Evening all - a W208 back from the grave..

[Ten elena]

Welcome! Love the story and photos!

 

[kernowmcrae]

Evening all! Today was scheduled to be a full on Mercedes day, so bright and breezy, and Mcdonalds drive thru breakfast run complete, we headed into the workshop to tinker.

We managed to complete the fuel filter change, oil filter change, oil change and air filters, and the fun bit - replacing and overhauling the breather system to stop the oil contamination and MAF issues. Also reset the service computer while I was there.

Massive thanks to the original poster of the thread, without that information, I wouldn't have had a clue where to start. Needless to say we stripped and cleaned all the airways, from the airbox lid through to the cylinder head passages, replaced the breather valve and pipework, and de-clogged the brass jets, completed in a day. I didn't get a single photo owing to being too focussed on finishing the job, and absolutely filthy!

having taken the car for a bit of a shakedown, she feels great, I cleaned the MAF with contact spray and an airline, which seemed to do the trick, and can't wait to check the airbox after a few weeks for any further oil contamination. (The 4000rpm 'flatspot' and hesitation is gone, and the car pulls hard now)

Tomorrow evening is the transmission fluid change, looking forward to it, hopefully with a photo or two to go with the post.

On the subject of OBD scanners and tools - i've got an ELM327 USB, and have ordered the adapter as posted - any ideas of the best (Free?) software to use? I've downloaded 'EasyOBDII' which seems to talk to my interface at least, so i'll report back if i have any luck pulling the codes.

In all honesty, i'd like to firstly clear any old fault codes for my own OCD, and also re-initialise the Gearbox and engine management adaptations now that she'll have new fluids all round. will any generic software let me do what I want, or would I have to go genuine STAR?

Or do you know of a way to initialise the cars systems? I seem to remember reading a post about disconnecting the battery for 30 mins, then leaving the ignition on for 15 before starting the car - does that sound plausible?

 

[Dave Barlow]

Went to the unveiling of one of the first clk's in the country, at the Brentwood Centre, hosted by Grange Motors, Brentwood, Essex. Loved the shape ever since.
My son had a clk320 avantegarde for a few years, and apart from a minor maf fault, the only problem with it was the gearbox. Once it was warm, a fast getaway resulted in the gearbox disengaging itself and the engine redlining.
It had to be turned off for 15+ secs for the gearbox to then engage again.

 

[flango]

If you can get any details it might save me a headache, the wifi ELM is fragile but the bluetooth version run on my Samsung tablet is bullet proof. First thing I do now when I go to look at a car is plug in the dongle and download the codes and history then I know if I need to look any further at the car

Finally Sussed this the combination that works is OBD 1 to OBD 2 converter lead, elm37 Bluetooth adapter Samsung android tab running latest version of Android and an app called Carista. Torque and Facile don't work so it was the app all along will have a play and report back

Sent from my iPhone using MBClub UK

 

[John Jones Jr]

...de-clogged the brass jets...

Or do you know of a way to initialise the cars systems? I seem to remember reading a post about disconnecting the battery for 30 mins, then leaving the ignition on for 15 before starting the car - does that sound plausible?

Did remove the inlet manifold or attach the jets from below? Great to hear that the flat spot is gone - nothing worse. As for initialising the ECU, now I can only talk for a manual but all I need to do on the W202 is disconnect the battery for 30 mins and the allow up two hundred miles for the ECU to fully adapt.

 

[John Jones Jr]

Finally Sussed this the combination that works is OBD 1 to OBD 2 converter lead, elm37 Bluetooth adapter Samsung android tab running latest version of Android and an app called Carista. Torque and Facile don't work so it was the app all along will have a play and report back

Sent from my iPhone using MBClub UK

Great stuff. I actually did the get the information, in this case it was a left hooker '99 C230K.

 

[kernowmcrae]

evening all - I know this thread has wondered off into the wonderful world of DIY diagnostic interfaces, but wanted to update you as to a little discovery I've made this evening.

Acting on Flangos advice I purchased the Mercedes 38 pin to 16 pin OBDII adapter, and plugged it into my ELM327 clone USB interface. I had used this one previously with MultiECUscan (A Fiat/Alfa Romeo software, which really was rather superb!) but of course didn't have any generic diagnostic software installed on my Toughbook to test it!

I tried my luck and downloaded a free piece of software called Scantool.net, and after messing about with some which connected straight to the car, and found the following codes:

P0803 (1-4 Upshift (skip Shift) Solenoid Control Circuit
P0304 Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected
P0130 O2 sensor circuit

I know exactly what had caused the cylinder 4 misfire - When we pressure cleaned the engine bay, some water had welled up in a recess on the inlet manifold - going around a corner, the water had (I think) tipped into the aperture for the fuel injector, and shorted it out. A quick squirt of WD40 and a blast from an airline, and I was back on 4!

The other two seem to be linked to the MAF being lagged in oil - having carried out the breather repair and cleaned everything, the car's performing very well indeed, so I've cleared the faults, and will check again after a few miles have elapsed.

The car's going to see some more spanner time this weekend, with the transmission fluid being drained and refilled with the new spec 236.14 fluid, and fitting the new tyres!

 

[kernowmcrae]

Here's the computer i'm using - A Panasonic CF18 Toughbook (An awesome touchscreen ruggedised laptop) and a USB ELM327 interface.

 

[dozypillock]

evening all - I know this thread has wondered off into the wonderful world of DIY diagnostic interfaces, but wanted to update you as to a little discovery I've made this evening.

Acting on Flangos advice I purchased the Mercedes 38 pin to 16 pin OBDII adapter, and plugged it into my ELM327 clone USB interface. I had used this one previously with MultiECUscan (A Fiat/Alfa Romeo software, which really was rather superb!) but of course didn't have any generic diagnostic software installed on my Toughbook to test it!

I tried my luck and downloaded a free piece of software called Scantool.net, and after messing about with some which connected straight to the car, and found the following codes:

P0803 (1-4 Upshift (skip Shift) Solenoid Control Circuit
P0304 Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected
P0130 O2 sensor circuit

I know exactly what had caused the cylinder 4 misfire - When we pressure cleaned the engine bay, some water had welled up in a recess on the inlet manifold - going around a corner, the water had (I think) tipped into the aperture for the fuel injector, and shorted it out. A quick squirt of WD40 and a blast from an airline, and I was back on 4!

The other two seem to be linked to the MAF being lagged in oil - having carried out the breather repair and cleaned everything, the car's performing very well indeed, so I've cleared the faults, and will check again after a few miles have elapsed.

The car's going to see some more spanner time this weekend, with the transmission fluid being drained and refilled with the new spec 236.14 fluid, and fitting the new tyres!

At one meet I went to somebody said the older boxes run better with the older oil. The new spec oil is thinner, and designed for the 7 speed box. He said he had to redrain, and put correct oil in, then his box worked properly again. May be worth asking a bit more, as the older oil is also a lot cheaper, I believe.
I would probably suggest doing the filter and gasket, as they are not very expensive, then you know its all been done.
If its the 722.16 box, check the pilot bush whilst under there. Only about a tenner, and can cause problems as well.

Neil

 

[kernowmcrae]

Hi Neil- I must admit I've been reading back and forth regarding the fluid 'upgrade' and I felt I was doing the right thing- although mainly from anecdotal evidence of the forums regarding perceived improvements to the shift quality. The biggest clue I had was a Mercedes technical bulletin advising that all boxes regardless of manufacturing year should only be filled with 236.14 if changing now.

I've got a new filter, gasket and the red security tab- even a dipstick, so I'm good to go changing the fluid according to the Mercedes book- the only scary thing is the sheer amount of fluid needed- 14 litres!

I got a good deal on the fluid (Fuchs 4134 atf) shipped from Germany for £6 a litre, and see it as a good thing to preserve the gearbox longer term!