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anf6789
03-19-2013, 12:04 PM
HELP ME

Kinda getting pissed off at this car.. I love it but not sure what to do

Check it out here.
http://www.club202.com/forums/showthread.php?17365-My-Second-Post-1997-C36-AMG&highlight=c36

Last 3 weeks.

New Fuel Pump/Filter/Relay...Car still died, then wont restart
New Crank Position Sensor. Fixed the engine stalling, starts right up now..
New Problem right after replacing CPS, anything over idle car misses at a steady pace. Threw new plugs in, swapped coils (which are less than 6mo old btw) still misses CYL 3/4
Checked engine harness in multiple spots not crumbling but who knows?

HG leaks oil onto ground and into coolant, not vice versa. Needs to be changed eventually, if thats not whats causing the miss.


Sooo. Lets see what cash makes me say.

1 of 199 97 C36 AMG's Rare....
276hp 284lb/ft


Exterior 7/10 paints not perfect and has some bits of rust. AMG kit 7.5/10 has been repainted at some point, small crack that has been repaired on bottom of Front Bumper
Interior 8.5/10 leather is perfect as well as pretty much everything else. Original Floormats! $800 custom boston acoustics stereo that sounds beautiful
Mechanical..... Trans shifts great engine ran great too, just not anymore. Still trying to figure it out. Brand New Brakes All around. Handles well

$3200obo CASH open to offers. but if its less than i can fix it for..not happening.

I'm trying to be reasonable, considering parting the car out would net a good amount too, but i'd hate to do that.

8563408880 Call or Text

Maybe ill part ways with my baby.

anf6789
03-19-2013, 07:45 PM
Seems im on to something..... taking it to an indy shop..

MikeD
03-20-2013, 01:40 PM
Seems im on to something..... taking it to an indy shop..

GLWS or hope you get the issues figured it out. I've been having coolant leaks for just about EVERY possible cause of coolant leaks for over a year. I'm hoping the recent radiator replacement was the end of my coolant issues!

kameraguy
03-20-2013, 01:49 PM
Hope you can get it sorted, it would be a shame to have to part such a great car (which will probably get you more money than selling it for $3k). Let us know what the indy shop finds.

I have been thru my fair share of electrical gremlins and maintenance on my 97 C36, but sentimental reasons have always prevented me from selling. People call me crazy with how much repairs i have done (most under extended warranty). But I take it as general maintenance for a car of this age.

As they say, never keep a car for sentimental reasons if it'll cost more to keep than sell.

BUT, for me at least, I never regret the money i spent to keep mine. I love it so much it's a part of me. I'm of course biased, but the C36 is a special car which gets even more special as the years go on.

JRE320
03-20-2013, 02:07 PM
Hope you can get it sorted, it would be a shame to have to part such a great car (which will probably get you more money than selling it for $3k). Let us know what the indy shop finds.

I have been thru my fair share of electrical gremlins and maintenance on my 97 C36, but sentimental reasons have always prevented me from selling. People call me crazy with how much repairs i have done (most under extended warranty). But I take it as general maintenance for a car of this age.


As they say, never keep a car for sentimental reasons if it'll cost more to keep than sell.

BUT, for me at least, I never regret the money i spent to keep mine. I love it so much it's a part of me. I'm of course biased, but the C36 is a special car which gets even more special as the years go on.

I agree. :-)

anf6789
03-20-2013, 05:26 PM
oh believe me... i love this damn car... No one has one, no one knows what it is... my kinda car ;)

purchasing a Camshaft Position Sensor this week. What seems to be happening is....

Crank Sensor and Cam sensor talk to each other...
Cam sensor is getting old, Crank is brand new.. since they are slightly off Crank thinks the car is misfiring
Therefore it cuts fuel on CYL 3/4 causing an Actual Misfire....
2 mechanic friends have confirmed this so ill take the plunge and spend another $100 on top of the $300 for new pump relay and CKP (CPS)

And if that doesnt fix it, I guess i have to get it towed to the Indy...

Sulaco
03-20-2013, 06:04 PM
Dude, I know you gotta do what you gotta do, but I BEG you not to part it out or sell it to some punk.

I have a known-working m104 wiring harness that I pulled from my 1994 C280 before I sold it for scrap. You can have it for free. Takes roughly 1.5 hrs to swap out.

anf6789
03-20-2013, 07:27 PM
Sulaco I don't want to part it out.. (I find if I tell cars I'm scrapping them... They get their act together ;)

I checked the harness and it looked ok Delphi 12/96.. It's actually got different sensors and connectors Than my 94 did..

That's why I posted it up here I would never sell it to someone looking for a cheap car... It doesn't deserve that.. That's why I'm trying to fix it, it just seems every time I fix something it leads to something else!! This problem wasn't even here before!!!!

Hopefully the cam sensor will fix the stupid misfire!

Funny how the car won't miss when I unplug the cam sensor :/... Runs and drives with it unplugged albeit rich

anf6789
03-20-2013, 08:43 PM
Does anyone have any experience with this.. I've been talking to a few members and mechanic buddies.. It just wierd that crank position sensor was the original problem (not fuel pump) and now that I've changed it I consistently get a cyl 3/4 misfire, swapped coils and the miss stays 3/4... Unplug cam sensor miss goes away but car obviously isn't running correctly with that unplugged... I'm leaning towards replacing that.. No code popped up for it though... Maybe the Bosch crank sensor I put in is a dud? I even put my old fuel pump in to make sure it wasn't the Walbro causing the problem.. I'd post a new thread but hopefully someone will see this... RemoLexi has already helped me out a great deal... But maybe someone has been through this before!

anf6789
04-05-2013, 10:58 AM
Mercedes Indy said it was wiring harness... Not sure what to do...

C43inNC
04-05-2013, 11:28 AM
Are untalking about the camshaft position sensor

Sulaco
04-05-2013, 11:32 AM
PM sent. must rescue this car!

hvmercy
04-05-2013, 12:04 PM
Damn right.... Needs to go to a good home and revitalize it.


PM sent. must rescue this car!

Sulaco
04-05-2013, 12:20 PM
Nooo cant afford ramen right now! Seeing if I can help.

kameraguy
04-05-2013, 12:27 PM
Hope you can work some magic Sulaco!

anf6789
04-05-2013, 05:03 PM
I'm ordering a used 1997 harness for $150 on eBay and I am thinking about doing the HG at the same time.. Just cleaned out my garage so I can finally fit a car in there... But I'm up for offers as well.... Or advice..... Or Prozac....

vixen_w202
04-05-2013, 05:43 PM
How about a beautiful escort that can fill your wildest dreams with the haircolor and legal age of your choice? :) Might clear up your head a bit lol

anf6789
04-05-2013, 05:49 PM
At this point I'd probably get more pleasure pushing the car into the Delaware river.... On fire.... With a full tank of gas...

vixen_w202
04-05-2013, 06:18 PM
At this point I'd probably get more pleasure pushing the car into the Delaware river.... On fire.... With a full tank of gas...

If it weren't for the fact that you were clear on the east coast....I'd offer you my c280 with everything I've had done plus cash.....I'd love to own a c36.

anf6789
04-06-2013, 01:24 PM
Ran new wires from ecu to crank and cam sensors... Did not change my symptoms... Ordering that used harness tonight.. And a Head gasket kit... If harness does not work thinking about going MegaSquirt Standalone.. ;) who knows my mind wanders..

anf6789
05-07-2013, 01:33 PM
Someone buy this please...
I don't have the patience for the problems anymore
I believe it needs a new ecu.. As it won't even start now without jumping the fuel pump
Get this C36 for a fraction of the going rate.. Part it out do whatever..


New headgasket and wiring harness... Ready for you to figure out the problems

Sulaco I'm looking at you ;)
$3200 cash
I'll load it up if you want to ship it out.
8563408880

Scary-Larry
05-07-2013, 01:58 PM
I went through a similar problem with my 1998 C280. It would be screwing up, barely working, and odd symptoms. Symptoms like: not starting, stalling, hesitation, misfires, Check Engine light codes blaming the fuel pump and plugs, too slow, and sometimes too fast (like 100mph over the speed-limit fast).

With the help of a friend's father (who knows auto mechanics very well) we changed the fuel pump, did the whole tune up, new CPS, and electrical connectors/system.

After so much money went into that, the new parts didn't make much of a difference. Everyone told me to junk it or sell it as damaged since it came to the point where it was unable to go faster than 30mph at full throttle. It sounded like a 78 Cutlass Supreme and the idle was so low that it would stall almost instantly.

I called another mechanic friend and he said it sounds like it is one of two things: either the MAF was shot or I blew the ECU.


I was so scared that I blew the ECU because it was almost $2000 for the part alone. If I blew the MAF, which I couldn't imagine being the problem, then it was like a few hundred dollars.

Moment of truth:
I had it taken to a garage by flatbed. I figured it would take days to figure it out and get it repaired if it was any good.

The same day they called and said that the MAF was broken and that they replaced it already. I honestly thought it as bullshit; after spending all this cash on parts I didn't need and the problem was the MAF! I was so sure it was the ECU. I drove my borrowed Toyota down there to see for myself- the car turned on fine: no check engine light, gas mileage was great, smeared the asphalt off the pavement on the way out, and it didn't sound like a 78 Cutlass Supreme anymore. The only problem was that I was limited to 6,000rpm now instead of 6,600rpm, but no big deal.

Now, currently, the car is in really bad condition because a spring perch ripped off the frame. I have not decided to sell if or part it out; I bought my 2000 C280 Sport as a second car and I am going to fix my 1998 C280.


I noticed you have a CAI rather than the standard air intake, but there should still be a MAF sensor. Just for the hell of it, it could be the MAF. The MAF is a WTF part. Someone told me that the cold air intakes should be programmed so the car MAF can correctly measure the intake; I don't know how accurate that is, but have you had it programmed? Is the filter worn out?



Don't get rid of it without really thinking it out. We all understand the frustration of such a situation. This is fixable.

John Jones Jr.
05-07-2013, 01:58 PM
Sorry to hear about your ongoing woes and new one's too. All I'll say is don't do anything rash. Walk away from the car, take a break from it and mull over the problems. Worth thinking about getting another view on the car from someone with real experience of electronics etc. Hold fire!

anf6789
05-07-2013, 02:35 PM
car is on craigslist now. Car wont start unless i rig the fuelpump relay... just another problem and I need a car. I'm tired of throwing a $100 part at it everyweek to see if it fixes it. Was supposed to take it to the dealer today to spend another $100 just for them to look at it. Of course the bitch wont start, rewired fuel pump and now it wont work. so Fuck it, someone buy it and get a cheap C36 that besides for its problems is very nice!
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/3791100635.html

jc1kz
05-07-2013, 02:48 PM
A sad day indeed today.......:(

Scary-Larry
05-07-2013, 03:01 PM
It's too bad it had to end like this, but it could have been worse. I'm sorry you had to make this hard decision man; it's too bad the car had this problem. I followed your rebirth of a C36 AMG thread and thought it would end well.
I hope you thought this out.


What do you think you will buy next?

Sulaco
05-07-2013, 03:29 PM
This may be answered elsewhere, but did you replace the fuel pump relay in the trunk by the spare tire?

anf6789
05-07-2013, 04:54 PM
yes i did sulaco, and i can hear it click, even the old spare one does, pump will prime but car wont start, unless I manually jump relay terminals to force pump to turn on.

wichipong
05-07-2013, 06:03 PM
GLWS my friend!

Sulaco
05-07-2013, 06:07 PM
Damn, this is tragic. 2 rare w202 AMG's on this board lost in one week. Son of a bitch... Talk about shitty luck.

They say things happen in 3's, so all you other AMG owners keep your eyes peeled.

anf6789
05-07-2013, 06:15 PM
I absolutly love this car. im just past my skill level and it seems to be getting worse. Im proud of myself for doing the HG and everything else myself, just sad the car didn't appreciate it.

John Jones Jr.
05-07-2013, 06:34 PM
anf, Bosch ECU's can be tested & repaired. There's companies that have being doing it for years in Europe, so I presume you could get the same done in the States.

anf6789
05-07-2013, 08:51 PM
Yeah I did a bit of research on it. Not sure if its worth it for me... Maybe someone else.

anf6789
05-17-2013, 05:32 PM
so far I've had about 10 calls from craigslist about this car. Some more than 200 miles away. Didn't realize there was such an interest for the C36. Everyone wants to know whats wrong with the car, lol. I'm holding onto it until The dealer lets me know the exact problem, then I'll decide to let it go or not.

Scary-Larry
05-17-2013, 09:03 PM
so far I've had about 10 calls from craigslist about this car. Some more than 200 miles away. Didn't realize there was such an interest for the C36. Everyone wants to know whats wrong with the car, lol. I'm holding onto it until The dealer lets me know the exact problem, then I'll decide to let it go or not.

Did you take it to Benzel Busch or Prestige? The dealer should figure it out, but I'm surprised they have had the car for this long.

anf6789
05-17-2013, 10:05 PM
Mercedes-Benz of Cherry Hill, N.J.

Its taking a while because a friend knows some people in service and they are looking at it on the side... So I don't pay stealership prices.

Denlasoul
05-17-2013, 10:21 PM
Honestly, I would just have the Dealership figure it out. It has been giving you a headache for some time now.

Its a C36 and 16 years old. Give it the tlc it needs and you wont regret it.

Scary-Larry
05-17-2013, 10:41 PM
Dealerships and certified garages have the Star diagnostics software and such. They can figure it out quick. Whenever I blew out some part in my car and I couldn't figure it out, I would take it to some certified garage with the Star diagnostics and they would plug it in and have the answer in an hour or so (depending on the problem[s]).

Good thing you have your friends working there.

anf6789
05-18-2013, 07:57 AM
Oh it is at the dealership and they are figuring it out... And I am paying them for it lol... It's sitting in the mb parking lot haha. I guess I worded my post wrong.. It's there and it's getting diagnosed..

Oh and the Indy I took it to a while ago with "STAR" told me it was the wiring harness.. Hence why I took it to the dealership this time.

RemoLexi
05-18-2013, 09:12 AM
LOL you guys think the SDS spits out an answer 'within an hour'


SDS will give you faults but you still have to figure out what's causing them. And on something as old as our piles of shit, there's no test plan with HHT, later models it went to Xentry and that has solid test plans for common issues...

Anyone can buy an SDS nowadays