Paculdo

I had the check engine light for about 3 weeks now.. ever since that time, i haven't drove the car for long periods of time (errands) less than 10 miles travel per day, etc.

today we drove the car for about 39 miles and the time says about 1h 9mins total of drive time (stop-go-mall-dinner, etc). Drove in the freeway at about 60-70mph then about 4 miles away from the house - in the stop light, when i'm to start - the car just didn't move like it's stuck in neutral. So i placed it from Drive to Park, then Park to Drive again.. it moved but won't shift to any higher gear (like it's just in 1st gear).

I'm watching the temp gauge and it was slightly above 80.

Was it (about to) overheat? the sound of the car seems different and I can smell some warm moist from the hood when we reached home.

Was it it limp mode? Is it because of the P0128? I'm waiting for the end of the month to have this fixed - but still looking for a decent independent shop here in Houston (i have a separate post on that).

I may end up taking this to the dealership.. hope that it was because of the P0128 code.. or because it was in limp mode (if it was), would there be anything that I need to watch out (or prepare for to pay for repairs??)

Thanks in advance.

SunnyRayToronto

The car would have to be way above 80 degree Celsius to overheat,... and there should be red malfunction messages on the instrument cluster display. BTW, what malfunction messages are you getting on your instrument cluster display? Which CEL? Exact messages please and in which sequence if more than one.

Also, how do you know its a P0128? Did you get the fault code read via an OBD2 ScanTool? If not, head to AutoZone, PepBoys or whatever,... they'll usually read it for free.

If you have a verifiable P0128,.... "P0128 - Coolant temperature below Thermostat regulating temperature",.... you likely need a new thermostat. There's some DIY here,... search.

Glyn M Ruck

You need a new thermostat. Benz thermostats fail open.

Paculdo

i got the CEL and went to Autozone about 3 weeks ago (for reading) and they said it's P0128.. there were no other messages in the gauges last night - just that CEL (still). Got worried when suddenly the car didn't want to change gears - and now I know, it was in limp mode. this was the first time i got this (limp mode).

I drove the car around our area this morning and it seems to be fine - but still the CEL.

Hopefully it's just the thermostat and nothing else :-(

Glyn M Ruck

P0128 won't put the car into limp.

Paculdo

So what'll be the effect having to still drive the car with P0128? Now i'm worried there's more problems with the car than just the original P0128 code that I got (CEL). Was thinking that the car was going to overheat (?) due to the longer driving time (and average of 60-70 mph) last night - compared to driving less than 10 miles with about an average of 30-40mph from the last 3 weeks when the CEL first came out.

I'm scared to drive the car now for periods of time. May need to get to tow this car to the dealership so as not to cause anymore problems (and money).. :-(

LILBENZ230

The car just can't warm up.. it will be less efficient but will run OK. You don't want to drive long like that.

The limp mode is definitely something else. Did you service your transmission at 39K miles?

Paculdo

not sure, but i think i only did the service A, and B whenever it tells me.. as well as brake jobs and replace of tires.. car has been good until last night.

what kind of transmission service is this? maybe they did it if its a recommended service for that mileage.. just never paid attention to that.

jogger

i had the thermostat issue last year and drove the car for around one week like that (70 miles daily) but I replaced it myself. Instructions are in the DIY post

SunnyRayToronto

The car shouldn't overheat with thermostat open. When thermostat is open, hot coolant from engine goes to radiator to be cooled,.... If thermostat was stuck closed then you could overheat.

Yes, it'll take longer for the engine to warm up and it'll throw off the computer since its expecting certain engine temperature after a certain amount of driving.

Limp mode is almost always transmission related,... check transmission fluid level. If low you probably have a transmission oil leak at the pilot bushing adapter.

LILBENZ230

He has the 7G transmission.

Paculdo

sorry for this stupid question but what is a 7G transmission?
how would i know what type of transmission i have in the car (2006 c230 ss). what things to i need to watch out for if its 7G?

to update: local dealership said they were only able to retrieve the P0128 code and that's it. no other codes. I told them about the car going to limp mode, they said as long as it was able to reset itself and i was able to drive it it should be ok. If it had any other problems they should have been able to retrieve the other codes but said they only got P0128. Do i still have to insist that they replace the trans fluid for a better peace of mind? any other things i need to tell them to check on? or would this just give them ideas on what to charge? seems like the service advisor is trustworthy..