HI I HAVE A 99' C280 WITH 93K ON IT. ABOUT 2WEEKS AGO THE ENGINE STARTED TO TICK. IT TICKS LOUDER AND HARDER WHEN THE CAR IS IN GEAR AND IT GETTING GAS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TO 4DIFF PPL AND 2 SAID THAT ITS AN EX LEAK BUT THE NOISE COMES RIGHT FROM THE ENGINE. 2 OTHERS SAID A VALVE OR LIFTER. 1 OTHER SAID ITS A FLAP ON THE INTAKE. I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO SINCE I HAVE HAD SO MANY ANSWER, ANY HELP WOULD BE GREAT. THANKS

 

Open your hood. Start the motor and let it idle. Do this someplace quiet. BE SURE YOU DO NOT HAVE LOOSE clothing. Take a long screwdriver and use it to "listen" to various parts of the motor running (like a stethoscope) by gently pressing the handle against your temple or ear and touching the valve covers and other parts of the motor you can safely reach with the screwdriver blade.

You will hear moving parts, that's normal. Something really loud should be reported back to this post for assistance. BE VERY CAREFUL OF THE MOVING BELT when doing this test. I would have a friend with you watching out for your clothing and repeat the tests with you observing.

This test is useless on the exhaust system, but you may feel puffs of air moving with a manifold leak. Take the car to a good muffler shop and watch them inspect your system if necessary.

Let me know if this helps.

 

I TOOK MY CAR TO A MUFFLER PLACE TODAY THEY PUT IT ON THE LIFT AND FOUND A CRACK IN THE MANIFOLD. I FEEL A BIG SIGN OF RELIFE TO KNOW ITS NOT A LIFTER OR VALVE BUT THEY CAN'T FIX IT. THE CRACK IS DEEP IN UP IN THE CAR SO I NEED TO BRING IT TO THE DEALER. ANYONE ONE WHAT KIND OF JOB THIS IS AND WHAT I MIGHT BE LOOKING AT HERE?

 

crack in exhaust manifold?

hmnnn, never see one before.

they can't weld it?

 

I wonder if the car was "repaired' after an accident and they missed the damaged manifold?

 

Most Manifolds are cast Iron (not sure about MB) and therefore hard to weld. They must be preheated first to do it right and would require removal anyway, better to get it replaced since this is an item that has constant temperature changes and a weld probably wouldnt last very long.
By the way, first post......great forum.
Chris

 

welcome chris

 

well my car went into the shop today, i found a well known shop to take the job on. Im just waiting for the phone call of them telling me how much, im hopeing that he can do a repair on it but thats a just a dream. i will let everyone know how it turns out!