Gary C

Been raining here for the last 2 weeks. Flooding everywhere. Drove through a deeper than I thought puddle and when I shut my car off I heard a bell sound and saw a 1 malfunction on my readout. I turned the key back on and it went out. The next day when I went out in the car the coolant visit workshop came on. So when I got home I checked the obvious, and of course the coolant level is fine. Also checked the washer fluid, as I read about that and that was fine also. I am running 80 on the temp and I noticed that yesterday it went up to 100. The fan seems to be working as it is on when I stop and check not full blast though, but I havent made a longer than 20 min ride since this problem. It has been on for 3 days now. It has to be related to the puddle I drove through. But maybe just a coincidence? Do not see any blown fuses, although I do not know which one to to specifically check. Maybe thermostat? I had the system flushed 9 months ago after I got it. I guess I will go have the code read and go from there.

Rudeney

The wiring harness for the windshield washer pump, washer fluid level sensor and coolant level sensor are all the same and the circuits are (somehow?) run in series, so if one is disconnected, you can get errors on any of them. The washer pump/level sensor is on the tank which sits low on the front left, in the bumper, ahead of the wheel. My guess is that some water got into a connector there and is causing a short and thus the erroneous message. Remove the plastic shroud in front of the left front wheel and you'll see it.

Gary C

Thanks for the quick response Rudney. I was thinking along those lines myself. But, of course I was on vacation last week, so I am heading off to work now. I will check it out tomorrow. You are on here early. You off from work?

Gary C

Well I thought I was gonna get off easy. But when I went to work today, I parked and let it run a little and the temp started to climb to 110, I looked under the hood and the fan was not running. So I shut it off and went in to work. Drove home and as long as I am driving it runs about 90 when I stop and let it run temp starts to climb and fan not running. Is there a fuse I can check first? Trying to avoid the 500 plus bill for a new fan install. Fricking weather! I feel the puddle did me in on this one. Lol

Rudeney

Check pre-fuse #5:

http://benzbits.com/w203/PreFuse.pdf

The pre-fuse panel is inside the hosing where the positive jump terminal is located,in front of the battery. I doubt that's the problem, though. It's most likely a bad suction fan control unit.

Rudeney

LOL! I'm always "off". I usually only go into the office two or three days a week and never before 11am. I manage a small computer software company for the widow of a good friend of mine. She can't pay much, so I don;t work much.

Gary C

Ok, this looks like something that I can't fix myself. Sounds expensive. Well, I was going to be buying new wheels, sounds like I will be spending out the butt for this. Can you just replace the control unit? Need some info so I don't get raped.

Glyn M Ruck

The fan & fan controller come as one unit. The controller is on a fly lead.

Rudeney

The fan with controller is about $500 at parts.com. Installation is fairly easy - remove the top radiator bracket, the top hose, and then the fan:

benzbits.com/w209/EngineFan.pdf

Gary C

Going to have it checked out on Monday. I want to have it scanned so I am not just parts changing. My luck I have a short and I'll ruin the new fan. Also I noticed that the fan is trying to run, but it just doesn't keep running. If I push on the fan it runs a bit then stops. Seems like the motor is burn't out. And Rodney, I did check under the coolant tank in front of the wheel and I found a plug that is just hanging there, and I could not figure out where it goes.

Rudeney

Yeah, I seem to recall some odd wiring harness there on both my CLK and C - it almost looks like a hack/aftermarket job, but it is factory. I have no clue what it's for - I've never bothered to trace it down in a wiring diagram. But yours does sound like a bad fan motor.

Glyn M Ruck

Johnand suffered a similar failure on his M272 powered W203.

With a Star you can run simulations to check it. John has his own Star like Rodney.

Gary C

So, it is the fan unit. Getting one in on weds. Gonna have the shop do it. 800 bucks installed . Not the dealer, but an independent euro car shop. Let you guys know how I make out, when its fixed.

Gary C

Fixed, could have done this myself, but I got a warranty on the part and the whole job and it is done. They actually found one and had it shipped in 2 days. There was a back order on them from Germany. And then I would have had to make the time to do it. So it was worth the 300 bucks to me. Cross my fingers nothing else goes wrong