Mercedes-Benz engineers began designing their new compact executive car, the C-Class, in 1987, when they realized they wanted to retire the 190, but wanted to keep a hand in that market segment. The C-Class (also called the W202) was officially released in 1993, and it was produced until 2000, when the W203 took over. Some of the more common problems affecting the W202 include:
Rough Acceleration and Shifting: A precise mixture of fuel and air is needed in order for the car to run smoothly, and when this balance is upset the car may exhibit such problems as erratic engine speeds while running and clunky shifting.
Battery Explosion: An excessive buildup of hydrogen gas inside the battery can lead to a startling explosion that may damage the engine and/or any individuals looking under the hood. Mercedes did issue a recall for certain years because of this malfunction.
Power Window Failure: Owners report that the two front windows often refuse to respond, and it seems as though no power is even reaching them.
MAF Sensor Problems: The MAF ensures that a proper ratio of air is mixed with the fuel going into the cylinders. When the sensor goes, this mixture becomes incorrect, creating a situation that could potentially destroy the car’s engine.
Damper Pulley Breakage: The damper pulley takes some of the tension putting excess stress on the crankshaft and dissipates them inside of a rubber collar. Sometimes age and extreme climates can cause them to fail, putting the safety of the crankshaft at risk.
These problems range from the seemingly innocuous to the clearly severe, but all of them pose risks to both the car and its passengers. In order to keep everyone safe, we strongly recommend that you take your W202 to a trained Mercedes-Benz service expert who can identify and fix any and all of the above problems.
Search for a local, independent Mercedes-Benz repair shop with Mercedes-Benz mechanics that have dealer-level expertise at a fraction of the expense.