My "Check Engine" light came on in my '98 E320 and has stayed on. I live 125 miles from an MB dealer and don't want to drive so far to get it checked. I think I have read that I can buy a machine that will read the internal computer. Questions: 1)Who sells such things in a small town? 2)How much do they cost? 3)Will I be able to "read" the answer or will it just tell me some number that means nothing to me?
3)Will I be able to "read" the answer or will it just tell me some number that means nothing to me?
Better code readers will give you the name of the fault as well as the fault number. Some of the cheap code readers will only give you the number. It will not tell you exactly what is wrong with your car. The code becomes a starting point for the diagnostic process.
The great thing about this website, and other websites like MercedesShop - Mercedes Benz Parts and Technical Information , is that you can then do a search on the site for your car and the code you pulled. You will come up with good information that will undoubtedly steer you in the right direction with the various possibilities and the different diagnostic procedures you can perform to see what exactly is wrong. Even if it is something you can't handle yourself, you will at least be able to educate yourself before you take the car to your mechanic/dealer.
The HF reader will come with a booklet and a CD with the DTC description. However, that will not mean much since the code description doesn't tell how to fix the fault. For that you need the experts out here. So buy the scanner or get codes read at Autozone and then post the code numbers and a description of how the car is behaving and you should get a good idea of what's wrong and how to fix it.
Plus one on the other assists you've received here.
Just wanted to toss out the suggestion that you complete your BW online profile re: vehicle and location, that can be quite useful.
Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg
__________________ If the only prayer you say in your life is thank you, that would suffice. Meister Eckhart
When you learn from your own mistakes, that's experience.
When you learn from the mistakes of others, that's wisdom.
When you fail to learn from any mistakes, that's government.
Took it to AutoZone. They ran their little machine on it and said it was just a problem in the exhaust recirculation system and probably nothing to worry about. They reset my "check engine" light and I'm back on the road.
Thanks to all of you who responded. This is a great forum!!
we tell you to post the code.When the light comes back on,get the code and post it.Egr code ?did you write down the number?p0401 ?get the code it will be stored in the pending history or just wait till it appears again. ohlord
unless it was a loose as cap,any code is not something you dismiss as probably nothing to worry about,the conditions that triggered it may be minor(but need to be fixed,or if the light appears again you will fail a smog test)or they if ignored can ruin other systems(fry cats).
hope it does not return,but when it does post the code
ohlord
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