Problem 97 C230 (Need advice)
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From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
'97 C230
Problem 97 C230 (Need advice)
First of all, Hi all. it's my first time this forum.
I've got some help for the quote I got from the dealer. (any feedback)
97 C230 5spd Auto with 71,000km
1. Check engine light was on for quite some time (3-4 months at least). Since I didn't notice big difference in performance, didn't take the car to the dealership. Instead I went to local garage that I'm friends with and changed O2 sensor. CEL is stil on.
2. Last week, I was driving up hill and I tried to accelerate. The gear down shifted and then suddenly the car lost its power and started to stutter. From then the engine continuously vibrated rough till I get home. This lasted for about 15 min. when I got home, I just left the car over night and the symtom went away the next day. And I decided to go to dealer for check up and drove the car real gentally.
I took the car to the dealer last night and left it there. the service rep called me today that I needed the following:
1. They pulled a lot of codes related to misfire (100 or more code for this) and they're gonna do 72,000km service package (including regular check ups + spark plug replace, Air filter, oil change etc.) and Air Mass Flow Sensor needed to be replaced. They quoted me all this at $1,350 Canadian (~$1,000 US) Taxes included (15% tax here) @ $85/h labor. Is this reasonable? Air flow sensor is somewhere around $300, and it'll only take 30min maximum to change. So there goes $400. But the 72k km check up for more than $500? is this reasonable?
2. After this is done, they'll erase the code and see if it cures the symptom. If it doesn't, they need to replace Transmission control module (I don't know how much I'm looking at).
YJ
I've got some help for the quote I got from the dealer. (any feedback)
97 C230 5spd Auto with 71,000km
1. Check engine light was on for quite some time (3-4 months at least). Since I didn't notice big difference in performance, didn't take the car to the dealership. Instead I went to local garage that I'm friends with and changed O2 sensor. CEL is stil on.
2. Last week, I was driving up hill and I tried to accelerate. The gear down shifted and then suddenly the car lost its power and started to stutter. From then the engine continuously vibrated rough till I get home. This lasted for about 15 min. when I got home, I just left the car over night and the symtom went away the next day. And I decided to go to dealer for check up and drove the car real gentally.
I took the car to the dealer last night and left it there. the service rep called me today that I needed the following:
1. They pulled a lot of codes related to misfire (100 or more code for this) and they're gonna do 72,000km service package (including regular check ups + spark plug replace, Air filter, oil change etc.) and Air Mass Flow Sensor needed to be replaced. They quoted me all this at $1,350 Canadian (~$1,000 US) Taxes included (15% tax here) @ $85/h labor. Is this reasonable? Air flow sensor is somewhere around $300, and it'll only take 30min maximum to change. So there goes $400. But the 72k km check up for more than $500? is this reasonable?
2. After this is done, they'll erase the code and see if it cures the symptom. If it doesn't, they need to replace Transmission control module (I don't know how much I'm looking at).
YJ
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
'97 C230
Wondering if I'll willing to pay $1300 for the repair for a few hours and I decided not to leave it at dealer's hand.
I went to dealer after work and called off everything.
I wanted to took the car back but it was almost closing time and the service rep told me they took my car apart for diagonosing. I just paid for my diagonose and I'll pick it up tomorrow morning.
I'm going to do the following myself.
1. spark plugs (will cost around $50-60 for 4)
2. MAF sensor replace (I saw someone in this forum is selling it at $200 + a bit. easy to replace)
Then I'll reset the code (service rep told me only dealer can do it. Is it true? anyway it'll cost only less than 1 hour labor I presume).
All together it'll cost me $300 CAN for the parts plus $200 CAN labor at the dealer at most (including diagonose + reset codes) Total $500 where as dealer quoted me $1300 CAN for the same thing. (Well I didn't do oil change and air filter change though).
First is first,
1. What brand/type spark plugs are recommended for 97 C230?
2. Where can I get MAF sensor?
3. How much is the air filter?
I'll keep on searching myself as well.
Thanks
YJ
I went to dealer after work and called off everything.
I wanted to took the car back but it was almost closing time and the service rep told me they took my car apart for diagonosing. I just paid for my diagonose and I'll pick it up tomorrow morning.
I'm going to do the following myself.
1. spark plugs (will cost around $50-60 for 4)
2. MAF sensor replace (I saw someone in this forum is selling it at $200 + a bit. easy to replace)
Then I'll reset the code (service rep told me only dealer can do it. Is it true? anyway it'll cost only less than 1 hour labor I presume).
All together it'll cost me $300 CAN for the parts plus $200 CAN labor at the dealer at most (including diagonose + reset codes) Total $500 where as dealer quoted me $1300 CAN for the same thing. (Well I didn't do oil change and air filter change though).
First is first,
1. What brand/type spark plugs are recommended for 97 C230?
2. Where can I get MAF sensor?
3. How much is the air filter?
I'll keep on searching myself as well.
Thanks
YJ
Last edited by YJ97C230; Jun 2, 2004 at 12:36 AM.
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,781
Likes: 3
From: Boston
'05 A4 1.8TQM6
About ~$1000 is right 
for the service (if it's the major one that is) Major services run $500+ cuz it's changing out the plugs, fuel filter, tranny fluid, oil change, oil filter, air filter, little parts here and there, check this check that...all adds up. Usually half parts/half labor gets to 500+.
The dealer labor $85/hour is pretty decent, most are $90-$100/hour in the states (don't know if your $85 is CAN or US)
MAF sensor costs about $250 U.S. It takes about 5-10 minutes to change it out yourself.
Go with Bosch Spark's, they are good stuff.
Airfilter you can go to your dealer's part counter and get it or order it online with your MAF at the same time. Usually online is a few bux cheaper.
The CEL, you can shut off yourself. Pull the battery for about a min and plug it back in. CEL is gone and will come back if there really is an error and if there isn't, it'll stay off. Usually take a day or so for it to come back on if there is a problem. BUT beware, if you still have a stock radio, you will need your radio code to input because taking the battery off-line will reset the computer, clock and radio.
Good luck!
for the service (if it's the major one that is) Major services run $500+ cuz it's changing out the plugs, fuel filter, tranny fluid, oil change, oil filter, air filter, little parts here and there, check this check that...all adds up. Usually half parts/half labor gets to 500+.The dealer labor $85/hour is pretty decent, most are $90-$100/hour in the states (don't know if your $85 is CAN or US)
MAF sensor costs about $250 U.S. It takes about 5-10 minutes to change it out yourself.
Go with Bosch Spark's, they are good stuff.
Airfilter you can go to your dealer's part counter and get it or order it online with your MAF at the same time. Usually online is a few bux cheaper.
The CEL, you can shut off yourself. Pull the battery for about a min and plug it back in. CEL is gone and will come back if there really is an error and if there isn't, it'll stay off. Usually take a day or so for it to come back on if there is a problem. BUT beware, if you still have a stock radio, you will need your radio code to input because taking the battery off-line will reset the computer, clock and radio.
Good luck!
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 40
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From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
'97 C230
GDawgC220, thanks for feedback.
Have a few questions.
Where can I get the radio code? from owner's manual? from dealer?
Is maf sensor same as "Mas Air Meter"?
I could find Mas Air Meter in online parts store but not MAF sensor.
Can the Mercedes Codes be read by any OBD II diagnose reader?
What exactly 72,000km(45k miles) service include?
Sorry for too many questions
YJ
Have a few questions.
Where can I get the radio code? from owner's manual? from dealer?
Is maf sensor same as "Mas Air Meter"?
I could find Mas Air Meter in online parts store but not MAF sensor.
Can the Mercedes Codes be read by any OBD II diagnose reader?
What exactly 72,000km(45k miles) service include?
Sorry for too many questions
YJ
Last edited by YJ97C230; Jun 2, 2004 at 12:27 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,781
Likes: 3
From: Boston
'05 A4 1.8TQM6
Originally posted by YJ97C230
GDawgC220, thanks for feedback.
Have a few questions.
Where can get the radio code? from owner's manual? from dealer?
Is maf sensor same as "Mas Air Meter"?
I could find Mas Air Meter in online parts store but not MAF sensor.
YJ
GDawgC220, thanks for feedback.
Have a few questions.
Where can get the radio code? from owner's manual? from dealer?
Is maf sensor same as "Mas Air Meter"?
I could find Mas Air Meter in online parts store but not MAF sensor.
YJ
MAF is same as MAS...people call it either or.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
'97 C230
I'll gather some more info. about what I need to do and start doing it on the weekend one by one.
I hope I did the right thing to back out of the dealer and decided to do it myself.
I'm going to sell this ride within a month or two. So didn't feel comfortable to invest $1,300 + in repair. It needs to be fixed for sure before I sell it but not with that amount of $$$.
I hope I did the right thing to back out of the dealer and decided to do it myself.
I'm going to sell this ride within a month or two. So didn't feel comfortable to invest $1,300 + in repair. It needs to be fixed for sure before I sell it but not with that amount of $$$.
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Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
'97 C230
Nothing wrong with the car itself (well, something wrong with it at the moment ).
There's a bad memory regarding how we (my family) happen to posess this car and it reminds us of that. So just wanted to get it out of sight.
on top of that, C230 is not too practical in winter in Canada (6 months of snow) since it's RWD and my father(retired, 65) doesn't seem to handle it very well. That's why it's got only 72,000km in 7yrs. That's about 6.5k miles/yr.
Without this memory, I would've kept it for myself, since I just sold my other car 2 weeks ago and need a replacement.
).There's a bad memory regarding how we (my family) happen to posess this car and it reminds us of that. So just wanted to get it out of sight.
on top of that, C230 is not too practical in winter in Canada (6 months of snow) since it's RWD and my father(retired, 65) doesn't seem to handle it very well. That's why it's got only 72,000km in 7yrs. That's about 6.5k miles/yr.
Without this memory, I would've kept it for myself, since I just sold my other car 2 weeks ago and need a replacement.
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 73
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From: Oakville
C220
I'm not sure if the 97 still came with the OVP, I'm pretty sure the 98 didn't have it, but not sure about the 97.
See if you have one:
In the engine bay, passenger side towards the windshield.
There is a black plastic cover. Lift the cover and right in the middle you will find it with a fuse on top.
See if you have one:
In the engine bay, passenger side towards the windshield.
There is a black plastic cover. Lift the cover and right in the middle you will find it with a fuse on top.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 40
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From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
'97 C230
Spark plugs replace was done, finally.
Took the engine cover off, pull the boot after removing 2 ignition coil boxes. Took the old plugs out, put new ones in. Disconnected the - terminal of the battery, reconnected. CEL went off. But after about 200km of driving, it came back on.
Now it's time for MAF sensor.
YJ
Took the engine cover off, pull the boot after removing 2 ignition coil boxes. Took the old plugs out, put new ones in. Disconnected the - terminal of the battery, reconnected. CEL went off. But after about 200km of driving, it came back on.
Now it's time for MAF sensor.
YJ
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 40
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From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
'97 C230
I don't know exactly what it is or where it is, or even my car has it. (I'm newbie too)
I've been searching through this forum rigorously to see if other people experienced same problem I'm having now.
search "OVP" then it'll come up many threads about it.
I've been searching through this forum rigorously to see if other people experienced same problem I'm having now.
search "OVP" then it'll come up many threads about it.
