Q&A

Ask Your Question

2005 Mercedes-Benz E500 4MATIC

 

Question: My wagon makes a stuttering noise in the front when cold

Question

guernsy, Palo Alto, CA, February 13, 2012, 19:39
 Rookie

When I pull out of my driveway in the morning and turn my steering wheel all the way to one side, the car makes a stuttering noise and it seems to be dragging. It was a very small noise at first and over the past 6 months got louder. The funny part is that this noise goes completely away, as soon as the car gets warm. After driving it for ca 15 min I can neither hear the noise nor feel the dragging in the front. It is not a clicking, it is more a stuttering dragging noise.
Had it at two different dealerships and one independent European car shop, they told me three different stories.
1. Thought it would be the CV joints (however, car has only 50,000 miles on it and 2. guy told me that is highly unlikely with so little miles.
2. Guy said that it could be something with the transfercase fluid and that I should simply get the fluid flushed and exchanged.
3. Guy is telling me that it has something to do with axle shaft and traction control system.
Ok, three people, three different answers. Still don't know what I should do with this car.
Anyone has another idea or had a similar experience. I would appreciate it.
Thanks.

2 Answers
Answer It
Flag This

  • Answer #1

    patrick mannion from Greg Solow's Engine Room, February 13, 2012, 21:22
    Profile_thumbnail
     Master

    Perhaps best to post on a Mercedes specific site. I have seen CV inner joints make strange hard to diagnose noises but would agree that the mileage is low and the roads in Palo Alto are in pretty good order.At 50,000 miles just as a service item I would try changing the transfer case oil, I have heard of the problem with some Jeeps but have experienced the problem myself on Honda CRV's if the oil breaks down or the wrong oil is used by a quick lube shop. I see a Mercedes number for the front and rear differential appears to be a hypoid SAE 85W 90 oil, the transmission is specific to Mercedes but could be either of two transmissions. If you have an independent repair shop near you that you like and trust, there is a professional service called Identafix. http://www.identifix.com/info/about_us.htm They only deal with professional repair shops. They are in the Minnesota 651-633-8007 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 651-633-8007 end_of_the_skype_highlighting. Your auto repair shop do all their diagnosis tests, and discuss your problem with a team of professional technicians great service cheap and very bright people. If the repair shop that are repairing your car are stumped this is a great service. This company only deal with automotive repair shops and don't answer questions for the general public but are an amazing knowledge base.

    Reply
    Flag This

  • Answer #2

    Hal... (see my shops), February 14, 2012, 09:37
    Profile_thumbnail
     Master

    The fuild in the front differential may need to be changed. Do you know if it is limited slip differential?

    Flag This

  • Reply

    guernsy, February 15, 2012, 15:11
     Rookie

    I don't know if it is a slip differential? How can I find that out. Would that be the same fluid that comes from the transfer case? I was told that I should change that, as one of the possibilities. Thanks

    Reply
    Flag This
Answer Ranks

This week's top 10

1 globalhelper 6 FREDDY BLUE
2 pushrod 7 csubak30
3 ziptie12 8 ebans777
4 ChevyASE 9 gearhead89
5 wenyan 10 corvairart