Uh guys, did I just kill my car???

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart) 10/05/2016 at 20:27 • Filed to: shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

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Soooooooo...I was coming home from work today when about 10 miles from home, I noticed that there was an extreme amount of heat coming from my handbrake...and literally moments later my car started losing a LOT of power. A few seconds after that, my check engine light started rapidly flashing.

While still moving, I flipped the car into Neutral and turned off the car, then turned it back on. The CEL disappeared, but the shoddy performance remained.

A couple miles later, the performance became so bad that I heard a lot of cogs skipping behind the car while it struggled to gain/maintain speed.

So, I immediately pulled over and got out. Much to my surprise, there was an incredible amount of smoke billowing from the engine bay and a burning plastic smell. After I let it sit for ten minutes, both the smell and the smoke disappeared. I got back in and started him up...I was greeted with white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe, which quickly disappeared as the engine stabilized.

The rest of the trip home was incredibly shaky. I’m not sure if it’s the engine or the tranny being the troublemaker, but there’s something that seems very broken back there.

No CEL codes thrown, coolant was at max (albeit there was some bubbling in it), and revving in neutral was perfectly fine...but it just couldn’t deal with being under load. Also, the engine was running at 20 degrees above normal the whole time. Alright, what the heck happened?

daender > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 20:30

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It might’ve overheated and went into a temporary limp mode.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 20:34

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Maybe related to yesterday? How’s your oil level? Do u have oil temp?

PatBateman > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 20:36

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Does it have anything to do with your impromptu oil change after your oil filter punched out?

TheHondaBro > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 20:36

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Yep. Oppo is cursed for sure.

Mercedes Streeter > PatBateman 10/05/2016 at 20:38

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I’m already in contact with a smart engineer. He thinks that when my car bled out yesterday, it must have overheated and warped the block/blew the gasket.

E90M3 > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 20:38

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I assume it didn’t do anything weird on the way to work, it sounds like it overheated some how.

Mercedes Streeter > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/05/2016 at 20:39

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Most likely. So I’m told, white smoke out of the tailpipe is baaaaad news, and bad news like something that costs more than the car is worth.

Oil level is still full, oil temp was equal to the coolant temp.

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 20:40

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White smoke out the back usually means oil has gotten into the cylinder, which is never a good thing. Burning smells of any type are also usually very bad. But, given that you did just blow an oil filter off the car yesterday, you might have just gotten oil places oil shouldn’t be and burned it off today. I’d still want to see if there might be a pending code, those don’t trigger a CEL, Autozone should be able to do that for you for free.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 20:41

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You need to just replace one part and it’ll be better than new:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-19201334/overview/

Tekamul > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 20:43

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Your head gasket has taken early retirement.

All the shaking and shimmying might point to more severe damage, but white smoke and bubbles usually means head gasket.

I should know, I owned a Subaru.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 20:43

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I’m sure u can get a replacement at Sears for pretty cheap. I’m joking... That sux.

The engine might be more than the value of the car but is it more than you would spend on a replacement vehicle?

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 20:50

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Sounds like loss of compression. Had something similar happen on my old snowmobile. I could fit fishing line between the edge of the piston & the wall of the cylinder. Lucky I had a parts sled with all the parts I needed to fix it. The heard bangs cause I give it more gas as it lost more compression, I broke the transmission doing that.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 20:51

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Cracked blocks and blown head gaskets are pretty common on those cars. RIP Tucker.

Mercedes Streeter > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/05/2016 at 20:51

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Tbh, a new engine (even a used engine) is more than the price of the downpayment on a new smart.

Mercedes Streeter > Tekamul 10/05/2016 at 20:51

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I bet the engine overheated and warped itself...*sigh*

Funktheduck > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 20:52

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I think you’ll be shopping for a new car sooner than planned.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 20:54

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sounds like your head gasket bit the biscuit. my condolences. Regular cel is no biggie but flashing is bad, it means imminent damage to cat. I’m just armchair mechanicking here, but Think it burned some antifreeze in the cylinders, set off the downstream O2 sensor and put miss smartcar into limpmode. It’s not dead, but it is literally/figurativley coughing up blood. Might not be too punishing considering you love the shit out of that car. I wouldn’t fix that on an older car I wasn’t in love with. Also I’m assumng you have a gas burner, all our canadian smarts are diesel and probably cost a million zillion to fix.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 20:55

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What the hell. You too? I’m sorry, that’s awful. This has been a bad week for oppo engines.

Die-Trying > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 10/05/2016 at 20:55

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dont forget the adapter plate.........

(not THE actual part)...............

Mercedes Streeter > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 10/05/2016 at 20:58

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That thing costs as much as my car did new! XD thanks for the laugh.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 20:59

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That’s a handy contact to have.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 21:00

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A tree branch fell from the sky and offed my vibe. if cars dont kill themselves, something will. the car gods give and take, now i’ve got power everything keyless etc, but at the expense of turdy handling.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 21:14

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In extremely technical technician terms...

Shits fucked, yo.

In all seriousness, sounds very head gasket-y. Your little Smart may have taken a permanent early retirement.

Life and Times of Magoo: The People's Champ > Tekamul 10/05/2016 at 21:16

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Overheated my old P5. Can confirm diagnoses

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 21:22

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Unfortunately minor cooling system issues on these engines will commonly burn valves, score cylinders, and melt intake manifolds. We have two in the shop currently with almost identical issues as yours, both getting new engines. Sorry 

Mercedes Streeter > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 10/05/2016 at 21:28

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I was waiting for you to chime in.

And yep, I’ve been following the 451 since it stormed our shores. I was honestly waiting for a code to be thrown but my UltraGauge won’t show me anything...just warns me of my impending doom. I was hoping for a bit of a fluke, that maybe it was a clutch actuator or something...but of course it’s a toasty engine.

Welp, time for that 453!!! :D

Mercedes Streeter > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/05/2016 at 21:29

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Junkyard heaven in the sky? Junkyard heaven in the sky! *sigh*

Mercedes Streeter > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 10/05/2016 at 21:31

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It didn’t even enter limp mode. Limp mode for smarts means only a select few gears and extremely low power. I think I cancelled Limp mode when I shut it down then powered back up...which could have been the final nail in the coffin.

Mercedes Streeter > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 10/05/2016 at 21:32

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Honestly I was expecting my car to die by fire or by car crash, but I guess engine is good enough too.

Mercedes Streeter > E90M3 10/05/2016 at 21:32

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That’s what I think too. It performed just fine on the way to work...it actually performed better than it usually does after a fresh oil change.

Mercedes Streeter > The Lurktastic Opponaught 10/05/2016 at 21:33

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It sure has :( I’ve never experienced anything like this...what the hell do I do now?

Mercedes Streeter > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 10/05/2016 at 21:33

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Cracked blocks and/or warped blocks. Either is a death sentence for either the car or my purse. :(

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 21:35

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Yeah, at least you’re not in total shock. That’s something. I bet you’ve got low compression on at least one cylinder.

453's are nice! Will you actually get one?

Mercedes Streeter > e36Jeff now drives a ZHP 10/05/2016 at 21:37

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I hope so. However, the burning of oils on the exterior of the engine shouldn’t cause the extreme stuttering and the power loss.

I hope my UltraGauge will have the code tomorrow. It keeps warning me of an impending code...but I think I may have halted that process when I shut the engine down as soon as the CEL started flashing.

Mercedes Streeter > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock 10/05/2016 at 21:38

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Ah...sounds like it’ll be running on two cylinders or less now. :(

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 21:39

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I cheered myself up with a fine chapeau

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 10/05/2016 at 21:40

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PICTURE OF NICE HAT

Mercedes Streeter > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 10/05/2016 at 21:41

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Eh...I had a panic attack when I thought it was on fire...and tbh I think a trial by fire would have been more...er...fun to watch? lol

But yeah. I’m not in total shock. I have a really really good therapist, so I’m learning to take things with a smile instead of having a complete emotional meltdown.

What’s going to happen if I drive it between now and a new 453?

And yes!!! One of the local dealers has an orange/black/orange with a manual!

EL_ULY > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 21:51

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Something like that will not be diaged here even by the few pros here.

My guess is possibly a stuck injector, vacuum leak, or something that made your cat glow burning the surrounding plastic. A engine can’t die running rich usually and codes will not be permanent in the duty cycle. But that’s just my guess.

Whatever it is, I know your cars isn’t done for.

Please report as soon as a certified place let’s you know what’s the issue.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 21:54

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Sounds like a great therapist and that’s an good plan.

Potentially, worst case, you will completely grenade it, like pistons shattering. Best case it won’t get any worse. The reality will probably be somewhere in the middle and it will slowly degrade until it’s useless.

Awesome! Do it!

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 21:54

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Well, if hot oil damaged a sensor, it could cause stuttering and power loss.

smobgirl > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 22:00

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Life is a lot more fun when you can laugh at nearly everything! I’m sorry about your car though.

DipodomysDeserti > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 22:13

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Check your oil and you’re coolant reservoir. If it’s muddy your hg is toast. Sounds like your head gasket.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 22:29

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I can’t help but believe that it blowing off the oil filter the other day is possibly related.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 22:31

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Mechanically I’m ambitious but rubbish. I wish I knew. But I’d bet at least a cup of coffee that the oppo hive mind can help once you’ve got a definitive diagnosis of borkedness or not.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 23:14

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Sorry to hear about Tucker! Not sounding good, but I’ll hope for the best for you....the question is, can you afford a new Smart right now...?

Things always like to happen at the worst possible time...

Mercedes Streeter > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 10/05/2016 at 23:19

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Technically no, technically yes. I have friends in strangely high places when it comes to smarts. I mean, they’re the very reason I’m driving one now. My parents stole a ton of the money I was using as a down payment, and my friends all helped me get the car anyway. So, I don’t doubt there’s an exit strategy in this, I was just kinda hoping it was going to happen on a next 3-6 months timeline, not within the next 30 days. lol

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Mercedes Streeter 10/05/2016 at 23:24

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Best of luck - will be watching for the update post!

Wagon, semi manual, not brown, turbo because volvo > Mercedes Streeter 10/06/2016 at 00:18

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I have heard of oil pressure regulators going out causing cars to blow the filter apart while leaving the baseplate attached. Did you find the filter that came off and was the flat spot on the top still flat? Is the flat spot on the current filter still flat?.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Mercedes Streeter 10/19/2016 at 14:00

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been gone for awhile, what happened to little car?

Mercedes Streeter > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 10/19/2016 at 14:53

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Cylinders 3 and 2 most likely have low compression. I’ve just acquired a loaded new 2016 Edition #1 smart, and will be picking it up on Saturday!

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Mercedes Streeter 10/19/2016 at 15:35

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sweet, looking forward to seeing. we got a family discount ford escape hybrid. it’s nice.