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Diagnostic Tools That Work

1K views 1 reply 2 participants last post by  m11nch 
#1 ·
The biggest pain that modern cars present the home mechanic is the dreaded ECU and the problems they leave behind after repairs.

I bought a 2000 ML270CDi and rebuilt the engine after a Mercedes mechanic gave up the ghost and said it couldn't be done. It needed a new engine. I have it running and in daily use and it has the very same engine although CHRA, Cat and oil pump have been replaced.

Great to a point but there were still issues which remained and unlike early ECUs, disconnecting the battery doesn't resolve lingering stored issues which the ECU picks up on.

Going to a Merc specialist was as expensive as a buying a diagnostic tool.

Lucky for me I found one that works and accesses a bunch of live sensors including individual wheel speeds as well as giving comprehensive DTCs with information. It means that after using it I'm working from a clean DTC sheet.

The unit I have is a Autel MaxiDiag Elite MD802 handheld which runs at about $230 from Autel direct (I got it from an Amazon Seller for 150€) and after a software update works with my car as well as the rest of the W163 range and W164 and W166 and a whole bunch of OBDII interface Mercs, Maybachs and Smart cars. In fact the list of built in vehicles is huge and takes up a chunk of the 8GB card that it comes with.


So if you have found diagnostic tool that works with your Merc that allows live data, reads and clears DTCs. Let's get them listed here. Specialist tools are a pain and can be costly to source, with diagnostics being one that can cost a chunk of change and more often than not a few of us have experienced frustration at the hit and miss process of finding one that works. In my case I have Windows and Android software with BT dongles that work great with my Ford but fail to get passed the first hurdle in the Merc.
 
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