CEL after washing car!?!
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
E200
CEL after washing car!?!
Hi all,
It seems that every time I wash my car (2000 E200K), my CEL comes on. On both occasions that this occurred, by coincidence I had an appointment at the local MB dealer the next day.
On the first occasion, they said there there were no error codes or conditions present. On the second occasion, they said that they were getting an "insufficient airflow" error. Upon further investigation they were unable to figure out why this error appeared, as the air filters were new, there was no lack of performance etc.
As before - they cleared the error and it hasn't appeared since.
The mechanic at the dealer seems to think that perhaps a sensor or the fusebox got wet while washing the car. Note that I don't wash the engine, however water might've entered from the vents on the bonnet (hood) or from sliding down the windscreen.
Has anyone else ever had this happen? Is there any way of avoiding this (like putting something over the sensitive areas of the motor before washing?)
Thanks!
It seems that every time I wash my car (2000 E200K), my CEL comes on. On both occasions that this occurred, by coincidence I had an appointment at the local MB dealer the next day.
On the first occasion, they said there there were no error codes or conditions present. On the second occasion, they said that they were getting an "insufficient airflow" error. Upon further investigation they were unable to figure out why this error appeared, as the air filters were new, there was no lack of performance etc.
As before - they cleared the error and it hasn't appeared since.
The mechanic at the dealer seems to think that perhaps a sensor or the fusebox got wet while washing the car. Note that I don't wash the engine, however water might've entered from the vents on the bonnet (hood) or from sliding down the windscreen.
Has anyone else ever had this happen? Is there any way of avoiding this (like putting something over the sensitive areas of the motor before washing?)
Thanks!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,171
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300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
How
are you washing it?
never use a pressure nozzle,never spray water into the fresh air intake port,on most models located at the grill opening.The moisture may be wetting the air filter and affecting the mass air sensors ability to relay the correct voltage to the ecu.
ohlord
never use a pressure nozzle,never spray water into the fresh air intake port,on most models located at the grill opening.The moisture may be wetting the air filter and affecting the mass air sensors ability to relay the correct voltage to the ecu.
ohlord
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
E200
Hi - thanks for the helpful reply. Although I'm not using a high-pressure hose, I believe I might've brought the problem on when I dumped a bucket of water on the hood, which flooded into the vents on top of the hood. 
