How to Detect Engine Trouble

Identify Engine Issues at Our Mercedes Repair Shop

The sight of a gorgeous German classic gliding through the doors of our Mercedes repair shop never fails to bring a smile to the faces of our technicians, but not when that same classic is suffering from engine trouble.

An inevitability of a high-mileage car, dealing with engine issues is an important part of what we do. What’s equally important as an owner of an older model is for you to be aware of any signs that could point to engine failure. The most common symptoms you should be looking out for are:

• A car that jerks, surges or stalls
• An unusual popping or tapping sound
• Foul smells from inside or outside the car
• Black, blue or white smoke

These symptoms all point towards potential engine problems, but let’s look a little deeper into each. First up is the classic jerk. Any engine that’s in good working order should operate smoothly throughout the rev range, and if not, you could be looking at fouled spark plugs, fuel lines or filters that are clogged, or a malfunctioning ECU as the most common causes. Uneven idling or revving too highly at idle could be another symptom, so if your car is jerking, ensure you get it looked at quickly.

Listen up

If you’ve owned the same car for many years, you’ll no doubt notice every unusual creak, knock or squeal from the mechanicals or bodywork. While most are harmless, engine issues that cause any sort of noise should not be taken lightly. Tapping or popping sounds could point to detonation inside the cylinders, causing gas to ignite too soon. Costly damage to your pistons could be the end result, so get her checked out as soon as possible.

Be aware of unusual smells

While the whiff of burning rubber might thrill you on track day, it’s an entirely different sensation when cruising along serenely on the highway. This particular smell could be caused by worn or damaged belts under the hood, and if these belts go, repairs to other components are likely to vastly outweigh the cost of replacing the belt itself. Look out for any evident squealing noise accompanying the smell.

Going up in smoke?

Nobody wants to drive around in a smoking car, especially if your choice is a pretty German sports car that should otherwise be drawing admiring glances. If blue smoke is the offender, chances are that oil is leaking from its intended journey within your engine and is being burned along with gas. You’ll likely notice increased oil use until any worn or damaged seals can be replaced. White smoke, on the other hand, is most likely caused when antifreeze or condensation has found its way into the fuel supply. If you do see white smoke, we’re holding thumbs that it’s coming from the back-end of your car rather than the front. If it’s from under the hood, your engine is already overheating!

Your car isn’t going to go anywhere without a fully functioning engine, and we recommend regular preventative maintenance before any of these issues rear their ugly head. If you do experience any of these engine-related symptoms, be sure to have your car looked at immediately before a simple fix becomes a major headache.