Huachipato

My wife was driving the car last Thursday, and she told me the Check Engine light turned on. She mentioned all sounded fine and drove on to work. Later, on her way home, the light did not stay lit, so I didn't think much about it but that maybe it had somewhat bad gas in it and it was all good for now.

Well, I was driving it today, and in the morning the Check Engine light came on again. Later on in the day - on the way home the light did not come on.

Does anybody know what issues could cause the light to come on and go off like that?

glassJAw

Without having a fault code read-out my first guess would be the mass air-flow meter. It's a common problem with the W210.

livedd0

My ride has the same issue. Please read this thread for some insight:

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w210/159018-what-can-w210-owners.html

Huachipato

I don't think that helps too much. My car rides smooth as silk unless it is moving along a really bumpy road. Idle and everything is fine as far as I can tell. For now the light is off, but I'm sure it will be back on before too long again.

Hopefully by the next time it comes on, I'll have the OBDII reader I ordered, and potentially might be able to catch an error code before it goes off again. Just thought it was odd it would go on and off. Most situations I have seen, when the light turns on, it stays on till the code is cleared either by an OBDII reader or by disconnecting the battery. This issue baffles me a little since it goes off on it's own.

Vamz

is your problem still ocurring?

this problem just started for my e320 too, im around 60k miles but the check engine light goes off randomly. im not sure what mine is about either, i dont want to take it to the dealership either because they charge too much for everything.

loubapache

Do you ever find out what was the problem?

My car did the same thing today. The CEL came on in the morning but turned off by ltsself later today.

ProV1

just b/c the CEL went off, it doesnt mean the codes went away. get the codes read, they get stored in the car.

i suspect codes P0170 & P0173.

loubapache

Yes, I am thinking to take it to Autozone to have the codes read.

I think P0170 and P0173 are MAF.

Mine could be the gas cap. I was installing the jack pads on the car and had to use a rubber mallet to pound pretty hard. One of them is below the gas cap. It might have loosened it up just a bit. That was the first thing I checked before moving the car and I re-tightened it. I read that if it is the gas cap, CEL should go away after 45 minutes of driving. No I recall it was about that much time.

ProV1

haha you must've been banging on that thing pretty hard!

how did you like UM during your visit?

loubapache

It was an expander plug so it has to be hammered in from the bottom. Since this is a long weekend, I am going to take out the MAF insert and clean it.

We liked UM except the dorms. They seem to be old but she is going no matter what. The other school (Johns Hopkins) costs way too much $$$ ($56k per year, LOL).

We already paid the deposit and she has her UM e-mail, LOL. Will be there again a couple more times this summer for some orientations.

loubapache

I am really puzzled by the screw head on my MAF (2003 E320 Wagon W210). I bought a set of secure torx bits from autozone. The T20 is too small and the T25 seems to be the right size but it will not go in. After a careful examination, I found the screw heads have only 5 gaps but the torx bit has 6 lopes. It is not Allen, it is not torx.

I have never seen anything like this. It seems everyone can remove these screws with a secure torx bit.

my E430 rocket

i love how the forum knows what problems i am going to have, as there is always a thread with my answers on the first page!

loubapache

Short version of my question for 2003 E320 Wagon 4Matic (W210). Which crankshaft position sensor should I get, Bosch or Hella? They cost about the same.

Here is the long version. Your reading and comments are deeply appreciated.

A couple of days ago when I start the car in the morning, the check engine light did not turn off. After a couple of re-starts (checking the fuel filler cap, etc) and drove it for about 45 minutes and the CEL turned off by itself after a stop in a store and a re-start. The CEL has not turned on.

Went to Autozone to pull any stored code (CEL was NOT on) and there was a stored code P0355 that indicates malfunction of the crankshaft position sensor circuit. The strange thing is that that code cannot be erased by their scanner so the guy said it might not been trigged by the light the day before.

The car did not have any start/stalling or idling problems. Everything is normal.

After a lot of reading on various forums about this sensor, I was finally able to locate it. I unplug the connector and saw a bit corrosion so I cleaned it and the sensor contacts with electric contact cleaner. I was also able to feel with fingers that E8 bolt and put on an E8 socket (1/4 drive) but did not unbolt it. It seems that the unbolt and re-bolt of that bolt is completely by feel because I cannot see the bolt head. I was afraid not being able to put it back once I take it out because I have not experienced any trouble yet.

Thanks,