2013 C300 P001685 and P001885
I bought a 2013 C300 (my second C300, other is a 2012) and it was showing a code of P001685. I took it to a trusted mechanic and they found that the Camshaft Position Sensor for bank 1 was faulty due top oil ingress to the sensor from the wiring harness. OK, got 2 new sensors from FCP Euro and the sacrificial harness pigtails, cleaned the wiring harness and ECU connection, which was full of oil. then pulled the intake and changed the intake cam position sensors and then walnut blasted the intake valve since I had it open. After replacing the sensors, now I have the original P001985 and a new P001885 code, basically saying both intake cams are out of alignment. Bank 2 was running perfectly (as far I could tell) before the sensor replacement. I did find a screen in my scanner that said the sensors haven't been 'learned', but I couldn't find a location in my scan tool to run the learning process. So back to the mechanic who also could not find a way to 'learn' the sensors.
The question: is this a Dealer only thing, or did I get two crap sensors?




I suppose the camshaft adjuster magnets were checked because you have the pigtails.
Did you get either Bosch or Mercedes original equipment sensors? Two bad ones is unusual.
Worst case would be if the oil at the ECU connector infiltrated the ECU and did internal damage.
My scan tool reads them at 42 and 44 degrees for a moment then they default to a 'stored' value (I think it's 36.21, but I would have to check). It's hard to believe the engine would have this issue right after a cam position sensor change when it was running fine before the replacement, but stranger things have happened.
Could it be the solenoids not moving the adjusters? Is there a way I can move them back without doing a whole timing job? I have a parts car with a good engine, but if I can get this one running I'd rather avoid a timing job or an engine swap.




