Check engine idiot light?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18
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From: Offutt AFB, NE
1997 C280 Sports
Check engine idiot light?
Just picked up my 97 C280 sport yesterday, and drove home 200 miles from Dallas with no problems at all. Then today the check engine light came on with no real explanation. I was wondering if that light popped on when you needed 'scheduled maintenance', and it was just a stupid oil change thing, or is it a real problem? None of the mechanics have a MBz OBD-II module here. Car runs strong, spools to redline and everything else. Any help is appreciated.
(845)321-6660
(845)321-6660
Senior Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 332
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From: LI, NY
02 W163, 84 W123, 03 E39, 98 E39
CEL
CEL can come on for any number of reasons. The only one I know of that can solve itself, is if the gas cap is not put on correctly. When re-tightened, the CEL I believe goes out. Other reasons for the CEL are error codes from sensors, and these need to be re-set by the OBD II tool. Common sensor related CEL problems are the O2 sensor or the Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF).
It's a shame you are so far from a MB mecanic.
It's a shame you are so far from a MB mecanic.
Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
98 MB C280
hey, aa common german car problem. check with autozone, it's a free check for obd II cars. 96 and up really. so they'll tell you. might be the MAF. but not sure. if it runs fine (gives normal mpg's and runs strong) and too costly to fix, i'm a just let the light burn out. hahahaha
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Offutt AFB, NE
1997 C280 Sports
Yeah, living on a military base in the middle of the desert is no good for european cars. Autozone didn't have the MBz ODB-II jack either. Probably the MAFS.. Only thing that was wierd was when I accerate hard from a stop, I hear a nice pop noise coming from the front left side of the car, it sounds like a flap being actuated or something. Is there some sort of butterfly valve on the intake system that shuts or opens or something when you slam the throttle? Thanks again.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1
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From: Crownsville, MD
2000 C230 Kompressor
I had a similar problem when I bought my used C230K - Autozone was able to give me the fault code after plugging into the port above the right diver's knee location - then, went to http://www.alldatadiy.com/ - looked up the error code and it pointed me to exactly where the problem was - a disconnected vacuum line. Alldata does have a subscription fee of $24.95 per year - I have all my cars registered and the site provides excellent technical data. Good luck
Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 91
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C36
This is a pretty good place for free code lookup:
OBDD II codes
OBDD II codes
