Check Engine Light code....P0173
06-24-2008, 10:13 AM
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Check Engine Light code....P0173
I have a 2000 E430 Sport with about 25,000 original miles on it. One owner.
Had the check engine light come on a few weeks ago and made a post about it. Was going to have it checked and buy a code reader but it went away. Left it alone, but it came on again for a few days then off again. Finally, it came on again and annoyed me enough to check it.
Went to my mechanic got this code....P0173 fuel trim bank 2
Went into his computer and the fix that came up was to check vacuum pressure on the left side of the engine along with a series of other checks.
He reset it, said its been very humid out lets see what happpens, if it comes up again he will do the job. Well its on again.
He is a good guy and will not rape me on cost, but I dont want to do anything uneccesary and very costly. What do you guys suggest would be the problem? Is it as simple as the MAF sensor, or will this be a big procedure. The computer said nothing about MAF, but I know you guys have posted about it before. What should I do? Cars runs great other then the damn light....
Had the check engine light come on a few weeks ago and made a post about it. Was going to have it checked and buy a code reader but it went away. Left it alone, but it came on again for a few days then off again. Finally, it came on again and annoyed me enough to check it.
Went to my mechanic got this code....P0173 fuel trim bank 2
Went into his computer and the fix that came up was to check vacuum pressure on the left side of the engine along with a series of other checks.
He reset it, said its been very humid out lets see what happpens, if it comes up again he will do the job. Well its on again.
He is a good guy and will not rape me on cost, but I dont want to do anything uneccesary and very costly. What do you guys suggest would be the problem? Is it as simple as the MAF sensor, or will this be a big procedure. The computer said nothing about MAF, but I know you guys have posted about it before. What should I do? Cars runs great other then the damn light....
06-24-2008, 11:11 AM
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1991 SC Miata, 1999 W210 Estate Wagon
Well, I just did the MAF cleaning this week, along with a spark plug replacement (12!). Cleaning the hot wire sensor (thermistor?) is described and illustrated clearly in benzworld.org (thanks, oh lord for the reference). It is very easy to do (especially if you have the proper security torx bit... not a regular torx). BTW, I am told that a P0173 only applies to the MAF in conjuction with P0710 (which I had). The best case scenario is that cleaning will fix your problem. Worst case is you replace it (which is just as easy).
BTW, put anti-seize on your spark plugs (no matter what MB says). The ones I removed were seized. Suffice it to say that I had my week's worth of exercise just by removing those damn plugs.
BTW, put anti-seize on your spark plugs (no matter what MB says). The ones I removed were seized. Suffice it to say that I had my week's worth of exercise just by removing those damn plugs.
06-24-2008, 01:32 PM
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You
did plugs at 100k miles and they were seized?
Or someone had done them before and installed them to tight.
Use no anti seize the plugs ngk7090 ($2.79 ea.) are plated in a non seize metal.
install them properly,use the 17mm boot tool to remove the boot and you will not spend a week doing plugs.I had two rookies complete plug changes in under two hours.
no anti seize.
25000 miles op has 75000 to go before a plug change .
Just clean your injectors with a can of Seafoam brand injector cleaner in the gas tank.Put it in when the tank is near empty and fill up 1/2 tank and drive around till almost on E and fill as normal.Clean the MAF per the diy on benzworld,even though it is only one of the two associated with the maf the other p0170 may not be far behind.Also get it out on a good bit of open hway and in manual mode run it up to red line in every gear 1-3 punch it hard.That should solve the intermittent fuel trim code
keep us posted
ohlord
Or someone had done them before and installed them to tight.
Use no anti seize the plugs ngk7090 ($2.79 ea.) are plated in a non seize metal.
install them properly,use the 17mm boot tool to remove the boot and you will not spend a week doing plugs.I had two rookies complete plug changes in under two hours.
no anti seize.
25000 miles op has 75000 to go before a plug change .
Just clean your injectors with a can of Seafoam brand injector cleaner in the gas tank.Put it in when the tank is near empty and fill up 1/2 tank and drive around till almost on E and fill as normal.Clean the MAF per the diy on benzworld,even though it is only one of the two associated with the maf the other p0170 may not be far behind.Also get it out on a good bit of open hway and in manual mode run it up to red line in every gear 1-3 punch it hard.That should solve the intermittent fuel trim code
keep us posted
ohlord
06-24-2008, 01:42 PM
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1991 SC Miata, 1999 W210 Estate Wagon
Yep... I swear I had to use leverage (i.e. pipe) to remove all the plugs, even relying on spray-on lubricant to undo the plugs. I did inspect the plug electrodes and they were all relatively fine. I didn't have the right gap gauge but from eyeballing using 0.04 feelers, I can guesstimate that they were probably 0.045 inches gapped (I don't know if that's still in spec).
BTW, my reader also threw a P0410 that lit up yesterday. I looked at the air pump last night and immediately saw the vacuum lines to the right check valve was deteriorated. Hope that's all.
BTW, my reader also threw a P0410 that lit up yesterday. I looked at the air pump last night and immediately saw the vacuum lines to the right check valve was deteriorated. Hope that's all.
