Diagnostics software
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Queensland, Australia
C180K W203 2006
Diagnostics software
Hi All
Just thought I'd share my experience with a recent Mercedes related purchase. I have a C180 kompressor sedan 2006 model here in Australia and, after having a drivers window winder failure proceeded to change the part myself (from this very useful tutorial on this forum) I ignorantly unplugged the airbag during the repair and switched the car on while the airbag was unplugged to check the winder worked. I didn't realise the problem until the repair was finished and, you guessed it, SRS warning light on! A light on is not a problem, but mercedes disable the entire airbag system while SRS airbag errors exist. I called one dealer and was quoted $200 for a diagnostic check (know why they are called stealers now), politely declined and managed to get my wife (in a low cut top) to talk another dealer into hooking it up to their diagnostic software which he did (for free to their credit) but reported it was not a drivers side airbag fault but a fault on a contact spiral (clock spring here in Aus) in the steering wheel and they couldn't clear the error code. I couldn't believe that the contact spiral had failed at exactly the same time as my misadventure on the door, and when I was quoted $1300 for the repair, decided to take matters into my own hands. Convinced it was still the original drivers side air bag error causing the SRS fault light, I thought all I needed was some diagnostics software to try a fix myself.
After some research I purchased the Scan Tool software from Autoenginuity ($500AUD delivered) and, after a 5 minute install on an 8 year old laptop, the scan tool found the error code in about 30 seconds. Imagine my joy when it said it was a drivers side airbag error and one press of the "clear" button fixed the whole problem, the software paid for itself more than twice over on its first usage! and I get to keep it for ever. Just wanted to give my thanks to the Autoenginuity people and let everyone know if your looking at doing self diagnostics, I can recommend this product, and remember don't always trust that dealers know what they are talking about, and don't be afraid of trying things yourself!
Steve
Just thought I'd share my experience with a recent Mercedes related purchase. I have a C180 kompressor sedan 2006 model here in Australia and, after having a drivers window winder failure proceeded to change the part myself (from this very useful tutorial on this forum) I ignorantly unplugged the airbag during the repair and switched the car on while the airbag was unplugged to check the winder worked. I didn't realise the problem until the repair was finished and, you guessed it, SRS warning light on! A light on is not a problem, but mercedes disable the entire airbag system while SRS airbag errors exist. I called one dealer and was quoted $200 for a diagnostic check (know why they are called stealers now), politely declined and managed to get my wife (in a low cut top) to talk another dealer into hooking it up to their diagnostic software which he did (for free to their credit) but reported it was not a drivers side airbag fault but a fault on a contact spiral (clock spring here in Aus) in the steering wheel and they couldn't clear the error code. I couldn't believe that the contact spiral had failed at exactly the same time as my misadventure on the door, and when I was quoted $1300 for the repair, decided to take matters into my own hands. Convinced it was still the original drivers side air bag error causing the SRS fault light, I thought all I needed was some diagnostics software to try a fix myself.
After some research I purchased the Scan Tool software from Autoenginuity ($500AUD delivered) and, after a 5 minute install on an 8 year old laptop, the scan tool found the error code in about 30 seconds. Imagine my joy when it said it was a drivers side airbag error and one press of the "clear" button fixed the whole problem, the software paid for itself more than twice over on its first usage! and I get to keep it for ever. Just wanted to give my thanks to the Autoenginuity people and let everyone know if your looking at doing self diagnostics, I can recommend this product, and remember don't always trust that dealers know what they are talking about, and don't be afraid of trying things yourself!
Steve
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Queensland, Australia
C180K W203 2006
Hi samaritrey
Yes I believe it was incompetence on the part of the merc dealer rather than dishonesty, but the nett result would of been the same to me ie $1300 lighter! I might take 91RS's suggestion and report it to Mercedes here.
Steve
Yes I believe it was incompetence on the part of the merc dealer rather than dishonesty, but the nett result would of been the same to me ie $1300 lighter! I might take 91RS's suggestion and report it to Mercedes here.
Steve
