I have an 03 6speed. From time to time I would be driving along under 40mph, constant speed, and would experiance a momentary power loss. It was usually very short in duration. It only happened occasionaly. I told my dealer. They could never get it to repeat while in for service. I had also reported the noise in the drivetrain area (sounded like lifters) the dealer never found anything.

The power losses have gotten more frequent and more severe and the lifter noises louder. I had this checked again at my dealer and they found that I have a flat spot on the rear cam shaft. The service rep stated that there had been a recall on some of the 03's. Mine was not in the recall.

They are now replacing the cam shaft under warranty. They also found that my radiator was developing a leak and replaced it under warranty as well.

Has anyone else had this problem?

 

I too have noticed an occasional powerloss, only for a 1-2 seconds or something. How long was the duration of your power loss and how do you find out if your vehicle is affected by the recall/TSB?

 

The power loss is just as you say, 1-2 seconds and everything goes back to normal. I will have to check with my service rep to find out about the TSB.

 

Mine does that as well. It seems like before the car is fully warmed up and always under 2500rpm.

 

When you are saying a powerloss, do you all mean that the engine basically shuts off, or is it something like when you are driving around, or under 40 MPH your RPM's jump back and forth with out any acceleration on your part?

 

Do any of you guys have the AC on when this happens? Cause I have noticed this same thing, but have determined it's the AC compressor cutting in & out. The car has a sudden loss in power for a sec at low RPM at this time. It's just luck that you can catch it at the right time. It happend on an auto CLS I had also. Only low rpm below 40mph.

 

It feels like the fuel shuts off to the engine for 1-2 seconds. Then full power.

 

This is definately not A/C related. It never happened with my '01 A/T CLS.

 

Flat spot on a camshaft.... that would be more of a permanent problem, happening consistently, not intermittently.

 

i'll have to drive around some w/ the a/c on and with the a/c off to see if that makes a difference. it only happens to me once every couple days, but then again, i don't drive that many miles.

 

I never heard of a TSB or recall for that camshaft. Just the timing chain tensioner/waterpump.

 

Ive felt that little "stumble" as well. Ive read about this from several ppl on here and coincidentally they have all had 6 speeds. So is it possible its the heavy dual mass flywheel losing/gaining momentum?? 'Cuz I dont know about you guys that feel it too but it happens when I barely push the gas and am just trying to maintain a constant speed, and yes, it pretty much only happens around 40 MPH. Its weird

just a thought

 

I think its odd because the only time i can really tell this is happening is if my cruise control is on around 40 MPH

 

what gear are you cruising in at 40mph?

 

Can't be only 6 speeds cause I felt it in the auto.

 

This “stumble” happens to me nearly every day in the morning and again on the way home from work.
I don’t think it’s a problem or defect.
Always on the same road and about the same distance from when I start the car.
It’s only noticeable if you’re slightly on the gas when it happens.
I don’t remember my Slush box 2001 CLS which I drove for 2-years ever doing it.
I think it’s some adjustment that the engine makes after it’s up to temperature or something.
It scared me the first few times it happened because it almost feels like the clutch is slipping, but now I almost expect it.

 

3rd or 4th

 

i had an auto 99 that did that. I would be at WOT and the engine will feel like the fuel was cut off for a split second. Rpms would not drop, nothing would happen, and the car would still keep pulling once the whole thing ended.

 

My automatic CL-S would do that in the morning. Almost always at 40MPH or so and almost always at the same spot in the road (same distance from home).

 

A "flat spot" on the cam wouldn't cause an intermittentproblem. You'd feel it always. I have a very good feeling when you get your car back that you'll still experience the "problem" you are describing.

 

Yeah, you guys are right (Shawn & Steve)...Now that I think about it, it does happen in the same place/distance from where I start when I go to work or leave from work. Strange


edit: I was beginning to think there was electronic interference at those spots or something in the road that was causing it