB to fit another belt? if the belt is fine and the MB talks you away from it (he sounds as though he would if that wasn't the problem) then i would take it as far as you can!
good luck anyway, and keep us posted!
thanks Chris.
from the little i know about supercharger (mainly from US sites and aftermarket stuff) i would point to blet slip! how does the belt look? have you tried to get MB to fit another belt? if the belt is fine and the MB talks you away from it (he sounds as though he would if that wasn't the problem) then i would take it as far as you can!
good luck anyway, and keep us posted!
thanks Chris.
annodomini2 said:Already done that and there's no fault shown - but thanks for the suggestion.
Another thought, get the MB dealer to give a print out of the fault log in the engine management ecu, if you're getting an intermittent fault on a sensor, this may also be causing lag of some form.
Ah ha!
http://forums.mbnz.org/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=1183052&posts=5&fid=7
I've faxed to my dealer...
http://forums.mbnz.org/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=1183052&posts=5&fid=7
I've faxed to my dealer...
Sounds like a manufacturing problem, but I'd like to see how long it lasts before the plates glaze over again after the grinding compounds effects have worn off, in which case its a design flaw.
I mean they've been making clutches for cars for donkies years, you'd thought they'd get a supercharger clutch right as it will have to take less load.
I mean they've been making clutches for cars for donkies years, you'd thought they'd get a supercharger clutch right as it will have to take less load.
I've had mine since Jan last year and in in 6k miles it has never shown these symptoms , therefore providing irrevocable evidence that they don't 'all do that'.Sometimes the suits at Mercedes succssfully demonstrate that they have the customer care attitude of Vlad the Impaler.
I'd persue this as it is patently stupid of Mercedes to think this is anything other than a warrenty issue.
Good luck.
I'd persue this as it is patently stupid of Mercedes to think this is anything other than a warrenty issue.
Good luck.
tomahawk said:Mine had covered 8,000 miles before the symptoms started... believe me, you'll know if it does! My dealer was very interested with the information I sent through, and has discussed it with MB. They continue to deny that their is any problem whatsoever with the car - its a "feature" of the AMG unit - and refuse to take any corrective action. Oh, and if they suspect anyone of "tampering" with the supercharger unit by applying the "stop squeal" fix, it could invalidate their warranty... You have not heard the last of this.
I've had mine since Jan last year and in in 6k miles it has never shown these symptoms , therefore providing irrevocable evidence that they don't 'all do that'.Sometimes the suits at Mercedes succssfully demonstrate that they have the customer care attitude of Vlad the Impaler.
I'd persue this as it is patently stupid of Mercedes to think this is anything other than a warrenty issue.
Good luck.
Dealers are wasting money chasing their tails, customers are unsatisfied and in some cases asking for a refund, people are selling their cars or not buying AMG/Merc because of it, and yet MB refuses to acknowledge (in public or to their dealerships) that there is a known problem with a lot of their (flagship) cars.
Ted, this saga might be worthy of a front-page article at some point?
Hmm , I'll listen out over the next few miles with interest.It would be good if a Merc whistle blower could post on this forum and give us some info on how extensive the problem is. I can't get my breath that Mercedes can arrogantly state that in a car costing nearly £100k , high pitched screeching noises should be accepted as normal. Please let us know how the saga continues Marlon.
I don't know if you are UK based but here goes.
If the dealer refuses to do anything (because Mercedes will not) send them by registered letter - so they cannnot deny receipt) a letter outlining the problem and their refusal to deal with it. State it's under warranty. Also state if there is a subsequent failure - in or out of warranty - you consider it will be Mercedes fault). if you want to preserve good relations, say i's only because of MB attitude.
Copy to your local Trading Standards (UK only).
If they continue to do nothing, the contact TS by phone and let them start their investigation.
Given this letter MB legal position is impossible in any subsequent failing...
The consumer in the UK is far too passive..
For £100k I would expect and demand perfection.. A warranty is not worth anything if you do not get it..
If the dealer refuses to do anything (because Mercedes will not) send them by registered letter - so they cannnot deny receipt) a letter outlining the problem and their refusal to deal with it. State it's under warranty. Also state if there is a subsequent failure - in or out of warranty - you consider it will be Mercedes fault). if you want to preserve good relations, say i's only because of MB attitude.
Copy to your local Trading Standards (UK only).
If they continue to do nothing, the contact TS by phone and let them start their investigation.
Given this letter MB legal position is impossible in any subsequent failing...
The consumer in the UK is far too passive..
For £100k I would expect and demand perfection.. A warranty is not worth anything if you do not get it..
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