The Rebirth of a C36 AMG

[anf6789]

Well I'm just a big idiot.... Wasn't trans fluid it was oil.... As it turns out I forgot to put the rear rubber cam seals that seale against the back of the valve cover... Luckily I only lost a quart or too... When oil light came on I shut car off... That's when I knew it was ATF!! Don't hire me to fix your car..

[vixen_w202]

Off topic, but by what logic/definition does the ECU read the car's level of oil where it gets to the point where it considers it "low"? Like a quart? I'm having oil leakage issues and between changes it usually comes on and I have to top off.

[anf6789]

I know the sensor is in the pan so when it gets below that.. I'm guessing 1-2 quarts

[John Jones Jr.]

Wasn't trans fluid it was oil....

Good to hear.

[anf6789]

Well head gasket job seems to be a success (knock On wood) but that pesky misfire is still there.. I can't see the wiring harness I purchased being the problem even though it was used..... I've come this far I guess I'll pick up the cam position sensor and give it a shot... Anyone think it could be maf or O2 sensors?? I've been deep inside this car with nothing but my bare hands.. I have the cuts to prove it... It's not getting away with this that easily... Currently threatening it with a 5lb sledge

[John Jones Jr.]

Well, with a misfire it could be several things as I'm sure you're aware. Engine loom is all too common but, wondering is 2nd loom you got o.k.? I'd get a diagnostics check carried out first - may save you a lot of trouble and be very cost effective. lovely cars those C36's.

P.s. I've often wondered about how much the heat from the exhaust manifold (header) effects the MAF due to it's location. Wonder too would it be worthwhile relocating it closer to the inlet manifold.

[anf6789]

It's 97 which didn't have the harness degradation problems of the 94-96 m104s Indy MB shop diagnosed it as harness probably because they couldn't figure it out...

Brand new coils plugs wires.... Crank sensor as well.. Engine cuts fuel off to cyl 3/4 because it thinks there is a ignition miss... I've swapped coils and checked spark... It's gotta be a sensor

[John Jones Jr.]

Fingers crossed that you find the problem easy. Still, I personally wouldn't be overly positive about the condition of a 2nd had loom. Keep us posted on your progress.

[anf6789]

Camshaft Position Sensor is on its way.. I just want to roast the tires

[John Jones Jr.]

Awaiting the good news. Rock on

[anf6789]

Well... No luck... Cam sensor did not fix problem... I'm running out of ideas and money...

[John Jones Jr.]

Sorry to hear that. At a very bad guess I'd be looking at changing the MAF - can you borrow one from another car? Really, the best thing to do is get plugged for a diagnostic check.

[anf6789]

$3000 and it's anyone's...

It's been star diagnosed.. Shop said it was wiring harness..

[John Jones Jr.]

Don't give up now, especially after all the work you've put into the car. Some positive vibes needed, that's all! Rock on

[Pagz]

Possibly not the misfire issue,but did you retard the intake cam actuator when fitting the chain? it can be really easy to get wrong depending on how you interperate "Retarded".

[anf6789]

Pagz... Yeah I made sure.. But this problem is exactly the same as before I did the headgasket.. I haven't been able to drive the car at all because any load causes it to shut the fuel of to the cyl 3/4.. Just swapped injectors on a whim just to be sure.. No change... Maybe ECU is fried

I just want to pay someone to tell me exactly what it is.. I've run out of parts to buy.... And money... And patience...

[John Jones Jr.]

Anf, possible lack of fuel pressure? Poor pump, blocked F/filter?

[anf6789]

New pump new filter that was the first thing I changed... It's a Walbro 255lph if anything too much pressure and flow lol... I switched to the old one oem same problem didn't change so I ruled that out

[Dearlove]

i thought '97's didnt have the wiring harness issue?

take it somewhere else, all my problems were just the AFM/throttle body

whats it doing exactly

[anf6789]

you'd be correct, dearlove.

Ill start from the beginning

Car started to die, no problems before. Actually saw ASR fault light once or twice before it would die...weird
-Replaced fuel pump with walbro 255 and new relay
Car ran fine (no miss).. still died randomly and wouldn't start back up
-Replaced crank positon sensor with a bosch one.
Car started right up
A new misfire developed that was not there before
My scanner reads CYL3/4 mis and a Random miss code.
-replaced with another new crank sensor, no luck

What happens is. Start car up
Idles perfectly and will idle fine forever
Bring revs up past 1000rpm or drive it... CEL flashes (sign for a misfire) car is NOT actually misfiring (no vibration or wierd sound)
Blublublublublu, ECU cuts fuel to 2 cyls (cyls still have spark, checked) a dead miss occurs and wont stop till car is restarted

-(I put oem fuel pump back in just to check, no change)

With CAM positon sensor unplugged, car runs rich and shitty, wont misfire though.. replaced that sensor too. no luck
SDS (star) diagnosed at indy benz shop as wiring harness.... (yeah hard to believe)
purchased used one with a guarantee... no luck
-Replaced Headgasket because it was due as well as all new gaskets ect. (machine shop said valves were good) pistons looked fine as well.

Car has all new ignition components that I installed less than 6 months ago (coils,copper plugs, wires. new plugs again just to check) (bought car with a bad ignition miss due to coils when car got hot sounded like a 2step or antilag system lol, fixed that problem, totally different than my existing symptoms)
-Swapped coils and injectors, no change.
-No other codes.

Only thing that hasn't been changed is MAF and O2 sensor.

Kill me.

[Pagz]

Geez it practically a new car!

Through thorough elimination - It's got to be the MAF xD

Edit: have you unplugged the mass and tried running it without?

[anf6789]

yeah runs like shit when unplugged lol (doesnt cause the miss though, as much as i wish it did). when my maf when bad in the old C280 it would stall and surge ect.. Hey why not just buy a new one! might as well right.. ;/

[Dearlove]

i'd replace the MAF if you can afford it. just because it fixed pretty much all my problems...

Next, I'd look into the knock sensors, maybe they're giving a false reading? Or do they throw their own code?

[John Jones Jr.]

Car started to die, no problems before. Actually saw ASR fault light once or twice before it would die...weird

OVP relay fault? Had similar on my 190E.

[anf6789]

HHHHMMMM this car makes my brain hurt... alot