W215 Secondary air pump fault

[Davo]

My CL500 (MY2000) had a flat battery while camped at Silverstone for the MotoGP last weekend (like an idiot I sat for ages watching TV for the first time - it doesn't work where I live), and as the AA weren't likely to want to drive against all the traffic and come and find me, I had no option but get a jump start. Luckily I didn't blow the SAM, and all seemed Ok. However, the next morning the dreaded check engine light was on!

I don't think the flat battery/ jump start caused my problem, but I mention it in case its relevant - it seems a heck of a coincidence to me.

I drove home with no problems, but with the light on, and it has since gone out.

For peace of mind, I booked the car in for a diagnostic check with a specialist. The restart from a flat battery caused all sorts of codes, apparently, but the one that didnt go away was 'P2003 malfunction of secondary air injection (P0410)' Stored - and P2086-002 (left bank Enleanment below permissible limit) Current & stored, also P2017-002 (same, right bank).

To fix this, the quote is £720 to replace the pump and relay. I can't do it myself as STAR needs resetting, apparently.

2 Questions:

1) As the EML has gone out now, do I need to throw £720 at the car to fix a problem which has gone away, or will it come back and bite me if I don't? From what I understand reading the forum, the only effect is on emissions - maybe it will become an issue at MOT time?

2) I have a warranty with Autoprotect ( bought from the dealer when bought the car) which I have really assumed (after some internet research) was a waste of money, anyone ever get paid out for this sort of fault? Again I dont want to have it done unnecessarily, then get left holding the bill, but if they would pay to fix it, I'll have it done so I don't worry about it coming back to haunt me in the future.

 

[BlackC55]

Wait until the light comes back on. If it does not don't worry.

 

[Davo]

If its down to me, I'm not spending a penny to fix a fault that makes no apparent difference other than emissions at cold start, that shouldn't even fail it at the MOT. On the other hand, if the dreaded EML comes back on, I'm stuck with it until I sell the car, then I'll end up paying ££ to make it go away.

The garage has sent a report and the STAR printout to the warranty co, but they are skeptical over whether they'll pay, or manage to brush it off as 'wear and tear'. The garage agree that if they pay it'll get fixed, if not I'll live with it.

 

[Oli]

This pump is one of the most pointless and irritating parts on a car, I had trouble with it on my E55 when I first got it, short answer is, no it won't effect how your car runs in the slightest, and it won't effect emissions other than the first 30 secs or so you turn the car on, if you can I would live with the management light being on until you want to do something about it, mine was about £400 just for the part.

 

[mercedescl500]

I really wouldn't worry too much about it, its only working for the first 30s - 1min after startup. You can get a used Air pump or generic air-pump quite cheap. This is one of the easier problems to deal with when it comes to a CL. HTH.