Accidental Reset of W211 E220 CDI

[Voltan]

Sent my car to a Merc specialist for rear brake pad renewal today. They used the Star diagnostic computer to secure the SBC brake before starting work.

I noticed someting odd when the mechanic started the engine to test the car after pad fitment - a puff of black smoke. Another longer but less pronounce puff as he moved away.

After being informed that the car was ready; and on checking the instrument cluster I noticed the odometer showed blinking dashes instead of my accumulated mileage. When I informed the mechanic, he brought the Star computer out and tried to set the odometer again. He could not do it with the computer but got the diagnostic result with many "I"s response instead of all "tick"s. He gave some answers that I am in doubt of. He said he could only set the odometer to the old mileage reading with manual reset, which he did without my approval.

Being late for the day, I did not realise then that all accumulated readouts after the factory original reset have been wiped-out and all are set as per today's "after start". Worse still, I find the car average fuel consumption shot up from the previous 7.7 l/100km to 12.9 l/100km some 67% increase in consumption. On fast jabs on the throttle, puffs of black smoke emmitted. It never happen before.

What has gone wrong. What shall I do. I'd appreciate your explanations, help and advise before I confront this workshop soon. Thanks alot.

 

[television]

There are warnings that when using that when using Star or any other diagnostic tester joined up to the car,if you leave it joined up it will flatten the battery and destroy and corrupt all of the cars stored dator as the system will crash. the car should have been hooked up to an external power supply (not battery). The warnings are known.

I was warned of the dangers on a recent seminar, it is I am affraid going to be a bit of a nightmare to re program the whole car.

So sorry about your bad news, If you would like a printout of the warning please Email me.

That was so simple to change the pads as on my How to thread.

Malcolm

 

[glojo]

Just another thread of a Mercedes-Benz specialist. There are certainly good independants out there, but this might be an expensive lesson.

What is this 'specialist' going to do about it?

Regards,
John

 

[Voltan]

1. Should those "I"s on the printout result be accepted as normal?

 

[Voltan]

continuation to above :-

2. What should be done to resolve the high consumption and black smoke.

3. Please elaborate all the rectifying steps that the "specialist" needs to take.

Malcom, I'd appreciate the printout warning to support my case with the specialist.

John, with technical advise from friends in this forum, I hope to get this "specialist" to put everything you forum friends advise to be put right. Otherwise I'm not equiped to demand tests and condition I don't know.

Thanks guys.

 

[glojo]

John, with technical advise from friends in this forum, I hope to get this "specialist" to put everything you forum friends advise to be put right. Otherwise I'm not equiped to demand tests and condition I don't know.

Thanks guys.

Hopefully that will be forthcoming.

Good luck,
John

 

[television]

Your car has got to be hooked up to a diagnosis again. The engine ECU has to be set up to match all of the sensors, off hand about 25 parrameters to set,some interact with others, so some have to be done again.
When these things a made they are set to a default code and fine tuned from there to match the other components like MAF,Lambda,and sensors. If you have coded injectors,they all have to matched to the ECU.

The amount of work is the same as having a new engine ECU, OK how about the rest of the car, every option has to be re set to match what is on the car.

You also need to reserve the right to go back free of charge and have any option re set as you may not notice some things for a while.

Malcolm

 

[television]

Just looking down the Car Soft list,it easier than the MB one, there is so much to check out,All of the safety systems,instrument cluster,Bas, gear box.

Sorry for the black outlook, but if it took the engine ECU out it could have taken everything else

Malcolm

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Well you have the right to have your car returned to you in the condition you left it.

If they won't/can't do that, then tell them that you will take it to a dealer, have them do the work to your satisfaction, and then pursue them for the final bill, including any costs for hire cars etc.

 

[Flash]

Get MB to do the work reset/coding BUT invoice the independent garage IF they fail to rectify the issue themselves. Give them the option first. Personally, I would rather have MB carry out the rectification work but will be expensive as MB labour rates will aplly (approximatly £120 per hour around my area). I would imagine that MB would want at least 2HRS labour.

 

[Voltan]

Any help on the "I" from the Star printout

 

[television]

http://www.alldata.com/tsb/Mercedes-Benz/1155884400000_1157612400000_P-54-10-176/5410176.html


This is not the one that I wanted but it should do. I have been through thousands of pages today looking,only read it last week whilst answering a thread. Sadly I have answered 176 threads in the last 7 days

This is a Star document that you can print out.

Best regards Malcolm