engine problems

c230_kS · 07-07-2003, 01:41 AM

any engine problems u guys encountering with c230 sedan?

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southernjim · 07-08-2003, 09:13 AM

Yes, my 230K sedan is two months old. Last Wednesday, while driving down the interstate the CHECK ENGINE light came on and the car started running rough. Once I turned the engine off and restarted it, it ran smooth as normal. Dealership checked it out on Thursday, claiming nothing showed up in the diagnostic report. CHECK ENGINE light and roughness started again Thursday afternoon. Again, turned the car off, restarted it and no more roughness. Dealership checked it out again yesterday. Nothing found once again. I was told the only service bulletin for engine roughness was to turn up the idle, (I don't think this will have any effect) which they did. As of this morning the mystery engine roughness has not resurfaced.
The technican also said I may have gotten some gas with moisture in it causing a cylinder to misfire. I wonder about this though, since just turning the engine off and restarting it seemed to cure the problem.
I'm just hoping it was an isolated glitch that does not become a recurring problem.

MarkL · 07-08-2003, 09:52 AM

I thought that most problems which cause the "check engine" light to light are logged for later retrieval. But I think the problem needs to occur for a certain length of time. I don't know how long you let the engine run with the light on, but if it happens again, you might want to let it run longer in the hope that the event will be recorded.

mctwin2kman · 07-08-2003, 12:18 PM

I have the same engine in my coupe and have 9500 miles in 5 months time, with me driving very aggressively. No problems as of yet.

Note that this engine is in the C230K Coupe and Sedan as well as the new SLK230 when it arrives. It is also used in many more vehicles in Europe. So I would assume that MB tested it for a while before sticking it in so many vehicles.

southernjim · 07-08-2003, 01:17 PM

I also assumed when ever the check engine light came on, there would be some type of tracer in the diagnostic system. Apparently, this is not the case in all conditions. It has happened twice, neither time did the dealership find any indications during checking (other than the check engine light being on).
As for amount of time the engine has run, during the first incident, the engine ran for about 5-10 minutes after the roughness started, the second time, less than 5 minutes. Surely the system wouldn't wait longer than that to record the fault into the diagnostic system.

champa · 07-15-2003, 05:47 PM

I think some auto stores do this code reading for free, then just jump on the forum and look for that list of codes that is going around.

breastroker · 07-15-2003, 09:35 PM

My 2003 coupe has been having idle fluctuations for a couple of weeks, I was going to take it to the dealers this Friday.
Got a check engine light, and the engine was shaking real rough. Checked the water temp and got off the freeway. Shut off the engine and checked the oil. I was able to limp home OK. This was at 4600 miles.

Took the car into Fletcher Jones today, no apointment just showed up first thing. They treated me very well, came back with a missfire code, P201A
Of course they could not get the same rough idle but did find the fuel pump amps going from 7.34 amps to 10.74 amps.
After they replaced the fuel pump they re-checked the amps, stayed 6.85 to 7.11.

Drove home OK for now.

07-08-2003, 09:52 AM	#3
MarkL MBWorld Fanatic! Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 1,230 Drives: 2002 C240 6-spd (ret)	I thought that most problems which cause the "check engine" light to light are logged for later retrieval. But I think the problem needs to occur for a certain length of time. I don't know how long you let the engine run with the light on, but if it happens again, you might want to let it run longer in the hope that the event will be recorded. __________________ 2002 C240 6-spd (ret)/C2/C4/Xenon/CD/Capri Blue/Java "Misinformation Verboten!" :)

07-08-2003, 12:18 PM	#4
mctwin2kman MBWorld Fanatic! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: York, PA Posts: 2,754 Drives: 2003 C230K Sport Coupe, 1986 190E 2.3	I have the same engine in my coupe and have 9500 miles in 5 months time, with me driving very aggressively. No problems as of yet. Note that this engine is in the C230K Coupe and Sedan as well as the new SLK230 when it arrives. It is also used in many more vehicles in Europe. So I would assume that MB tested it for a while before sticking it in so many vehicles. __________________ 2003 Pewter C230K SC C1, C4, C5, C7, heated seats, CD Changer, and 6 Speed. 1986 190E 2.3 Black, Auto, Mods to come soon.....

07-15-2003, 05:47 PM	#6
champa Almost a Member! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: florida Posts: 59 Drives: e500 4matic; c240	can't you check for yourself using a OBDII scanner I think some auto stores do this code reading for free, then just jump on the forum and look for that list of codes that is going around.

07-15-2003, 09:35 PM	#7
breastroker Super Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Las Vegas and Manhattan Beach, CA Posts: 723 Drives: 2003 C230 K , 2001 ML320	My 2003 coupe has been having idle fluctuations for a couple of weeks, I was going to take it to the dealers this Friday. Got a check engine light, and the engine was shaking real rough. Checked the water temp and got off the freeway. Shut off the engine and checked the oil. I was able to limp home OK. This was at 4600 miles. Took the car into Fletcher Jones today, no apointment just showed up first thing. They treated me very well, came back with a missfire code, P201A Of course they could not get the same rough idle but did find the fuel pump amps going from 7.34 amps to 10.74 amps. After they replaced the fuel pump they re-checked the amps, stayed 6.85 to 7.11. Drove home OK for now. __________________ 2001 ML320, Chrome 2007 grill , LED tail lights Orion Blue 2003 Coupe, Oyster cloth, Bi-xenon, 2004.5 Sports Sedan Wheels, auto, Sunroof, C32 AMG brakes, AMG sway bars and Eiback springs, Euro Comand, MB phone and voice control, 2005 grill and tail lights 2001 ML320 7 passenger, LED tail lights, W164 chrome grille, 2005 headlights with chrome trim, 2007 18 inch MB wheels. 1990 Bentley Turbo R w Azure chrome 17 inch rims

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07-08-2003, 09:13 AM	#2
southernjim Almost a Member! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 28	Yes, my 230K sedan is two months old. Last Wednesday, while driving down the interstate the CHECK ENGINE light came on and the car started running rough. Once I turned the engine off and restarted it, it ran smooth as normal. Dealership checked it out on Thursday, claiming nothing showed up in the diagnostic report. CHECK ENGINE light and roughness started again Thursday afternoon. Again, turned the car off, restarted it and no more roughness. Dealership checked it out again yesterday. Nothing found once again. I was told the only service bulletin for engine roughness was to turn up the idle, (I don't think this will have any effect) which they did. As of this morning the mystery engine roughness has not resurfaced. The technican also said I may have gotten some gas with moisture in it causing a cylinder to misfire. I wonder about this though, since just turning the engine off and restarting it seemed to cure the problem. I'm just hoping it was an isolated glitch that does not become a recurring problem.

07-08-2003, 01:17 PM	#5
southernjim Almost a Member! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 28	I also assumed when ever the check engine light came on, there would be some type of tracer in the diagnostic system. Apparently, this is not the case in all conditions. It has happened twice, neither time did the dealership find any indications during checking (other than the check engine light being on). As for amount of time the engine has run, during the first incident, the engine ran for about 5-10 minutes after the roughness started, the second time, less than 5 minutes. Surely the system wouldn't wait longer than that to record the fault into the diagnostic system.

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