What is the W/S button above Gearshift??? ( and MAF powerloss weirdness! ) Plz read.

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Mar 13, 2006 | 01:49 PM

sidshock

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What is the W/S button above Gearshift??? ( and MAF powerloss weirdness! ) Plz read.

Hi, I have an automatic c230K 2002
Didn't get the manual with it.

I am guessing that this button is for "winter" "summer" mode.
what is the proper way to use it?
ie: when it is below zero? or when there is snow??
what does it exactly change...
when I push it, the S and W show up respectively on the dash
above the numbers showing me what gear I am in.

Also, when winter first hit, and I changed to the "W" mode (hoping this
is for winter!

) I got a check engine light a couple days later, and lost all my power!
I went the the dealer, he said it was the MAF and wanted $800 and change for the part and labour (canadian).
I said NO WAY>!!
I ordered it online for a quarter of the price recently. But before I put it in, I changed back to the "S" mode, and about 1-2 days later, ALL my power came back!!! I'm wondering if maybe in the "W" mode it doesn't regulate right and sets off the Check Engine Light/MAF and kills my power??? or maybe the warmer weather now, my MAF works right? I dunno...
I put in the NEW MAF I ordered today, so I am about to go try it, but I would love some input. Also, the Engine Light is still on, but I was told it needs to be RESET once it is lit.!
I was told there is a way to do it myself and get codes myself by getting the right software and connector and a laptop. I'd like to do this as the dealer will charge me $105 just to pull the code and reset the error, etc... so what kind of software is it? ( name of it) and where can I buy the interface connector??

Thanks for reading ALL of this!

hehe

Last edited by sidshock; Mar 13, 2006 at 01:51 PM.

Mar 13, 2006 | 02:14 PM

pstylingmikey

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Heres the quote from my owners manual.

Reverse Gear
"Dependant on the program mode selector switch position "S" or "W" the maximum speed in the reverse gear is different. However, it is not possible to change the program mode while in reverse"

so one will let u reverse faster then the other. I THINK.. S is faster then W.

Mar 13, 2006 | 02:26 PM

MHPHOCKEY

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From: Los Angeles

2014 Audi S5 Cabriolet 3.0T

Summer/Winter mode

Mar 13, 2006 | 04:32 PM

sidshock

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oki summer winter it is...
but is there specifics on when which should be enganged??
ie: Temperature below Zero
or when there is snow? , etc..

And what is the Specific difference?
ie: Better traction control reaction ? More/less torque?

Mar 13, 2006 | 04:38 PM

tifosiv122

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From: New Jersey

SLS AMG | S65 AMG | GL550

Snow or ice. It makes the car start in second gear instead of first.

Erik

Mar 13, 2006 | 05:07 PM

JDM

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From: oregon

2011 C300

tifosiv122 is correct, it makes the trans start in 2nd so you don't slip the rear wheels in icy conditions. Has No affect on your maf. I had to replace my maf because I contaminated it with decarbon spray. (stupid) The car had to relearn the new sensor, so it ran just as poorly with the new one as it did the old for about 5 min. I just let it idle for a bit, check light went out, car started running correctly again. Dealer recommends replacing the air filters at the same time in case theres is a contaminant in them.. Just what sort, I dont know..mine was user error.

Last edited by JDM; Mar 13, 2006 at 05:09 PM. Reason: typo

Mar 13, 2006 | 05:47 PM

LowCaliTi

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From: nJ/pHiLLy/nY

Audi 225 TT.w203 sedan.Bmw 318tiCali.Ed.VW Jetta vr6

as stated above....W- starts car in 2nd gear.........S- starts car in 1st gear as far as under/over freezing temp.

use your best judgement! as far as MAF, dont think W and S mode interfere with it. how is your car after instalation of new MAF >???

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Mar 14, 2006 | 12:51 PM

sidshock

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thanks guys for the great responses...
JDM:
so your check engine light went out after a bit of use by itself???

LowcaliTi:
ahha,, funny u ask...
ok, I got it all in fine, and went off riding and it still seemed a bit off, etc...
so after about 30MIN, I thought to myself, OH SNAP!!! did I re-connect the harness going to the MAF, sure enough, I DIDN'T!! So I was already parked home, and too lazy to go out and try it again, so I will find out later on today...
I think it's one of my stupidest moments, but I'm sure I'll find a way to top it!

Mar 14, 2006 | 03:17 PM

#10

sidshock

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ok, I just test drove it for 20 min or so...
went thru a car wash too...

Check engine light stays on still...
also, it SEEMS to have the power, but I could swear before when I would floor it from standing still the back wheels would spin out just a tad, and my traction control would kick in, and it didn't this time, so I dunno...
is the engine light supposed to go off by itself when all is good??
The dealer told me that they need the "RESET" the error code once it is thrown. Again, this is on an '02 c230K.
btw: If my dealer said it is my MAF by the error code he got, what else could it be???

Mar 14, 2006 | 04:40 PM

#11

Trekman

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From: Bay Area SF

Silver 2002 C32, Silver 2006 CLK 350

the dealer is correct you have to reset your car. Go to your local auto parts place and buy a OBD 2 code reader or rent one. about $90 us, plug it in. look above your brakes you will see the plug where the obd 2 code reader plugs in. dont start the car. just turn it on with out starting your car. it should show you all the codes that has all the problem. reset it and your done. if it comes back then re read the code and fix it.

Mar 14, 2006 | 08:00 PM

#12

JDM

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From: oregon

2011 C300

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidshock

..Yes, mine reset itself several times while I was dealing with it. At first, I tried to clean my original sensor with an alcohol solution, reistalled the sensor, check light would come back on, car would run like crap..after about three attempts, I replaced the sensor, same thing, check light, ran like crap, barely ran actually, but as minuits passed it got a little better, and still better.I let it run at idle for a bit, check light went off, car straightened out, fine ever since. I am willing to bet my light was on for a miss fire detection, once the miss fire is gone, the light goes out. O2 sensors do the same thing. If one starts failing, the light comes on, but o2's will often times start working again temporarily, the check light will turn back off. If a fault is detected that involves a direct short, the light will not reset itself. A direct short would be like a speed sensor,or even an O2 that is completely dead. Multiple codes being set by various sensors will also make it unlikely to reset itself. Wish you well.

Mar 14, 2006 | 10:37 PM

#13

LowCaliTi

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From: nJ/pHiLLy/nY

Audi 225 TT.w203 sedan.Bmw 318tiCali.Ed.VW Jetta vr6

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidshock

(you should have had your battery unhooked while working on MAF or anything eletrical) but if not....
unhook your battery for 30 sec.-1 min then hook it back up. (then read battery fault list, at top of w203 threads before you start a thread saying you unhooked your battery and a bunch of stuff dosent work.

) if MAF was the problem it should go off and stay off after you reconnect battery. hope this helps!

Mar 15, 2006 | 06:13 PM

#14

sidshock

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U sure LowcaliTi??
I heard that taking tha battery off and on does not reset the codes???

Maybe I was wrong..

JDM:

What year is your car? I am getting mixed answers, someone says the dealer or I with an OBD II Reader need the reset the codes, but you say u didn't have to??

Yeah, it might also be ANOTHER code now that's keeping it on, who knows...
grrr..

Mar 15, 2006 | 06:29 PM

#15

JDM

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From: oregon

2011 C300

Mines an '01. And as I mentioned, I'm quite certain that had I actually retrieved the code, it would have related to either the missfiring, or the MAF. I tell you no fibbs, it cleared itself several times. Depending on the fault, many cars will turn off the light once the computer no longer see's a fault. It still may keep it in a "history" file though. If the Maf doesnt fix the car, or it seems to but the light remains lit, I'd go and at least have it diagnosed. Mine was simple because I broke it, and knew exactly what was wrong. The cars are very complex, as you know, and will throw you a curve ball in a hurry.

Last edited by JDM; Mar 15, 2006 at 06:34 PM. Reason: left out a point