Hi!!

My engine diagnostics light appeared recently, just after I changed gears whilst accelerating rather quickly. I was wondering if anyone knew if this was a really urgent problem which I should get fixed quickly, or whether or not I can wait until my next service. I have a 2002 SLK200. My service is due in about 5000 miles...I just don't really want to spend £100 or so, for the garage to simply connect the car to their computer and switch the light off, if it can wait! The car is running perfectly, apart from this.

One guy at Mercedes said this light can come on if you just fill up with petrol, and said it isn't really something to worry about. However, another guy told me I really need to get it checked out asap in case it breaks down. They both worked at the same garage and I explained exactly the same problem to both of them!!


Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks,
Lois

 

Hi Lois,
Think you have to make the call on this one. There's probably a very good chance that nothing is wrong. I would check levels, and monitor all read outs on dash until you go in for the normal maintenance. I have had several other cars which did the same thing, and there was never any thing wrong.

 

Hey Lois!

I'm going to assume you're somewhere in the UK being you have a 200 and obviously the £ symbol[sm=icon_beat.gif]. Here in the US, we have auto parts stores that will read the error codes for free when the CEL comes on. If there's some place similar there, that would be my first step to find out if it's an important issue or not. Anything you can do yourself is money in your pocket.

Good Luck!

Kevin

 

Hi Lois,

Could be something trivial or could be something more important. The call is yours. That's why it's called a "Check Engine Light".

If the light comes on there is something wrong!

People who say there is nothing wrong don't understand the system. The fault may not require immediate attention and it's possible that if the light is reset that it may never come on again, but this doesn't mean that there was nothing wrong.

The engine only has to misfire a few times (as a driver you might not even notice it) due to poor fuel etc and on will come the light. The light is there to warn that the emmissions certification of the vehicle is at risk. Leaving the petrol cap off can bring the light on but replacing the cap will over a period of time turn the light off again.

However sometimes the fault is due to a transient condition which may not be experienced again especially if you drive with a little more restrait until you have had it checked out by the garage.

Where do you live in the UK?
If it is in the Midlands there is a chance I could tell you what is wrong.
However I suspect that you are in London.

Since the vehicle has not gone into limp home mode you should be OK, but the call is yours.

The likelyhood is that the engine experienced a transient misfire during hard acceleration due to something being near the edge. MAF, Plugs, Fuel etc.

You didn't give the mileage. 50k ish?

Stuart.