Flame3g

At the dealer getting a smog check and they called to tell me I failed my smog check....I changed my plugs and put in afe filters (gas this morning)but thats it. Any one have any ideas kind of sounds suspect thats all, the car has been running great and has been in the body shop since the 15th.

iyeoh

Have you done an Italian tuneup?

Flame3g

I have not lol what is that.

iyeoh

"Italian tune up" = Drive it like you just stole the car!

It's one of the best ways to blow out carbon and, therefore. increases the chance of passing emissions tests.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_tuneup

In the old days, owners will complain that their Italian cars aren't driving smoothly. The mechanic would take it for a spin and return the Ferraris purring like kittens

Flame3g

I like it...Update the Tech is going to take it home for the night to put some miles on it.

Rudeney

What failed? Is it just and OBDII or "readiness" code? Or do they do a sniff test? Those readiness codes can be difficult to clear. I recall a guy over on benzworld's W203 forum that was having a heck of a time getting a readiness code to clear. Seriously, I think the Italian Tune-up is what did it for him.

Flame3g

They Didn't say and said that they would have to troubleshoot the problem for $150. I'm guessing that they didn't find any problems because the tech said it just need to be driven a little more. Should be getting a call today...Hopefully they do the right thing if they didn't find anything and not charge me the fee.

Flame3g

Update so i got the call this morning saying that the car has passed and i owe for the smog and the diagnostic fee. So i ask what did they find since i have to pay the diagnostic and they said that the car pretty much needed to be driven and that the tech driving it home was part of that, i disagree because there is nothing wrong with the car and he is driving my car instead of his own. I am alittle upset at this point so i pay and say i will talk to MBUSA at this point aka (the Survey will reflect), get in the car and as I'm driving i realize that my tank is on half a tank (full when i gave it to them that morning) and now I,m about to blow my lid but clammed myself down. I expected more from this MB dealer and they have came up short. Maybe it just me but i think it was because of the lack of experience of the young service manager on how to deal with customers i would have been fine with paying for two smog checks. Sorry for the rant!!!!!!!!!!

Moedy

Wtf? They charged for getting the car driven around? Next time if they say it failed smog go somewhere else to get it checked again better yet don't go back. Find an indi mechanic who specializes in Euro vehicles

2MCHCAR

Sorry to hear about your problems Flame and thank you for sharing your situation. This reminded me of the time I had trouble passing smog (due Smog Readiness Codes not "Ready") because of the Kleemann SC Tune. The hardware was fine, it was just that I had a Kleemann Euro tune which does not do the smog testing in the ECU.

It sounds to me like the readiness codes were not set and the technician drove your car using the MB Driving Cycle (you can google this). If you had known this, you can do the driving cycles yourself, check via scanner that all the readiness codes are set and then pass smog.

The readiness codes reset every-time you get a MIL light or disconnect the car battery. Did this happen before you went to the dealer?

So the lesson learned for everybody reading this; check your smog readiness codes via OBD-II scanner BEFORE you go to the Smog Check location (if they are not set, don't even bother going to the smog check location). I bought a cheap-o $20 scanner, but some Auto Parts stores loan out these scanners too.

Flame3g

I think the car battery was disconnected while at the body shop....And yes I remember hearing something about the ready stuff.