Engine management light came on, then went off after re-start

[MSG2004]

Hello. My car has covered about 19k miles and has FSH by MB and I've owned it and only one driver since new in 2016. MB GLE, 2.0D 4 Matic
I often do short runs of about 1/3 of a mile and 2 miles up and 20 mins wait and back, Today, we went to Kings College Hospital Denmark Hill, London - took us 1 hour and 50 minutes. in start-stop trace for most of the 17 miles from our home.

I parked up and then restarted the car to move it a foot or so, I noted the engine management light remain on, I let the car run for about 30 seconds and witched of the engine, wait 4/5 seconds, and restarted, the EML was no longer displaying. I restarted the car two in the next 40 mins, with no EML staying on. We did the trip back home in just under an hour, start-stop but a few miles run ( miles 3) miles on a 50mpy stretch. The light has not come back on and I stopped it and restarted a few minutes later, seems to be ok.
The car drove as it should. The car was last serviced as per schedule in August or Sept, can recall and the car has covered about 500/600 miles since

My sirst Merc a C class compressor in 2003, solf the car after about 5 years it was petrol/kompressor, serviced via MB until the warranty expired then just oil used to do 8/9 k miles a year and the EML used to come on but there was nothing wrong with the car

I've lost a bit of faith in this car as I am a bit worried it may happen again. All help will be greatly received.

I've read the threads/Google and some sites/forums/posters, are saying it may have been a glitch and re-set and should be ok, In your view, if it is to appear, will it happen soon, next drive after car has cooled down, warmed up and restarted, Yes, soory I'm clutch at straws but car to be 100%.

 

[gary87]

Does the EGR/DPF throw an EML or is there a specific light on the dash for it? If there's no specific light then surely that's what it is if you are only doing short runs?

 

[alecmascot]

There will be stored codes describing the issue that a mechanic with the right piece of kit can read and make an informed judgement.

 

[rf065]

Only time this happened to mine, was a couple of weeks prior to the light coming on and staying on. Problem was the Nox sensor. You really need to get the codes read to be sure what is causing it.

 

[DSM10000]

You experience the first (by the sounds of it), minor fault in 7 years and you lose faith in the car? I cannot help but think that you are overreacting.

An engine management light usually, but not always, refers to an emissions problem

It is being subject to all of the wrong driving conditions for a Diesel engined vehicle with many short trips , frankly I am surprised other problems haven't arisen.

The light went off so whatever event triggered it seems not to have reoccurred. Take it to a Mercedes specialist and ask them to scan for any stored codes and go from there.

 

[MSG2004]

Hello. I don't believe my car has DPF/EGR light, it was the EML.

Re the NOx sensor, the car did that at just over three years old just after service, the next day and EML remained on and the car was hesitating and one Nox sensor was replaced.

This time, it's gone off and drive back as I said, and car drove fine.

 

[DSM10000]

Hello. I don't believe my car has DPF/EGR light, it was the EML.

Re the NOx sensor, the car did that at just over three years old just after service, the next day and EML remained on and the car was hesitating and one Nox sensor was replaced.

This time, it's gone off and drive back as I said, and car drove fine.

The EML light will trigger if any problem with the emissions monitoring systems is found. This can include the DPF or EGR valve.

 

[MSG2004]

You experience the first (by the sounds of it), minor fault in 7 years and you lose faith in the car? I cannot help but think that you are overreacting.

An engine management light usually, but not always, refers to an emissions problem

It is being subject to all of the wrong driving conditions for a Diesel engined vehicle with many short trips , frankly I am surprised other problems haven't arisen.

The light went off so whatever event triggered it seems not to have reoccurred. Take it to a Mercedes specialist and ask them to scan for any stored codes and go from there.

Hello. I've had a Nox thing replaced. What I mean loss of faith as my cars are always 100% is that EML came on and off. If it was brakes gone/battery, wipers stopped working at least you know whats what and get it sorted but with this, its a bit like looking over your should for a few weeks.

About Diesel and driving, yes I know but I left work the year I bought the car did not plan to, hence lot less miles then covid, holidays abroad plus we have other cars and our Adult children prefer to drive their own cars when we go on long trips together, so car is hardly driven,

I will keep an eye on it and do as you said as Mercedes charge around 180 an hour last time I asked for the first hour/part hour possibly less

 

[MSG2004]

The EML light will trigger if any problem with the emissions monitoring systems is found. This can include the DPF or EGR valve.

Ok, I get it but a few years ago had those, it was the nox sensor and car EML stayed on and carry drove lethargically, so ATM, don't think its that.

 

[rf065]

Ok, I get it but a few years ago had those, it was the nox sensor and car EML stayed on and carry drove lethargically, so ATM, don't think its that.

There are two Nox sensors, it could still be one of them. It could be the start of Adblue issues too, without reading the codes, you'll never know until such times as the light refuses to go out.

 

[DSM10000]

Ok, I get it but a few years ago had those, it was the nox sensor and car EML stayed on and carry drove lethargically, so ATM, don't think its that.

That is what I was saying and I didn't suggest Nox sensors or anything else. The EML is there to indicate an issue at that point in time.

Whatever this is seems intermittent and is not currently affecting drivability.

Get the stored codes read and then you know what needs to be done if anything.

 

[AndrewOl]

Take it to a good Indy and they will charge you a lot less than a main dealer to run a star diagnosis.

 

[MSG2004]

Cheers all, I will see how it goes and then most likely take to an indy
Btw, I turned it on when I went out for a walk, no light, ran for a few seconds and I will driver her around tomorrow.

 

[DSM10000]

Cheers all, I will see how it goes and then most likely take to an indy
Btw, I turned it on when I went out for a walk, no light, ran for a few seconds and I will driver her around tomorrow.

Enjoy life and the rain!

It is a car, they go wrong and they can be fixed

 

[MSG2004]

Point noted

 

[Smiley]

Cheers all, I will see how it goes and then most likely take to an indy
Btw, I turned it on when I went out for a walk, no light, ran for a few seconds and I will driver her around tomorrow.

One of the worst things you can do with any ICE is to start it up and then switch it off shortly afterwards. Ideally each start is followed by a 10 mile ish drive to get everything up to temperature but that is not always practical. I would not fret over an EML coming on and then going off, it could be anything. I can pretty much guarantee that with your car and the journeys you do then you will be seeing the EML again for one thing or another - if I were a gambling person I would say NOx sensor or adblue tank problems caused by chrystalising (ageing) adblue fluid. You actually have a perfect use case for an EV; used EVs are very good value atm.