A broken ball pin will cause similar symptoms, accompanied by constant or intermitant knocking. So will, alas, serious piston erosion, due to valve damage.
Occasionally one of these engines bends a rod, likely due to chunks of coked oil coming adrift in the intake (deposited by the EGR and dino oil). Very rapid ovalization of the bore usually occurs (the rod always bends "crooked", leaving the piston cocked in the bore). You will have excessive blowby, excessive oil consumption, smoke, and eventually (rather soon) a clanking piston. May happen suddenly. Will be obvious with a compression check. I suppose a dead exhaust tappet could do the same thing, since the exhaust valve won't open properly. Easy to check -- remove valve cover and use a screwdriver to push down on the tappets where they are not compressed by the cam lobes. You will need to rotate the engine to check all of them. If you can push them down, they are bad. Usually clatter qutie a bit, though. A failed vacuum pump will either lock up the engine, break the chain, or do absolutely nothing, depending on where the debris goes. They exhaust into the crankcase on these engines, unlike the old diaphram types, so they cannot pump oil into the intake. A stuck EGR produces rough idle, very poor performance, and incredible black smoke (as in the car behind is not visible). Cannot be mistaken for anything else, the car will look like a squid trying to hide. Peter _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
