link146

This morning as I was driving to work the check engine light illuminated. I did not notice the car driving any different and it only has 23k mi on it. Are there any common issues that could be triggering this? I feel sick to my stomach...


Scott

Lenin

There are so many different things that can be wrong... Starting with the fule cap not being closed right. Go to Autozone or somehow get the codes read for you. Then post again.

c32used

23k miles

Either way I learned if car runs fine even with an engine checklight its ok cause the car is drivable...go get the codes and post it here. Someone hear will analyze it for you. I wouldn't worry to much right now. GL

alumar

if your near the st.louis area i can check them for you.

link146

Thanks for the offer, but, I am in the southern NJ/Philly/DE area.

tractorcrusher

Whoever sold the car to you probably had the CEL before and reset it just before sale... Could be something like "fuel trim failure" which will put the light on shortly after being reset.

link146

I have probably put about two hundred miles on the car since i purchased it. is that the kind of time frame we are talking about?

tractorcrusher

Yup, I've had fuel trim failure pop us as early as 50 miles, or as long as thousands of miles... It tends to haunt me worse in the summer.

link146

Could you give me a brief explanation of what it is? I searched the forum and come up with nothing.

Thnx

JonMBZ

Why run in circles before you get it checked? Get it scanned then look for answers.

link146

Ok. I got it scanned this morning and my mechanic told me it was a "secondary air injector" error. He said that it could be either a bad air pump, check valve or other component in the air pump system. He cleared the code and told me to drive it for a little while and see if it goes back on before we start diagnostic work. Essentially, he told me it was a relatively minor problem.

Are there any common problems that could cause the secondary air injector error? Cost of parts?...etc. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

RRxGrasshopper

There was a recall on that if I remember correctly. I currently have the same problem, just have not addressed it yet.

https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c...mp-failed.html

JG26_Irish

Yes, this is easy to fix. The air injection pump is on the passenger side of the front of the engine. A cheap little relay on the drivers side rear of engine bay in the fuse & relay panel will stick and fail, causing the air pump to run continuously or not at all. Sometimes it burns out the pump.

Replace the purple relay first and see if the pump still works. If so, you got lucky and get a fix for $25 bucks. If not then replace the pump. Mine cost about $500 from MB. I fixed it myself in about an hour. Note, the smog pump only runs on a cold start for about 60 sec when the systems are all normal. It helps to oxygenate the cats in the exhaust.

When this triggers, a yellow CEL lights up on the drivers instrument cluster. You can reset by removing the neg battery terminal for about 30 min. If it popps up again, you need to fix. However, this particular malfunction will not harm the car. But if you do not fix and reset, you will never know if/when something else malfunctions. Mercedes is highly digital and monitors nearly everything on the car. Even little things like a burned out bulb. The yellow CEL, means you can drive it but need to check and repair. HOWEVER -- The RED check engine light, means STOP, and call a tow truck.

Those secondary air pump issues are a common and minor failure item on several MB's. Not to worry mate

Irish

link146

Wow. Sounds like quite a mess.

RRxGrasshopper

Anyone have part numbers for the pump and relay? I'd would like to start first by changing the relay as suggested. Great follow up JG26 Thanks

link146

It went back on...That did not take long. Since it was cleared I probably ran it 5 or 6 times for a total of 30-40 miles yesterday and drove it to work today. When i started it the CEL came on again. Does the short amount of time give any indication of what might be going on?

As stated above, I got the secondary air injector error which my mechanic cleared.

DarkXerox

Mine did that last month and I agree with Irish that you should replace the relay first. There was a recall on that part awhile back. The replacement pump is not cheap and I got lucky I was still under warranty.

dkflipse

All it means is that it was not some random error, and in fact you do have a problem. Now follow Irish's recommendations.

BTW the car can be driven like this for days with no danger.

link146

Do you know the part # of the relay?

DarkXerox

Yeah I drove on mine for about 7 months lol. Pump definitely died during that time.

The part numbers on my receipt were 000-140-42-85 for the pump and 002-542-26-19 for the relay. Dunno if those are internal numbers or not cause I usually thought all our parts started with our chassis number 203.

boohooramblers

+1

link146 - in case you are interested - here is a thread with a fair bit of information on the secondary air injection pump / relay failure, the corresponding TSBs, and a cheap fix (if you are inclined to do so).

link146

Thanks. Already found that thread and have since diagnosed the problem. The pump is definitely not working. Weather it is a bad relay or not, i don't know. There is only one way to find out....

link146

Finally got around to taking care of the CEL issue. For the secondary air pump, new relay and labor I paid $580. I guess I am officially a MB AMG owner since I sent half-a-G for nothing other than putting out my CEL.

blahuh

how many miles are on your car? I swear I have replaced an air injection pump under emissions warranty. Emissions warranty is 8/80

link146

24K. I was under the impression that the pump was not covered under the warranty. However, the $35 relay may have been?