Schiller Park Complete Auto Service & Repair

The EGR valve is a notorious problem area on old cars. This pollution-control device is designed to redirect controlled amounts of exhaust gas back into the intake manifold so they can be burnt off and reduce NOx emissions. While the principle is simple, the high temperatures and soot can cause the valves to stick in either the open or closed positions. As a result, your engine can present starting, idling or drivability issues and create tailpipe pollution that is beyond the allowable limits for an emissions test. When Your EGR Valve Sticks Open Rough idle, especially when the car is cold — when your car feels like it is stumbling or about to stall The smell of fuel in the tailpipe exhaust — this is unburnt fuel passing through the exhaust A check engine light (CEL) or malfunction indicator light (MIL) on your dash An increase in fuel consumption compared to what you're used to seeing with your Mercedes A failed emissions test due to high level of hydrocarbons present in ... read more

Dashboard lights and error messages are often the banes of our existence as vehicle owners. A vague check engine light can mean a number of different things — those of us without scan tools or car repair knowledge can be left with a spinning head trying to figure out what's going on. If you or your company owns a Sprinter van, chances are you have experienced a start error or two. While these errors certainly can be causes of concern and point to issues that need to be addressed in your vehicle, there's no need to panic — a little education can go a long way. Here at Burdi Motorworks, we have extensive experience identifying, diagnosing and repairing these vehicles and thus know a thing or two about Sprinter start errors. Let's take a look at what these start errors might entail to get a better understanding of what's at play. Sprinter Van Start Errors: A Brief Overview If you or your drivers have ever turned the key in a Sprinter van only to see a message reading “st ... read more

Filter replacement is a staple of automobile maintenance. Whether it's your air filter, oil filter or fuel filter, it's important to check in at regular intervals to make sure your filter is doing its job and doing it well. A properly installed and cared for filter can help provide you with strong fuel efficiency, protect the environment and ensure reliable operation. One of the critical components of a Sprinter van is its diesel particulate filter. This part is something you'll want to keep track of as it will need to be swapped out for a new unit every now and then. Let's take a look at what you need to know for Mercedes Sprinter DPF replacement. Diesel Particulate Filters: What They Do and When to Swap Them Out On a Sprinter van, a diesel particulate filter prevents your vehicle's exhaust from shooting out excess black smoke, keeping the environment a bit healthier and helping people breathe cleaner air. Interestingly, at certain intervals when a great deal of soot has been collecte ... read more

Mercedes builds some of the most advanced vehicles on the road. To keep everything running smoothly, Mercedes' onboard computers monitor hundreds of individual systems, sensors and variables and make corrections as necessary to optimize performance, shifting, braking, traction, stability, safety and other vehicle parameters. When anything goes wrong, your Mercedes registers the error or deviation and produces a fault code. Fault codes happening within your Mercedes trigger dash lights (such as ‘Check Engine,' ‘Brake' or ‘Temperature'), but this often isn't enough information for the average Mercedes owner to properly diagnose the cause of the problem. You should always take these warning lights on your dash seriously and immediately bring your car or sprinter to a Mercedes specialist repair shop such as Burdi Motorworks here in Chicago whenever a warning light comes on. In some cases ... read more

Modern automobiles are chock full of amazing conveniences their traditional counterparts lack. GPS navigation, Bluetooth audio and improved safety mechanisms help provide comfort and convenience. However, improved technology also requires vigilance about vehicle maintenance, as these modern features are also connected to sensors that wear down and fail over time. If you suspect your Sprinter van needs a NOx sensor replacement, Burdi Motorworks is here to help you identify, diagnose and treat the issue. Let's learn a bit more about what this part does for your car and how to tell when it's time to replace it. NOx Sensors: A Brief Overview NOx stands for nitrogen oxide. An NOx sensor measures the amount of this compound distributed by your vehicle's exhaust. Nitrous oxide is an environmental pollutant and is a factor in the creation of acid rain and smog. Thus, NOx sensors help protect the environment from damage and monitor your engine's efficiency to ensure it is operating properly. NO ... read more