We are going to chance not fixing it spend £'s travelling instead (1 Viewer)

Feb 24, 2013
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So, as it says, some of you may recall I have a limp problem, and worse an unpredictable intermittent one, we have so far 'invested' £1200 in time and bits and although we thought we were in remission it didn't last long, 300 miles later we are back more or less where we were

Actually not quite so, back in August we eventually got an EML to go with the limp mode, then it stopped resetting with ignition off / key out / key in/ ignition on sequence, we are now back to how it started, limp mode with no EML, although it does record an event in the black box

My workshop are more or less convinced that a new turbo would sort it, actually they think just swapping the box of electronic controls will probably sort it, but Mercedes although they sort of admit there was an issue around my engine era (06 - 09) they have not produced a fix and you have to buy a complete turbo set, of which one bit is the box of trickery, parts alone £1200 + VAT fitting a complete nightmare for the turbo, hard enough just for the electronics

Bev suggests, and I want some of you to witness this on here, that we should try taking it away loads until something goes wrong properly, that way at least we know we need to change something, it would be really frustrating to do the turbo at around £2500 and not lose the problem, seems like a good plan until we get stuck somewhere remote

So second week of January we are going to France, we did consider Scotland again, but if we are going to break down it might as well be less cold, also due to the persuasive powers of someone on here, we bought into the frequent user channel crossing, then lost confidence in travelling due to above and have 2 crossings left to be used by March, so it has to be France and maybe beyond, based on our typical trips we will only spend around half the cost of the predicted repair and you never know it might have self healed (y)

Three weeks in total, meandering down to Montpelier, then meandering back, mostly aires, but Bev would like a couple of sites, that might be a challenge, but we know Twin Lakes and Parc Verger are both open (or at least I think they are)

I will update on here as plans develop, as panic sets in, then on our travels, it will either be completely boring and uneventful, or it wont be..................:)
 
Aug 4, 2013
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Really hope it goes Ok for you David make sure you have some a good recovery policy! x:-)

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haganap

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goooooooooooodd Luck David.

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Rob and Val

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Better to use it than have it sitting on the drive doing nothing, which could make the fault worse. Hope you have a good time and get the problem sorted..
 
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DavidG58
Feb 24, 2013
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give it some welly on the way to France


It has been a recurring suggestion on here, down the pub, in fact almost anytime it has been mentioned in public

Trouble is I vividly recall the first limp issue we had, almost exactly 12 months ago, pulled out of a layby in Spain, uphill on a fast dual carriageway, but with plenty of room to get some speed up, so I did, gave it full welly, joined road in amongst the lorries at around 60mph, then lifted off, then slowed down to about 30mph as we were in limp mode :(

It will maintain speed on the flat even if in limp and obviously downhill, but introduce a gradient and make it steep enough, we have to stop, or proceed at 15-20mph

I have now mastered the knack of blipping the throttle just to be sure we haven't popped into limp without me feeling it, seems to be when lifting off (over run I think I heard it called :))

Will be going out for run around tomorrow, need to refill LPG, left fridge on at workshop o_O, used up all the gas and took batteries down to a scarily low level trying to restart the fridge for about 2 weeks, oops, decent newish gel batteries, so lets hope they aren't goosed

Technically I didn't leave the fridge on as such, the AES turned itself on, I unhooked from electrics at home and forgot to switch it off AES ;)

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funflair

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Dec 11, 2013
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Hi David

I can't say as I blame you, if I was spending that sort of cash I would want to know it was going to fix the problem for sure.

Ah well, watch this space as they say.

Martin
 
Aug 18, 2014
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Three weeks in total, meandering down to Montpelier, then meandering back, mostly aires, but Bev would like a couple of sites, that might be a challenge, but we know Twin Lakes and Parc Verger are both open (or at least I think they are)

I will update on here as plans develop, as panic sets in, then on our travels, it will either be completely boring and uneventful, or it wont be..................:)

I take it you have Frankie ,@yodeli, on speed dial ?:xlaugh:
 
Oct 5, 2012
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It has been a recurring suggestion on here, down the pub, in fact almost anytime it has been mentioned in public

Trouble is I vividly recall the first limp issue we had, almost exactly 12 months ago, pulled out of a layby in Spain, uphill on a fast dual carriageway, but with plenty of room to get some speed up, so I did, gave it full welly, joined road in amongst the lorries at around 60mph, then lifted off, then slowed down to about 30mph as we were in limp mode :(

It will maintain speed on the flat even if in limp and obviously downhill, but introduce a gradient and make it steep enough, we have to stop, or proceed at 15-20mph

I have now mastered the knack of blipping the throttle just to be sure we haven't popped into limp without me feeling it, seems to be when lifting off (over run I think I heard it called :))

Will be going out for run around tomorrow, need to refill LPG, left fridge on at workshop o_O, used up all the gas and took batteries down to a scarily low level trying to restart the fridge for about 2 weeks, oops, decent newish gel batteries, so lets hope they aren't goosed

Technically I didn't leave the fridge on as such, the AES turned itself on, I unhooked from electrics at home and forgot to switch it off AES ;)
Giving an electro mechanical device 'welly' promotes wear and will potentially make a fault worse or even cause a catastrophic failure. I wouldn't trust these people with a push bike to maintain let alone a Merc.

I suppose you have scoured and posted in every Merc forum for assistance. Really weird stuff happens sometimes that garages often can't get a handle on through official channels, but appears on forums!

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Last edited:
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DavidG58
Feb 24, 2013
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Giving an electro mechanical device 'welly' promotes wear and will potentially make a fault worse or even cause a catastrophic failure. I wouldn't trust these people with a push bike to maintain let alone a Merc.

Inclined to agree, but don't really think with all the electronic controls built in that 3500rpm out of a 3.0 litre Mercedes V6 is going to hurt too much

Welly is all relative, mine are maybe the pink flowery ones (metaphorically speaking of course) :D
 
Oct 5, 2012
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Inclined to agree, but don't really think with all the electronic controls built in that 3500rpm out of a 3.0 litre Mercedes V6 is going to hurt too much

Welly is all relative, mine are maybe the pink flowery ones (metaphorically speaking of course) :D

Are there any turbo specialists your way ?
 
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DavidG58
Feb 24, 2013
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Are there any turbo specialists your way ?

there are bound to be, and whichever one I pick someone will say you used who, or you should have used this one not them

it is not even for sure that the turbo is faulty, only suggested by the Mercedes alarm codes, but they also refer to a couple of other sensors, I am going to give a it few runs this month, then stick with travel plans and see what happens

money better spent on fuel and wine, we are covered for recovery from Europe (y)

I really just to restore some confidence, we can go 5 miles or 200 miles without any issues, as said above it is possibly just getting worse stood idle

The first owner only did 2100 miles in 3 years, all his fault really, low miles doesn't always make a good buy :(

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TheBig1

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well my opinion for what its worth is that you are on the right track. use it till it breaks properly not just intermittent. buy a cheap fault reader and note it down and reset each time till it wont reset again. cost about £20

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Debs

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David, sorry to hear that your van is still poorly sick......I'm sure I've mentioned these before? J26/M1
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Other than that good luck & fingers crossed:xThumb:
 
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DavidG58
Feb 24, 2013
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well my opinion for what its worth is that you are on the right track. use it till it breaks properly not just intermittent. buy a cheap fault reader and note it down and reset each time till it wont reset again. cost about £20


Now that's seems like a plan, when it wouldn't reset before it was virtually undriveable, not that I really have enough technical skill to plug it into the right place or use it properly, but at least having it could be useful, might be able to find someone better than me to use it :)
 
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DavidG58
Feb 24, 2013
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David, sorry to hear that your van is still poorly sick......I'm sure I've mentioned these before? J26/M1
Broken Link Removed

Other than that good luck & fingers crossed:xThumb:

Thanks Debs

You maybe have mentioned them, I had a lot of suggestions when it was in dry dock, mostly after I became virtually committed to leaving it where it had been dismantled. Will check web site, might just be worth a run down to them pre trip :)

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Mar 23, 2012
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Now that's seems like a plan, when it wouldn't reset before it was virtually undriveable, not that I really have enough technical skill to plug it into the right place or use it properly, but at least having it could be useful, might be able to find someone better than me to use it :)
Im sure if you have a friendly local garage they would show you how to reset using a code reader if not I could ask someone I know but would involve a trip to Leicester
 
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Have you taken the veh to a mercedes dealer(Truck), we had a problem
earlier in the year with our rapido on a merc chassis, admitdly it was the older 2.7 engine.

But the one thing Midland truck & bus(merc dealer) said to me was after diagnostics
on the star system, if any they changed a part & the fault still occured there would be no charge for the part or fitting.

Ok, they charged £242 for the diagnostics on the star system :eek::eek::eek:, but they cured the faults, new air charge meter thingy & new vario turbo.

We did try a non franchised mercedes specialist first but they got no where & said only the star system would find the fault.

Karl
 

TheBig1

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Now that's seems like a plan, when it wouldn't reset before it was virtually undriveable, not that I really have enough technical skill to plug it into the right place or use it properly, but at least having it could be useful, might be able to find someone better than me to use it :)

if you can plug in a toaster and follow simple onscreen instructions, then its simple

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DavidG58
Feb 24, 2013
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Have you taken the veh to a mercedes dealer(Truck), we had a problem
earlier in the year with our rapido on a merc chassis, admitdly it was the older 2.7 engine.

But the one thing Midland truck & bus(merc dealer) said to me was after diagnostics
on the star system, if any they changed a part & the fault still occured there would be no charge for the part or fitting.

Ok, they charged £242 for the diagnostics on the star system :eek::eek::eek:, but they cured the faults, new air charge meter thingy & new vario turbo.

We did try a non franchised mercedes specialist first but they got no where & said only the star system would find the fault.

Karl


My independent has and used Star software, one problem is that multiple faults keep popping up, but none light the management light

Going to drive it something gives up, there is always a chance we might never again have a repeat :)

I know, over optimistic, but got to big myself up for the journey (y)
 

TheBig1

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that model isnt £20 but the video of it was on a merc. the same or similar reader starts at about £20 on ebay

if you want to get more technical, I have a wireless reader permanently plugged into my van and can read and reset using my phone or tablet. great thing is that I, or a mechanic can sit in the passenger seat and read the data real time as the van is driven up the road

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canopus

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Mertrux Nottingham or Derby would be able to solve the problem, but take plenty of dosh.

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