An act of irresistible folly
Discussion
Drive to Falmouth to have an early morning lounge on the beach and the car is driving wonderfully, now the brakes and track rod ends have been sorted. Supple, pliant ride and very quiet.
Only one incident today to report - the engine management light came on on the way back. There is no malfunction indicated so I’m curious as to what this may be. No change to driving other than a sympathetic rattle from the wheel arch after yesterday’s under-tray misadventure.
Looking at the manual’s display section it would appear that the issue relates to the ignition system, the exhaust or both. There is no error text accompanying the warning symbol.
Only one incident today to report - the engine management light came on on the way back. There is no malfunction indicated so I’m curious as to what this may be. No change to driving other than a sympathetic rattle from the wheel arch after yesterday’s under-tray misadventure.
Looking at the manual’s display section it would appear that the issue relates to the ignition system, the exhaust or both. There is no error text accompanying the warning symbol.
bolidemichael said:
Any photos. Lamba sensors come to mind.
Afraid not. It came on as we left Falmouth, and stayed on until we got back and parked up at Co-op for some provisions and then didn’t come back in when I started it up. Been to Porthleven and back this evening and it’s not made an appearance again.
A mystery!
More adventures. Popped into the specialist to discuss the wheel arch liners. While in there he detected an oil leak, cause as yet undetermined, and the NSR exhaust heat shield was loose. Parts duly ordered, all bolts and nuts checked for tightness underneath to see if that stops, or at least slows the leak, and the car will be booked in when the parts arrive for the wheel arch liners, under tray, exhaust mount, and oil leak investigation. it's safe to say I'm pretty happy I've set up a Mercedes Bork Fund.
Given the enormous and calamitous sounding event of the under tray shearing off, I'm not surprised there may be collateral damage.
I cannot wait to get this cheap tyre off - it really is noticeably less good than the others, but in a pinch a Mohawk is better than a space saver, especially a space saver that is probably as old as the car that in all likelihood never been out of its hollow.
The OSF bumper that has sprung out will be reattached when the car is in, which is good news as that will be the indication the cosmetic refurbishment can begin.
In other news, I did about 60 miles in the car today (Truro to Pool to Penzance to Truro), averaged about 22mpg and thoroughly enjoyed it, although that tyre did irritate me depending on the road surface.
Given the enormous and calamitous sounding event of the under tray shearing off, I'm not surprised there may be collateral damage.
I cannot wait to get this cheap tyre off - it really is noticeably less good than the others, but in a pinch a Mohawk is better than a space saver, especially a space saver that is probably as old as the car that in all likelihood never been out of its hollow.
The OSF bumper that has sprung out will be reattached when the car is in, which is good news as that will be the indication the cosmetic refurbishment can begin.
In other news, I did about 60 miles in the car today (Truro to Pool to Penzance to Truro), averaged about 22mpg and thoroughly enjoyed it, although that tyre did irritate me depending on the road surface.
Further adventures! The car has been sat at work since the 19th June, waiting on some parts to arrive and a tyre fitted. I booked an appointment to have two new keys programmed this morning, so bright and early I scuttled in the collect the car.
It started not problem and I noticed the suspension had settled as it usually does. Seemed low on the NS rear to me, but it will raise itself. Got in and drove off, and lo and behold the malfunction warning was on, indicating two malfunctions but not detailing what they are. Pulled over after about two minutes driving - couldn't do it be because of the road, and had a look at the suspension at the rear. The NS rear was higher but no by much, and the OS rear was fine. Turned engine on again and the malfunction indicator had vanished to replaced with No Malfunction.
Drove on and car seemed fine - traction control light kept flickered but the roads are very greasy and I have a mismatched tyre as I have not had opportunity to have the replacement matching Uniroyal fitted. The car does seem a bit unsettled at the rear going over speed bumps.
I'm off to Penryn shortly for the keys so I will be keeping a very close eye on the behaviour of the car. The excellent specialist has had a detailed email sent. As it's in for wheel arch liner and under tray replacement as soon as the parts arrive, I will have the suspension checked, as well as suspension geometry set up.
Curious!
It started not problem and I noticed the suspension had settled as it usually does. Seemed low on the NS rear to me, but it will raise itself. Got in and drove off, and lo and behold the malfunction warning was on, indicating two malfunctions but not detailing what they are. Pulled over after about two minutes driving - couldn't do it be because of the road, and had a look at the suspension at the rear. The NS rear was higher but no by much, and the OS rear was fine. Turned engine on again and the malfunction indicator had vanished to replaced with No Malfunction.
Drove on and car seemed fine - traction control light kept flickered but the roads are very greasy and I have a mismatched tyre as I have not had opportunity to have the replacement matching Uniroyal fitted. The car does seem a bit unsettled at the rear going over speed bumps.
I'm off to Penryn shortly for the keys so I will be keeping a very close eye on the behaviour of the car. The excellent specialist has had a detailed email sent. As it's in for wheel arch liner and under tray replacement as soon as the parts arrive, I will have the suspension checked, as well as suspension geometry set up.
Curious!
Just arrived at Penryn. The malfunction light came on again on the way down and the flickering yellow triangle warning light showed itself, this time under sharper braking. If it’s gentle braking, not a problem, but anything requiring a bit of urgency, the warning light flashes.
The suspension is definitely lower on the NS than the OS so that’s another thing to be looked at. I did wonder whether this issue would manifest itself.
Maybe it isn’t time for the Niro to go back, just yet.
The suspension is definitely lower on the NS than the OS so that’s another thing to be looked at. I did wonder whether this issue would manifest itself.
Maybe it isn’t time for the Niro to go back, just yet.
bolidemichael said:
I'm following this with interest, thanks for the updates. Have you checked the fuse box for any traces of oil that may be affecting the coherence of the ECU?
I will look into that, thank you for recommendation. I find it curious that the car has intermittent flashing lights which it previously didn’t. The specialists have been informed and I will mention this to them as well.
Irritatingly the two keys didn’t work but I have been advised that this is probably either related to a blown fuse to do with central locking or a wiring issue.
It will be fascinating to see what needs to be done next.
I found out yesterday that the NSR suspension air bag (or strut) depending on who you speak to, has failed. I did think that this was the case.
The problem I now I have is I need to get rid of the Niro and get on with this car hit the local specialist is booked up for weeks, and I’m at a bit of quandary with how to proceeds.
I’ve been recommended Arnott’s for the replacement parts but I’d guess that it’s best to do them in pairs and with the cost of fitting them that’s getting on for doubling what I’ve spend on the car. There are cheap ones on eBay.
I don’t know what to do! I’d still like to proceed and get the magnificent idiocy driving properly.
Still outstanding at this moment in time are the wheelarch liners and undertray - I have the undertray, and the liners are at the specialist, a new Uniroyal to replace the cheap tyre I put after a puncture, brake hose to fit and a brake line to replace.
The two keys I bought only work held right up to the sensor on the door handle but the key guy suggested that either replacing a blown fuse will sort it, or determining the wiring issue that causes the blown fuse will.
Every time I get near to getting the car on the road something irritating happens to stop me.
The problem I now I have is I need to get rid of the Niro and get on with this car hit the local specialist is booked up for weeks, and I’m at a bit of quandary with how to proceeds.
I’ve been recommended Arnott’s for the replacement parts but I’d guess that it’s best to do them in pairs and with the cost of fitting them that’s getting on for doubling what I’ve spend on the car. There are cheap ones on eBay.
I don’t know what to do! I’d still like to proceed and get the magnificent idiocy driving properly.
Still outstanding at this moment in time are the wheelarch liners and undertray - I have the undertray, and the liners are at the specialist, a new Uniroyal to replace the cheap tyre I put after a puncture, brake hose to fit and a brake line to replace.
The two keys I bought only work held right up to the sensor on the door handle but the key guy suggested that either replacing a blown fuse will sort it, or determining the wiring issue that causes the blown fuse will.
Every time I get near to getting the car on the road something irritating happens to stop me.
Commiserations, I’ve been there too.
Airmatic 211s need to have the rear subframe dropped to allow the original rear air springs to be replaced. Arnott’s solution does away with the reservoir attached to the springs, so the subframe can stay where it is, but you will need to do them in pairs and the car will lose the variable ride height available with the genuine MB / Bilstein springs. It seems, to me anyway, a shame to lose the full function so I’m in the process of replacing the Arnott struts on the front of mine to restore full function. If you do stick with genuine rear springs I would advise replacing the subframe bushes at the same time - they’re not expensive, and even though my car has only done 74k miles there was a lot of play evident in the bushes when I removed the subframe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocvlxvlPTYw
Airmatic 211s need to have the rear subframe dropped to allow the original rear air springs to be replaced. Arnott’s solution does away with the reservoir attached to the springs, so the subframe can stay where it is, but you will need to do them in pairs and the car will lose the variable ride height available with the genuine MB / Bilstein springs. It seems, to me anyway, a shame to lose the full function so I’m in the process of replacing the Arnott struts on the front of mine to restore full function. If you do stick with genuine rear springs I would advise replacing the subframe bushes at the same time - they’re not expensive, and even though my car has only done 74k miles there was a lot of play evident in the bushes when I removed the subframe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocvlxvlPTYw
Thanks for the sympathy!
I have no intention of getting rid of the car, but I had wanted to avoid lots of sizeable bills at once. I did my research and knew that it would be a probability that this would come up, but there have been lots of little issues that were impossible to legislate for that have held up the car’s work.
I’ll have a word with the specialist on Monday and see what he thinks about the best way to proceed.
Interestingly both people who have worked on the car deem it worth continuing with.
I have no intention of getting rid of the car, but I had wanted to avoid lots of sizeable bills at once. I did my research and knew that it would be a probability that this would come up, but there have been lots of little issues that were impossible to legislate for that have held up the car’s work.
I’ll have a word with the specialist on Monday and see what he thinks about the best way to proceed.
Interestingly both people who have worked on the car deem it worth continuing with.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff