2001 C240

The problem could be an intermittently open electrical circuit.

Ace

ok do know a rough estimate of what that might cost to repair?

If the problem is obvious and your friend/neighbor just re-seats or tightens a connector it could cost you a beer. If you take it to an import auto shop and they replace components based on what they think it might be until the problem seems to go away it could cost thousands.

ok thank you ACE

also I checked the coolant level in the small tank and it was completely full all the way to the cap. Could that play a factor I know its not supposed to be that high?

Probably not by itself, but that is a symptom of a blown head gasket.

Blown head gasket? But the coolant tank level has not gone down. OP confirms, the level of the coolant is up to the cap. That will suggest, the coolant is not circulating. Am I wrong, or misunderstood OP?

Joshi,

It depends how the head gasket leaks, if high pressure combustion gas escapes into the cooling system it can force coolant through the radiator cap topping off the coolant resorvoir. This is certainy not the only scenario but I have seen it happen.

like I said before im not too car savy but a b lown head gasket wouldnt that cause the car to stall so to say every time i got to idle speed. it only cuts out after 5-10 min of driving and i come down to speed none of my gauges are showing high temps either or anything like that. I have a check engine light and the ESP thing comes on all the time now.

Thank you, Ace Boeringa, what you say is valid.

Take it to a mechanic!

Take it to a mechanic!

Take it to a mechanic!

No offence to you, or our members for trying to help, but braking should not kill an engine.

If the engine dies when you really, really need to stop you may have a problem.

Not only with stopping, but steering, if you can't stop.

thank you

I think we may have an automotive oxymoron here. This is a Mercedes Benz with a frugal owner looking for repair cost estimates from people incapable of putting their hands on the vehicle. I know that this is an eleven year old vehicle but a mechanic (shade tree, local chain, or dealership) should look at this vehicle. It is good that the owner can replicate the problem but knowledgeable hands, eyes, and ears should view this machine.

Houston we have a problem... You have not asked what you should do about it, but it is becoming evident that advice is what you may be after. I don't usually give unsolicited advice but I will offer you a clue, your car has electronic on board diagnostics that saves problems in memory.

If you're not asking the right questions it is unlikely that you are getting the right answers.

thank you ACE..

Im looking for both possible problems and advice. so far ive gotten three different problems that i will be looking into. But I also wuld like to know if this is the kind of car i should keep or fix the problem and get rid of it. Im the 3rd owner and really first problem I've had it only has 50k miles and i really like the car but I dont really have a lot of money to throw into it either

it could be dirt laying in the fuel tank. stopping can pull the dirt [rust], or water particals from the bottom of the tank to the fuel pump pick-up screen, staving the engine for fuel. . the particles then settle to the bottom of the tank after a certain amout of time, allowing the car to re-start. check the fuel filter too.

IF you want to find out what IS wrong, you will need to get your hands a little dirty.

Do you have access to a test light, or voltmeter? If so, connect it to the low voltage side of the ignition system. Now make the car repeat the problem, and observe the test light-meter. If the tester shows no power, there is an open in the ignition circuit. If there is still power, you need to test the power to the injectors, or monitor the fuel pressure. Are you prepared to do this? If not, try to understand how the test procedure works, and then ask your favorite repair facility how they would diagnose it?