C-Class (W203) 2001-2007, C160, C180, C200, C220, C230, C240, C270, C280, C300, C320, C230K, C350, Coupe

M111 Throwing Codes......

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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 10:24 PM
  #1  
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From: Charleston, SC
C230 Kompressor Sport Coupe
M111 Throwing Codes......

heres the deal- my 02 C230K is throwing a bunch of codes.... inconsistently.... it started throwing a P0301 code about once a week, which i figured was random until it happened the third time... then, i was going down the highway after driveing over 80+ miles, went to pass someone, floored my engine, and the engine had a loss of power, it sounded like a subaru (that whole go-kart sound of losing a cylinder/misfiring that subaru's have at low RPMs), so i limped it home and drew codes P0301 and P0304. then, throughout the day, i've drawn codes for all four cylinders at once, each individually, and even a random occourance of a P0340, cam position sensor circuit malfunction.... now, if the CPS was fubared, would it not cause the engine to have rough running and misfires?

heres the other deal.... if i drive it around the block, and bring it to higher RPM's (over 3500 rpm), it'll act like its starved of fuel.... falling on its face and throttle becomes unresponsive, it'll start to fall on its face unless i let it idle for a while, then i can rnurse it back to its parking spot...

being as how i've put 50,000+ miles on it without changing fuel filter, i'd assume it was a clogged fuel filter that finally clogged solid. however- i cant find the filter, its not in the engine bay. anyone give me a hint as to where its at?

Note: i'm not completely helpless, i can find the fuel filter on my own... but i was thinking of limping it to base tomorrow and sticking it on the lift and looking for the fuel filter assy, however- if someone were to clue me in, it simply saves me the time, and maybe i can simply do it in my driveway.

any other insight is much appreciated, as i am in the military, they dont take "my car broke" excuses very well!
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 11:06 PM
  #2  
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From: NYC / Northern NJ
02' C230 Coupe & 92' 190e 2.6
check your fuel pumps mine just went and it did almost everything your car did
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Old Nov 11, 2008 | 03:40 AM
  #3  
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
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Originally Posted by kmancoupe230
check your fuel pumps mine just went and it did almost everything your car did
Pump & filter at rear after tank
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Old Nov 11, 2008 | 06:50 AM
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'02 CL203 M111
Would a clogged cat cause a misfire?

Check also coil packs.
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Old Nov 11, 2008 | 07:53 AM
  #5  
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2003 C-Class Sportcoupe
Fuel filter is underneath the car next to the rear sway bar. It's about the size of a tin can.
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Old Nov 11, 2008 | 08:42 AM
  #6  
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From: NYC / Northern NJ
02' C230 Coupe & 92' 190e 2.6
your fuel pumps are underneath your back seats
there are two plates there that you remove they are curcular and pm me your vin ill check wht the part numbers are also a clogged fuel filter may cause what you are are talking about too but its most likely the fuel pumps
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Old Nov 11, 2008 | 10:38 AM
  #7  
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From: SE PA
2001 C320
Originally Posted by spyderpig
Would a clogged cat cause a misfire?

Check also coil packs.
Yes, it has happened to me, but I have a C320. Look up the thread "Transmission Ticking". I know, turns out it had nothing to do with the transmission, but actually the secondary cat. The internals came loose and were moving around in there causing it to block up. I got it fixed at the dealership under the EPA warranty.
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Old Nov 11, 2008 | 10:54 AM
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50k miles is incredibly early for a fuel filter to be clogged.

Its a 45 minute fix. Somewhere on the site is a DIY for getting it done. Or it may be on the install university site.

E
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Old Nov 11, 2008 | 03:08 PM
  #9  
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Dude,
Isn't P0301 a misfire code?
Your description matches the failure of a coil pack to the tee.
At 1st it's not bad enough that the computer throws a code, but you feel it a little. Then you get the CEL and if you turn the engine off and on it goes away, but the minute you get your foot into it, it CEL's and runs on 3 cylinders. So, you try to baby it, but it gets worse and eventually it won't work at all.

What happens is you get a misfire due to the bad CP, and the computer stops sending fuel to that cylinder for smog purposes. (Unburned Hydrocarbons and all)

Cost, about 40 buck shipped to your door.
And in fact my 1st one went bad at 55K miles.

This is an easy fix. Fuel filter isn't even recommended till 60K miles, and most people here had ended up waiting longer than that without any problems unless you fill up somewhere that throws dirt in the tank.

FYI- After the 1st CP went bad, then 2nd one went around 80K.
I didn't feel like going to the dealer, since the part is only like 40 bucks even though it was covered under the extended warranty.
I replaced the bad one, and then decided to do the remaining 2 at my own expense. The dealer will only replace them one at a time.

Like clockwork at 110K miles, the one the dealer replaced at 55K went bad.
I tried using one of the ones that I had pulled that was still good at 80K and it only lasted like a less than 1K and the 2nd one same thing.

NOW I keep an NEW spare CP in the spare wheel well. As you have found out, it's not much fun driving on 3 cylinders, and likely not good for the car. I had to drive from SLO to san jose like that once.
It's a 5 minute fix, pull the red cover, unplug the connector, 2 bolts, and replace.

Moral of the story seems to be, that these stupid parts have a finite life span and require regular replacement. (Though Ed claims he's never replaced his....hmmmmm)
The good news is that a complete set if only like $140 bucks.
Maybe just replace them every time you do the plugs.
On our engines, they just get cooked sitting on top of the head.

Replace them all, or buy 2 and keep one in the trunk along with some tools.
(and even if you replace them all, keep a spare in the car)

Since you are getting codes on more than one cylinder I would do them all at once!! And maybe throw a new set of plugs in while I was at it.
Do the plugs with the engine cold and don't over torque as you're going into aluminum .

Then see if the C0340 comes back. I think I might have had that too...but not after I replaced the CP's.


PS> If you move the offending CP from cyl. 1 to cyl 2 and the error moves to cyl. 2 you will know for certain that it's the CP.

Originally Posted by kompressor85
heres the deal- my 02 C230K is throwing a bunch of codes.... inconsistently.... it started throwing a P0301 code about once a week, which i figured was random until it happened the third time... then, i was going down the highway after driveing over 80+ miles, went to pass someone, floored my engine, and the engine had a loss of power, it sounded like a subaru (that whole go-kart sound of losing a cylinder/misfiring that subaru's have at low RPMs), so i limped it home and drew codes P0301 and P0304. then, throughout the day, i've drawn codes for all four cylinders at once, each individually, and even a random occourance of a P0340, cam position sensor circuit malfunction.... now, if the CPS was fubared, would it not cause the engine to have rough running and misfires?

heres the other deal.... if i drive it around the block, and bring it to higher RPM's (over 3500 rpm), it'll act like its starved of fuel.... falling on its face and throttle becomes unresponsive, it'll start to fall on its face unless i let it idle for a while, then i can rnurse it back to its parking spot...

being as how i've put 50,000+ miles on it without changing fuel filter, i'd assume it was a clogged fuel filter that finally clogged solid. however- i cant find the filter, its not in the engine bay. anyone give me a hint as to where its at?

Note: i'm not completely helpless, i can find the fuel filter on my own... but i was thinking of limping it to base tomorrow and sticking it on the lift and looking for the fuel filter assy, however- if someone were to clue me in, it simply saves me the time, and maybe i can simply do it in my driveway.

any other insight is much appreciated, as i am in the military, they dont take "my car broke" excuses very well!

Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Nov 11, 2008 at 03:19 PM.
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Old Nov 11, 2008 | 04:47 PM
  #10  
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From: Pasadena, CA
2002 C230K, 2013 BMW 328, 2015 BMW X5
Originally Posted by C230 Sport Coup
Dude,
Isn't P0301 a misfire code?
Your description matches the failure of a coil pack to the tee.
At 1st it's not bad enough that the computer throws a code, but you feel it a little. Then you get the CEL and if you turn the engine off and on it goes away, but the minute you get your foot into it, it CEL's and runs on 3 cylinders. So, you try to baby it, but it gets worse and eventually it won't work at all.

What happens is you get a misfire due to the bad CP, and the computer stops sending fuel to that cylinder for smog purposes. (Unburned Hydrocarbons and all)

Cost, about 40 buck shipped to your door.
And in fact my 1st one went bad at 55K miles.

This is an easy fix. Fuel filter isn't even recommended till 60K miles, and most people here had ended up waiting longer than that without any problems unless you fill up somewhere that throws dirt in the tank.

FYI- After the 1st CP went bad, then 2nd one went around 80K.
I didn't feel like going to the dealer, since the part is only like 40 bucks even though it was covered under the extended warranty.
I replaced the bad one, and then decided to do the remaining 2 at my own expense. The dealer will only replace them one at a time.

Like clockwork at 110K miles, the one the dealer replaced at 55K went bad.
I tried using one of the ones that I had pulled that was still good at 80K and it only lasted like a less than 1K and the 2nd one same thing.

NOW I keep an NEW spare CP in the spare wheel well. As you have found out, it's not much fun driving on 3 cylinders, and likely not good for the car. I had to drive from SLO to san jose like that once.
It's a 5 minute fix, pull the red cover, unplug the connector, 2 bolts, and replace.

Moral of the story seems to be, that these stupid parts have a finite life span and require regular replacement. (Though Ed claims he's never replaced his....hmmmmm)
The good news is that a complete set if only like $140 bucks.
Maybe just replace them every time you do the plugs.
On our engines, they just get cooked sitting on top of the head.

Replace them all, or buy 2 and keep one in the trunk along with some tools.
(and even if you replace them all, keep a spare in the car)

Since you are getting codes on more than one cylinder I would do them all at once!! And maybe throw a new set of plugs in while I was at it.
Do the plugs with the engine cold and don't over torque as you're going into aluminum .

Then see if the C0340 comes back. I think I might have had that too...but not after I replaced the CP's.


PS> If you move the offending CP from cyl. 1 to cyl 2 and the error moves to cyl. 2 you will know for certain that it's the CP.
Ed, who is Ed?

Honestly, I didn't have a coilpack go bad until recently. I'm at 170k miles and I have only replaced one. Mine was $43 with tax.

E
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Old Nov 11, 2008 | 06:50 PM
  #11  
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I don't know how you did it.
I've had 5 fail.

And yeh, who IS Ed anyway?
Does anyone really know?

he he
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Old Nov 12, 2008 | 01:22 AM
  #12  
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From: NorCal
'02 CL203 M111
I'm lucky I haven't change one yet at 70k. Now I might take one step ahead and get a set in the trunk. BTW where the heck did you find the place that sells the complete set of 4 ? or you just buy 4 of them? ... wouldn't that cheap though.
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Old Nov 12, 2008 | 03:23 PM
  #13  
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From: Charleston, SC
C230 Kompressor Sport Coupe
Originally Posted by emrliquidlife
50k miles is incredibly early for a fuel filter to be clogged.
i had meant that i put 50K on the car myself, besides the 34K it had on it when i purchased it....

i found out the problem, replaced the fuel filter and she purrs like a kitten again. when i took the filter off, it drained out jet black goo for about twenty five minutes.... yeah. 93,000 miles, at 25 mpg, equals out to that one little filter catching sediment in over 3700 gallons of fuel....

i had a haunch (hunch?) that it was not the coil packs due to the random and complete misfiring of all cylinders. one time i'd drive it and it'd pull a P0301, another time P0302, P0304, another time P0303, P0304, P0301, etc etc. any combination of the four. new fuel filter and bam- shes a bat out of hell again.

however, id just like to say thanks to anyone and everyone who responded. ya'll gave me even more insight into this car. lol.

now to trade it in, i've been eyeballing an Xterra at a local dealership....
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Old Nov 12, 2008 | 06:52 PM
  #14  
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From: Pasadena, CA
2002 C230K, 2013 BMW 328, 2015 BMW X5
Originally Posted by kompressor85
i had meant that i put 50K on the car myself, besides the 34K it had on it when i purchased it....

i found out the problem, replaced the fuel filter and she purrs like a kitten again. when i took the filter off, it drained out jet black goo for about twenty five minutes.... yeah. 93,000 miles, at 25 mpg, equals out to that one little filter catching sediment in over 3700 gallons of fuel....

i had a haunch (hunch?) that it was not the coil packs due to the random and complete misfiring of all cylinders. one time i'd drive it and it'd pull a P0301, another time P0302, P0304, another time P0303, P0304, P0301, etc etc. any combination of the four. new fuel filter and bam- shes a bat out of hell again.

however, id just like to say thanks to anyone and everyone who responded. ya'll gave me even more insight into this car. lol.

now to trade it in, i've been eyeballing an Xterra at a local dealership....

Whoa there cowboy, trade her in?!

I have a stock pulley if you want to take the ASP off. Give me a clean$75 and she is yours.

Now if you want to trade for the methanol injection, I'm all ears....

E
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Old Nov 13, 2008 | 01:31 PM
  #15  
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Wow, black GOO?!
Thats bad.

i had the same thing with an X19 I had...was selling it, and it was cuttting out, sputtering. The guy wanted the car but only if I could fix it.

It had sat on numerous occasions, and then I started it without draining the fuel. And I thought about it, and it hadn't been replaced for a long time.
Sure enough I replaced it and it ran prrrrrfect.
I loved that car, but I couldn't fit in it anymore....

DIBS! On the fuzzy dice!!!

Originally Posted by kompressor85
i had meant that i put 50K on the car myself, besides the 34K it had on it when i purchased it....

i found out the problem, replaced the fuel filter and she purrs like a kitten again. when i took the filter off, it drained out jet black goo for about twenty five minutes.... yeah. 93,000 miles, at 25 mpg, equals out to that one little filter catching sediment in over 3700 gallons of fuel....

i had a haunch (hunch?) that it was not the coil packs due to the random and complete misfiring of all cylinders. one time i'd drive it and it'd pull a P0301, another time P0302, P0304, another time P0303, P0304, P0301, etc etc. any combination of the four. new fuel filter and bam- shes a bat out of hell again.

however, id just like to say thanks to anyone and everyone who responded. ya'll gave me even more insight into this car. lol.

now to trade it in, i've been eyeballing an Xterra at a local dealership....
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