Clkboi

My car got a check engine light on yesterday.
This tiem i decided to just go to Autozone and see what the problem was instead of going to the stealer and pay them $120.00 for a diagnostics.

Here is what i got:

P0128

Definition:
Coolant temp. is always low

Explanation
The powertrain control module verifies that the engine is at proper operating temperature

Probable cause:
1- Check coolant level
2- Thermostat defective
3-ECT (engine coolant temperature) sensor defective

I checked my coolant level and it is OK.
Check engine light went off after i left autozone. Started the car 3 times after that and no light came on.

My car runs at fine temperature.

Is this an expensive fix that i need to get done asap?

Thanks in advance guys

Clkboi

OK guys so i got my car back today.

It was indeed the thermostat. It remained open not letting the engine warm up properly.

Diag + Labor + parts = $508.03

I was covered under extended warranty but the thermostat isn't really that hard to change.

If you do not have extended warranty and this happens to you than save the $354.95 and do it yourself

dynomite05

How many hours of labor was it? Good to hear it's fixed.

Clkboi

They didnt write it down but it seems like 4 hours since they charge around 90/h

dynomite05

Damn, 4 hrs for a thermostat.

Clkboi

Thats what i said.

"oh you need to remove the serpentine belt and the SAI motor and drain your coolant as well"

Yah but they dont take that long.
O well at least i got a 2011 cherry red C300 to drive for 4 days.

If anyone is thinking to buy those cars think about it twice. They feel very very cheap compared to our CLK's.
Cool thing about them: They have an AC port blowing inside the glow compartment which you can turn on and off! no idea what the purpose of that is maybe keep your ipod cold lol

dynomite05

lol, back when I was taking my car to the dealer I had one also. Not too impressed. Probably because the person that had it before me was a smoker and being a former smoker, the smell would drive me crazy.

mikata

90$/h?
Here in Sweden the dealers take 200$/h
200$ are their hourly rate.

Clkboi

WTF? How the hell do you guys afford to take your cars down there?

Clkboi

That would drive me insane too i would prob refuse it. I hate smoking and the smell of it

mikata

If the cars are more than 3-5 years old we usually service our cars at indies. If you have a new/used car thats only 1-2 years old and have serviced it at mercedes you usually get more when you sell it.

But when it's older than 3-5 years it doesn't matter as long as you have serviced the car according to the service plan.
A regular service A costs 700$ incl engine oil etc. I don't know how much it costs in US?

dynomite05

Yup. One time they gave me an ML, that was a nice ride!

Wow, those are some crazy prices. I wonder what the average income is there.

mikata

I'd guess around 4000-4500$ a month for those with average income. What about US?

dynomite05

I don't think it's that much. Maybe half.

mikata

Keep in mind that I didn't deduct taxes, we pay around 30% taxes

Clkboi

Def higher than the average income in US. Most people here do not make more than 2500 a month.
Average weekly check is in the 350's and that is for the most common jobs.

mikata

I guess alot of things are cheaper in US?
For example a gallon of gas here costs, 8$, a bic mac & co costs (macdonalds) 9$.
Are the prices the same in US?

dynomite05

Now way, way lower. Big Mac is like $4-$5 I believe, it's been a while.

Clkboi

damn with $8 a gallon you would see a lot more skinny Americans lol

Bic Mac here is around $4 with tax and $6smth for the meal.

European Coke tastes way better than the one we have here though

mikata

Hehe that is pretty cheap
Gas price here is ridiculously high, that is why everybody drives C180K, C200K, CLK 200K and not the V8s

dynomite05

They only sell those models in Europe, not in the states.

mikata

Haha
How can you tell the difference between the european and the american cola?

mikata

Yeah I know, but we do got the 500/55 AMG, but they consume alot of gas and the market here in Sweden insn't that big for those engines
One thing that I don't understand is why we don't got the 550 engine

I don't think people in the us are interested in 1.8L and 2L merc engines or am I wrong?

dynomite05

You will always find a few people interested, but I guess not enough.

mikata

Yeah you're right. Too bad though, 550 V8 is a great engine