Here's a juicy one...My gilrlfriend had a 96 E300 Diesel. It has automatic headlights and so she is not in the habit of paying attention to the lights. As a result, she frequently needs to be jumpstarted after she valet parks the car and the valet guy turns on the headlights. Duh!! The last ime she called AAA, the guy ignored the jumpstarting procedure and now the check engine light flashes even when the car is off. Problem number two is that her car is from canada, as she is also from there, and the mechanics diagnostic computer is incompatible.. Does anyone have insight into this problem? I love power gadgets but automatic headlights are evil..

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1982 300D Turbo "Helga"
380,000 miles

I have never seen a diesel with a check engine light.....??


Warren
1992 300SD (140)
Columbus Ohio

I have never seen one either but it is a 96 model with alot of computer gizmo's in it. Her mechanic is supposedly getting the upgrade in his diagnostic test equipment so I hope he can work it out and I especially hope that it isn't some ridiculously expensive component.

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1982 300D Turbo "Helga"
380,000 miles

All passenger cars produced for No America have to be ODB2 compliant, ie: check engine lamp!!

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MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
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Retired Moderator

She got it worked out...no big deal. Thank god!

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1982 300D Turbo "Helga"
380,000 miles

Brad,

12 years ago I was in the towing biz. We had "Hot Boxes" onboard to jump start cars & trucks, they had a low and hi setting. We never used the high setting for any newer car with any kind of auto headlights, ABS, etc... Well, we should've never used high. More than one time did we try starting, say a Lincoln on low to no avail, only then to switch to high to start it for sure. Yeah they start, but just for a split second you see all four headlights flash as if someone took a picture. Other times after the car would start, the member would ask "Why is my ABS and/ or check engine light on?"... Of course you as a driver just shrug your shoulders and go on your merry way.

Sound familar??? Call & write a letter to AAA, not the station that responded, tell them what happened (that you were over boosted) and that you have to get the car repaired, and that you would hope that they make good for it. They are usually good with this kind of thing, it appens all to often with these new cars.

Been there, done that...

~George~