C200K M111 several questions...

[DangTH]

Dear Sir,
I'm newbie from Thailand, just got C200K W203 M111 secondhand with 160,000 Kilometres run.
My personal style is a car user-upgrader-and DIYer...So I need to know more about this car by the following questions.

1. Now The car eat alot of fuel around 5 Km/L. May the Mass air flow gone bad or the O2 sensor..?

2. I notice click sound from the engine when rev up the engine pass at 1500 Rpm and hear some sound again when engine speed lowered pass down 1500 Rpm. Does it normal..? Or does it is the Kompressor clutch activation sound..?

3. Recently the car just got reach service A then I change the oil and filter at a shop. I know that it use 0-40W Mobil1 but due to it is very expensive so I use 5-50W Mobil1 instead with lowered price. Does this should be no problem or not. However the car run fine.

4. How can we check Code from the ECU...? Or must go to the Benz shop only.

Regards,
DangTH

[Buellwinkle]

You can get MAF Sensor Cleaner (if it's not available in your country, get TV Tuner Cleaner) and clean the maf sensor tip well (remove maf (just before the throttle body), then remove the insert (2 security torx screws) and spray the gold wire at the tip with a lot of cleaner.

There's no compressor clutch on your car, it's managed electronically with bypass valves. Maybe you are hearing those but that does not sound normal. See if you can go in someone elses C200 and see if that also makes that noise

I doubt in Thailand that you will need 0 weight oil, the 5-50w is fine.

Don't know if in Thailand you have OBD2 to check codes, if so there will be a squarish outlet just behind the red hood release lever under the dash to the left of the steering wheel (at least on U.S. cars that are left hand drive). Many cars outside the U.S. use this standard but some use a round 38 pin connector that you can get from carsoft.

[DangTH]

Thank so much Buell..!
Yes, now I have try clean the MAF already, using video head cleaner Phillips light blue can. And I have positive result after cleaning the MAF, seem the engine run smoother. However the fuel consumption is still bad.

So next step, I will check for O2sensor. Does it have one or two..? and does it worth cleaning or replacing..? I think it should be replaced with the new one because the car run so long at 160,000 Km. now. Please advice..

Recently I have change the spark plugs too ( Denso Iridium IK20 ). I did not found any change of the engine performance. May be the stock Benz plug is quite very good as the Iridium plug. The fuel consumption is not change.

And I looking forward to check the code before doing on O2sensor. Then I ask the shop about ECU scanner, he say can not check for it, it need star diag from Benz shop only. Could we use third party OBD2 scanner like in this site..?
OBD II Mechanic Doctor

[DangTH]

Well, now there are more problems:
1. Front Right HID Lamp is malfunction
2. Tail Lamp L is malfunction
3. Tail Brake Lamp malfunction
All problems are show total 3 malfunction on the Dash display (VDO)

However I have successfully fix all problems.
HID Lamp is usable, tested by swap Lamp R to L and it's still good working.

Now I suspect that may be the ignitor or ballast is bad. But to check ignitor or ballast quite very messy to do, so first eacy step for me thinking that may be the Lamp socket is dirty or the contact is not good. Then I use small flat screw driver to rub the metal contact both the + and - poles. And use screw driver push bend the metal negative pole to the center more about 1 mm. ( hope that it will make stronger contact with the back of the HID Lamp. After putting the socket back on the Lamp and turn on the light, Bingo..! HID Lamp working now again. 555

Tail light checking is very eacy, open the tail light cover and pull out the Tail light Lamp assembly. Found one lamp is blown, then I replace with the new one. The error message is gone. However I still got one errer concerning tail light lamp........checking all lamp again, all is good. Suddenly I have heard that there is a fuse board in the back trunk.
Open the fuse boad cover and I see the fuse board with some relays on. I have found that there is one relay loosen off about 3-5 mm. then I push it back into place....Bingo again....the error message is dissappear.

I'm happy able to fix the errers myselve again. But the bad fuel consumption still be the problem, will update again soon after replace the O2sensor.

Good days..!

[DangTH]

Be carefull of HID high voltage..! Always turn off the head light and wait at least 15 minute before open the head light lamp cover.

[DangTH]

There is still one issue about steering wheel. When I drive along the road, I feel strange vibration pass from steering wheel to my hands. That makes me very annoyed and not so comfortable when driving long trip. I suspect that the power steering may be the problem or the front wheel bearing is defective. Any advices welcome.

[DangTH]

Today, after long trip across the provinces at around 180th Km. the engine sign light up on the dash.
This is I am looking for, let me know that the engine realy have some problem.
I think there is some trouble code already set in the ECU. So I will looking for a scanner to reveal the code. My thought is that the engine might run too rich make it bad fuel consumption.

Will update again when I have a scanner to check the code.

[DangTH]

Today, I have inspect the ventilation filter that is above the battery under the bonnet.
The filter is slightly contaminated and still usable for a period of time.

Then I have an idea to inspect the battery in the same time also. Found that the positive pole of battery come very close to the internal car body near by. This make me so excited, thinking that if the positive pole touch with the car body could make serious problem Eg. may short circuit to ground make damage to battery or ECU or unexpected results.

I try to check that the battery is in the correct position or not. The battery is movable..! I can lift and slide the battery around the battery compartment space.
So the battery able to slide to any direction when we drive the car and if the positive pole touch the metal part, would be very dangerous.

Then I look for how the battery could be lock into place securely. Found a metal piece at the bottom side of battery with two nuts. So I loosen the nuts and push the battery into it's correct position. Then push the metal piece ( bracket ) to hold at the battery bottom base and tighten the nuts on each side of the bracket.
Now the battery securely mount to the car that will be safer than let the battery move on their own when we drive the car.

If you have time, let check that your car's battery is securely mounted with the car.

Happy driving...cheers from Thailand

[DACHIGGA]

Okay here I go:

If your check engine light is on, just buy a OBDII scanner to see which error it is. You can always get one on ebay if it's not available locally.

As for the wheel vibration, it's most likely nothing mechanically wrong, just something wrong with your wheels. They are either not balanced properly, bent or maybe you just need to make sure all the wheel bolts are tightened correctly using a torque wrench.

So you are getting around 300Km per tank? That is pretty bad...although I have a C230 M111, before mods I used to get around 450km per tank. Now I get around 550km per tank. What about replacing the air filter? Have you tried that? and also check the tire pressure on the wheels.

[DangTH]

Thank you ..! DACHIGGA..!

Yes, now I am looking for OBD2 Scanner thinking which type is better between handheld type or PC interface version.

About the wheel is fine because the car just have change all four new tires few months ago. I suspect that the wheel bearing may be the cause of vibration. Will check at the tire shop again soon.

Yes, I have inspect the air filter,it is still good. The car run long trip might get to around 400 per one full tank fill. However when run in the city only 5 Km. per Litre. Thinking that the car may run too rich in the low RPM range. I will find out the code soon.