engine problems
Almost a Member!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 28
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From: Huntsville, AL
Yes, my 230K sedan is two months old. Last Wednesday, while driving down the interstate the CHECK ENGINE light came on and the car started running rough. Once I turned the engine off and restarted it, it ran smooth as normal. Dealership checked it out on Thursday, claiming nothing showed up in the diagnostic report. CHECK ENGINE light and roughness started again Thursday afternoon. Again, turned the car off, restarted it and no more roughness. Dealership checked it out again yesterday. Nothing found once again. I was told the only service bulletin for engine roughness was to turn up the idle, (I don't think this will have any effect) which they did. As of this morning the mystery engine roughness has not resurfaced.
The technican also said I may have gotten some gas with moisture in it causing a cylinder to misfire. I wonder about this though, since just turning the engine off and restarting it seemed to cure the problem.
I'm just hoping it was an isolated glitch that does not become a recurring problem.
The technican also said I may have gotten some gas with moisture in it causing a cylinder to misfire. I wonder about this though, since just turning the engine off and restarting it seemed to cure the problem.
I'm just hoping it was an isolated glitch that does not become a recurring problem.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,230
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
I thought that most problems which cause the "check engine" light to light are logged for later retrieval. But I think the problem needs to occur for a certain length of time. I don't know how long you let the engine run with the light on, but if it happens again, you might want to let it run longer in the hope that the event will be recorded.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,753
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From: York, PA
2003 C230K Sport Coupe, 1986 190E 2.3
I have the same engine in my coupe and have 9500 miles in 5 months time, with me driving very aggressively. No problems as of yet.
Note that this engine is in the C230K Coupe and Sedan as well as the new SLK230 when it arrives. It is also used in many more vehicles in Europe. So I would assume that MB tested it for a while before sticking it in so many vehicles.
Note that this engine is in the C230K Coupe and Sedan as well as the new SLK230 when it arrives. It is also used in many more vehicles in Europe. So I would assume that MB tested it for a while before sticking it in so many vehicles.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 28
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From: Huntsville, AL
I also assumed when ever the check engine light came on, there would be some type of tracer in the diagnostic system. Apparently, this is not the case in all conditions. It has happened twice, neither time did the dealership find any indications during checking (other than the check engine light being on).
As for amount of time the engine has run, during the first incident, the engine ran for about 5-10 minutes after the roughness started, the second time, less than 5 minutes. Surely the system wouldn't wait longer than that to record the fault into the diagnostic system.
As for amount of time the engine has run, during the first incident, the engine ran for about 5-10 minutes after the roughness started, the second time, less than 5 minutes. Surely the system wouldn't wait longer than that to record the fault into the diagnostic system.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 64
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From: florida
e500 4matic; c240
can't you check for yourself using a OBDII scanner
I think some auto stores do this code reading for free, then just jump on the forum and look for that list of codes that is going around.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 792
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
2003 C230 K , 2001 ML320
My 2003 coupe has been having idle fluctuations for a couple of weeks, I was going to take it to the dealers this Friday.
Got a check engine light, and the engine was shaking real rough. Checked the water temp and got off the freeway. Shut off the engine and checked the oil. I was able to limp home OK. This was at 4600 miles.
Took the car into Fletcher Jones today, no apointment just showed up first thing. They treated me very well, came back with a missfire code, P201A
Of course they could not get the same rough idle but did find the fuel pump amps going from 7.34 amps to 10.74 amps.
After they replaced the fuel pump they re-checked the amps, stayed 6.85 to 7.11.
Drove home OK for now.
Got a check engine light, and the engine was shaking real rough. Checked the water temp and got off the freeway. Shut off the engine and checked the oil. I was able to limp home OK. This was at 4600 miles.
Took the car into Fletcher Jones today, no apointment just showed up first thing. They treated me very well, came back with a missfire code, P201A
Of course they could not get the same rough idle but did find the fuel pump amps going from 7.34 amps to 10.74 amps.
After they replaced the fuel pump they re-checked the amps, stayed 6.85 to 7.11.
Drove home OK for now.
