auto 320cdi wont accelerate?

[gazzab]

My 2001 E320 CDI estate has been sat on the drive for 3 weeks. Got in her today and she has no power. In full auto she wont go above 2K revs. So no kick down and no oomph. In 'manual' she wont go above 3k revs.
If you manually try and drop it 2 gears then the car will just slow itself to below 3K revs.
So the car is not exactly useable.
There are no fault codes on the computer display.
So I am guessing it isnt a fault with the gearbox of engine and that it is probably a MAF sensor. Any ideas anyone?
thanks
Gary
ps my cerbera fired up first time and has no probs!

[vixpy1]

Where abouts in Surrey do you live Gary? I have an E320cdi MAF sensor in my E300, we could swap them over quickly to see if it makes any difference?

[gazzab]

Hi Charlie. Very kind.
I am in Chiddingfold just sth of Godalming.

[vixpy1]

I'm just north of Guildford Gaz,

Drop me a mail and we can sort a good time and place out.

[gazzab]

Hi. Looks like my wife has booked it into the local (generalist) garage for tomorrow am. So probably wont need to take up the kind offer Charlie.
thanks
Gary

[vixpy1]

No probs Gaz, hope you get it fixed.

[gazzab]

local garage reckon it is a stuck valve ! So not good news. Only done 1K in the car since getting it from my dad!

[vixpy1]

I use Mercury in Aldershot.. they are very good and fairly cheap as well

[gazzab]

thanks - I spoke to them earlier on today.
They dont agree with my local garages view on the prob ie they think a stuck engine valve would mean poor running and misfires. So am taking it over to them next week.
They reckon a vaccuum valve on turbo or MAF sensor.

They seem like good guys though. Are they near a station so I can get a train to Reading?

[vixpy1]

They are right next to Aldershot station

[gazzab]

Car in with them today. Bizzarely they dont have the Merc 'Star' software to interrogate the ECU so I HOPE that they can trace quickly and efficiently.

Might try the Caversham garage (Star Motors?) who seem to have a great reputation.

[gazzab]

Update - they did manage to read the ECU after all.
Found a problem (I forget what it is) - assuming this fixes it then I should have the car back tomorrow and fixed. Thanks Charlie for help.
Maybe I should take the cerb to the surrey rollers on the 17th !? See if it is a fast or slow one!
I will ask the first garage (my local one) for the £59 back that they charged me to tell me that the thought the exhaust valve was stuck. Crap advice and charged for it COULD have then spent a fortune with them to try and fix a problem that didnt exist!

[vixpy1]

No probs

You'd of coarse be welcome on the 17th

[gazzab]

Looks like my cars problem is a little more serious.
The butterfly valves on the inlet manifold were stuck. One was actually broken. So needs a new inlet manifold. £550 part plus labour.

[gazzab]

Car now fixed. Yipee. £770 less well off than I was earlier today though. Apparently it was v v v v rare for the exhaust inlet manifold to get so sooted up. I guess the previous (and only) owner was driving to sedately (my dad!).
At least it is all sorted now. Can drive to a funeral in derbyshire on Friday in a decent car rather than my 10yr old 5 series or my noisey cramped Cerbera!

[vixpy1]

Great news!

[gazzab]

drove the car last night - performance is all back. Even coming from my (cough) 420bhp cerbera it doesnt feel slow when you kick down.

[jamsmith]

I was looking for a good Mercedes-Benz independant in the Farnham area, checking this web site for info. I am so chuffed. You guys sugested Mercury in Aldershot. I took my Car there knowing that it had a few faults. They picked up on all of them and a couple more! They were good enough to take the time to show me exactly what was wrong. It is a long time since I have been to a Garage where you actually got decent customer service and felt like you could trust implictly. I have had all the work done now and my E320 now drives like new.
Out of intrest I got My local Mercedes dealer to quote for the same work. The quote was almost twice as much!!!
They also Service BMW's so thats the 'Mrs' sorted as well!
The Mercedes man is Martin. And I think its that Richard deals with the BMW's
Many Thanks
James