Diagnostic Code Reader

[pguard]

I'm new to this forum and am wondering does anyone make an inexpensive Code Reader that will work on a 1994 C280? My (Check Engine Light) is on and when I took it to Autozone, ( read somewhere that they will read the code for you) the guy says they don't do that anymore because of some lawsuit. They rent the tool out. When I told him the Make and year, he says they don't carry that tool.
Thanks in advance
Greg

[Carlotta]

I don't know where you are located but I find Van's or A-1 Auto Parts stocks the parts for my 94 c280 that no else does. You might try there. Good luck.

[David in Australia]

G'day Greg

First up I suggest you check your connector.....sounds like you may have the earlier 38pin socket (in the engine bay) and not the 16pin OBD11 socket (in dash near the steering wheel)

OBD11 was fist introduced in the US in1994 in limited numer of models......all 1996 an newer US passenger cars have OBD11

If you have the 16 pin socket then you should be ok with the Generic OBD11 scanner.....ring a few other Autozone stores to confirm policy....many US members of the R170 (SLK) Forum have recently quoted having their codes read at Autozone for free

If you have the 38pin socket then I can help.........my Aussie '97 SLK and most UK / European models have 38pin connectors

I purchased an interface and software from China that works with a laptop.....reads most of the MB systems and displays live engine and transmission data

Costs ~ $US100 delivered .....and only took 3 days to arrive in Australia

Good luck.....the 38pin socket will actually give you more info than OBD11

David

[pguard]

Thanks for the info.
I have found the 18 pin connection for the OBDII reader. Seems you are right about it working for the 1994 Benz. Under the hood I found where it states on the sticker that this vehicle is OBDII certified. Thanks
Greg

[sprucegoose]

Originally Posted by pguard

I'm new to this forum and am wondering does anyone make an inexpensive Code Reader that will work on a 1994 C280? My (Check Engine Light) is on and when I took it to Autozone, ( read somewhere that they will read the code for you) the guy says they don't do that anymore because of some lawsuit. They rent the tool out. When I told him the Make and year, he says they don't carry that tool.
Thanks in advance
Greg

Greg the OBDII cars start in 96 and newer. You are unfortunately going to have to find a shade tree or a dealer. But don't feel bad I have a 92 SEL and have been trying to find an affordable reader for some time. Some pc based software out of china or russia shows promise but there is little or no documentation and the interface for most is two serial ports that must be manually configured. That my friend is a tough nut to crack. Your best chance would be to ask older Merc owners you might see on the street where they are getting serviced. If all else fails just call the service department at the Mercedes Stealer and ask the cost to have the engine codes read and recorded for you.

Congrats it looks like you dodged the bullet. I know my 92 has 134a which was late to get here for the state side cars so the reader might have as well. Good luck with your code reading.

[sprucegoose]

Originally Posted by David in Australia

G'day Greg

First up I suggest you check your connector.....sounds like you may have the earlier 38pin socket (in the engine bay) and not the 16pin OBD11 socket (in dash near the steering wheel)

OBD11 was fist introduced in the US in1994 in limited numer of models......all 1996 an newer US passenger cars have OBD11

If you have the 16 pin socket then you should be ok with the Generic OBD11 scanner.....ring a few other Autozone stores to confirm policy....many US members of the R170 (SLK) Forum have recently quoted having their codes read at Autozone for free

If you have the 38pin socket then I can help.........my Aussie '97 SLK and most UK / European models have 38pin connectors

I purchased an interface and software from China that works with a laptop.....reads most of the MB systems and displays live engine and transmission data

Costs ~ $US100 delivered .....and only took 3 days to arrive in Australia

Good luck.....the 38pin socket will actually give you more info than OBD11

David

David I have a 92 SEL and purchased the Uniscan reader software but the dual serial interface and the DOS operating system have me stumped! What S/W did you buy and what is the hook up to your car. I know it's the 38 pin but what do the line(s) look like going to the PC?

[Casey220]

US govt requirements for OBDII start in 1996. Some manufacturers started adding it earlier (like Mercedes) and w202's sold in the US from 1994 are all OBDII compliant. I have a 1994 C220 with an OBDII connector that I have used many times (I own a scanner) and it also has the 38 pin connector under the hood for Mercedes Star Diagnostic equipment.

[TyMad101185]

Don't know if anyone said this already but the people at Autozone are retards. They told me that they don't carry the diagnostic ready for my '94 Benz because it's for newer cars only but it does in fact work with it! A guy that owns a import repair shop just happened to be in the parking lot & went back in & got it & it worked damn well! So I would just borrow what they have anyways

[Andrzejek]

There are a few threads describing CarSoft 7.4 software with a multiplexer that connects to the 38 pin socket & gives excellent results.

[MBDownUnder]

If your willing to invest a little time an effort there is another possible way around this. Buy/make a breakout box for the 38 pin socket. If you already have a scanner obtain banana wire connections for it. then all you do is plug the banana cables into the right sockets on the breakout box. As long as the reader talks the same language as the car you should be fine. This method replaces the need for a multiplexer because your doing the multiplexing manually. I have not confirmed this yet but I have a 38 pin socket and I will be trying it this way. The problem of course is that OBD2 combines the signal lines into one or two lines. The 38 pin socket however has all the lines separate.