TBS

I would appreciate some feedback on the best step forward. I drive a C200K which is coming to 4 years old (come June 2006). The mileage clocked to date is 28,000 km only. Recently, the engine light came on when the car throttled. The throttle has since disappeared. Anyway, I went to Mercedes Benz workshop to check and was advised to change spark plugs, which I did. After 7 days the engine light came on again when the car throttled while idling at traffic light. Went back to workshop again and the mechanic deleted the error and said there was nothing wrong. After another 20 days, the engine light came on again. Went back to workshop and was informed that oil was leaking from the cam shaft (don’t understand). Hence must change the following parts (a) engine wire harness, (b) oxygen sensor (upstream), (c) cam shaft adjustment and (d) cable plugs.

Since the diagnosis, there is no throttling when idling (but engine light still on). My question: Is their diagnosis correct? The car appears too new to have to change the engine wire harness. The mechanic said that the engine wire harness must be changed because they are coated with oil and the sensor must also change accordingly. The cable plugs, I think is for the engine wire harness. Plus labour, all these is going to cost me a lot of money. Hence, I appreciate advice from persons with similar experiences.

SeaCoupe

TBS,

I have been exactly where you where. A dealership (who is now a sponsor) did a Service A on my car. During the service, the oil ran down the harnes to the o2 sensor. Ruining the sending unit on the sensor. When they replaced the sensor, they also replaced that section of harnes.

I would imagine you are also getting very bad mileage. Find where you leak is. Fix that, do replace the sensor and harness. Then drive it. I am not too familiar with your engine layout, but I have to assume that spark plug wires can be cleaned up and reused.

Does someone here know the max impedence a plug wire can exhibit before being called faulty?

Ed

TBS

emrliquidlife,
Thank you for your input. May I know whether the engine wire harness can be changed by affected section or in full set.

I have been observing - since the last posting, the car throttled twice when idling at traffic lights. Then I switched off the engine and restarted the car, the throttle disappeared. Can any one explain what actually happen? Thank you

tommy

I had the exact same thing happen to me.

My car is 4 years old as well, though with much more mileage. Everything you say is about a mirror image of my problem. They replaced the entire harness; I don't think I'd want to monkey around with replacing a part of it, but that's just me.

And yes, it was a lot of money in labor.

mctwin2kman

I just don't get it. Why would the harness in the engine compartment go bad due to oil being on it? I mean wouldn't the wires be designed to be able to have oil on them since they are in the engine compartment? Also what does the oil do to the wires? Maybe I am crazy but oil has been used in engines for a long long time and does happen to leak once in a while. So why on earth would you put wiring in a car that can not withstand oil, heat, other fluids being on it? Also the O2 sensor is supposed to be designed to withstand some extremes so why on gods green earth does Oil bother it? Is MB getting that friggin cheap that this stuff causes damage? My 20 year old 190E has had oil all over its wiring and O2 sensor, yet everything still functions as it should!

slkfans

Guys,

Guess what ? It happened to me today...The mechanic discovered that the wire harness was filled with oil. I am puzzled as my vehicle has been consuming heaps of petrol lately...The leaks stretch over to the O2 sensor.

My vehicle is only 16 months old

Sending in my car for service on Monday... to replace the entire wire harness.

TBS

My mechanic informed me that oil was leaking from the camshaft magnet gear and it had flowed down the wire harness right to other parts of the car connected by the wire harness. Got the wire harness (USD400) and camshaft magnet gear (USD 45) replaced plus the O2 sensor (USD165) which was also affected.

To prevent future incident, he has fixed a short camshaft cable (USD35)to "bridge" the camshaft magnet gear to the wire harness (instead of wire harness being connected directly to the camshaft magnet gear) for purpose of buffering against future oil leak. Should there be a oil leak, one needs to replace the short camshaft cable while the rest of the wire harness will remain intact.

My mechanic informed me that this is a common problem with Compressor car.

slkfans

TBS,

My MB mechanic replaces the camshaft magnet gear as well as the entire ECU. There was this camshaft cable installed as a preventive measure, however, the wire hardness and the O2 sensor was not even touched or replaced....

As a matter of fact, me really giving up hope on kompressor cars....

WyattEarp

I finally sold mine after spending about 6 thousands dollars in repairs and I did not get much for it at all 2002 with 72000 miles. Here are the pictures of the two benzes side by side and two hours later its new sibling 325i. I forgot to give my wife a sign that said WyattEarp for Authenticity purposes.

WyattEarp

Now I know most of you do not want to hear this but the 2002 Kompressor, nor the 2006 Sport Sedan can hold a candle to the 325i it is truly the ultimate driving machine to date, I'm sure a ferrari is much better. The 325i with sport suspension turns like a freaking go-kart, the sound system is two or threefold better, the bluetooth works flawlessly, the comfot access (keyless entry and start) is addicting and hard to live with when I go back to the benz. Both cars are priced about evenly 32500 for the benz and 35,300 for the bmw. Needless to say my next car to replace the benz will be an smg 550i unless the new w204 is truly impressive. oh I forgot to mention the voice command and voice dialing what is mercedes waiting for.

TA-9FF

Stuff like this makes me def want to get the extended warranty once I'm near 50k miles.....

WyattEarp

Get it or you will regret it.

SeaCoupe

Hmm, I drove the 325, and I thought it was a dog. Quite a bit of lag on throttle. Yes, the suspension is nice.

WyattEarp

nah the 02 coupe with the pulley just has an inordinate amount of torque it is slower than the 325. You are talking the 06 model, right? Prior to 06 the 325 had a different engine.

Gentlemanjim

HI neighbor. I live in Boynton beach. Traded my 2005 Z4 3.0 for the C230 2006 and love it. Down on power for certain, but a sweet ride. My wife's 2006 Volvo S60 sport package 2.5 T blows it away, but can't handle as well. You know front wheel, drive torque steer, softer suspension.

I considered the BMW 325i as well couldn't get the numbers $$ right. I already had a 330Ci and the Z4 so I was ready for a change. Glad you like the 325. As I always say there are no bad cars anymore, just some better than others. If I was willing to committ the dinaro I would get either a C350 Sport or CLK 350 as My primary ride and give the C230 to my bride. Maybe I'll just do that. Soon.

Great photos of the two/three.

Gentlemanjim

BTW, which one of you dirves which vehicle??

WyattEarp

Here's the twist: Relaxing ride, long trip, night out c230. Turns, highway ramps, in and out of traffic 325i.

She drives the BMW but I steal it often

Gentlemanjim

What is Mercedes Benz Owners Gun Club?

WyattEarp

Mercedes Benz Owners who support in word and deed the second ammendment of the constitution.

tmak26b

do a search on my name and read my last thread. My car is in the shop for the same exact job, I only had intermitten starting problem. They are wearing the harness down right now to rebuild it, they said this is getting more common on these cars. It's just a design flaw.

The Mercedes has good steering wheel, but the car's handling isnt that great. They lean all over the road, the 3 series will eat the Mercedes easily. I am bias, but I do like the C230K engine. It's nice to have all the power and stioll get 26mpg cruising

dohannes

I have decent mechanical ability. Does anyone know if these repairs can be done at home? Also, does anyone have links or pdf's showing diagrams of where the cam sensor and wiring harness are located?

Appreciate the help.

Dave

C230Krarana

I am working on the same project. 2002 C230K, oil leaking out of the magnet cam adjuster. Took it to an independent service center. They wanted to replace the whole wire harness, ECU, cam adjuster, o2s, and lots of labor. about $4500 for a $10,000 dollar car. So I am looking into that my self. Coming out of retirement to fix my own car.
Plan:
1. remove wire harneses contaminated in oil. place in bucket. file bucket with dish washer soap and stirr until water becomes nasty.
2. remove ECU and inspect it for oil. remove cover and look inside for oil.
3. check all plugs for all sensors for oil and if found remove harnes for cleaning. clean socket of senor if not damaged.

LOTS OF WORK or sell my C and get a ford.

Rommel

dohannes

That sounds pretty thorough. Is there a book as to tell you where the ECU and all the connectors to the wiring harness are? Or to tell you how to remove the wiring harness?

I've been disconnecting every connector I can find off the wiring harness and spraying electrical connection cleaner and then blowing it out with pressurized air duster and then reconnecting. I just don't know if I've gotten them all.

Now I'm getting trouble codes P0140 & P0136.

Got any ideas?

Dave

jtjtjt

i had the same problem.

so ii had the mechanic clean the oil and change the magnet. he also cleaned up the cu and put in an new ecu.

car drives fine now (after changing around 4 02 sensors) but im still waiting cuz i know that dam lights gona *** on.

C230 Sport Coup

A new ECU? I didn't think that was possible.
It's often been said you can't just drop a new ECU in and have the car run,
keeps the car theives at bay.
I'll be looking at this....preventively speaking.
can someone post a pic of the location of the camshaft magnet?