95/C280 engine light on
 

My engine light came on yesterday, for what reason I can't figure out. The car is almost to 150k, 148k and change.
Any advice on why it's on and how to get it to turn off?
Thanks,
Shawn

Have someone scan that system for faults!

Your vehicle should be fitted with an LED in the diagnostic harness located on the right hand side of the engine compartment. This provides some limited information regarding the engine MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp). Press and hold the button for 3 seconds then release, count the blinks-pause for 5 seconds after each code and repeat the process until the codes are repeated.

We can provide you with some insight once we have an idea of the codes that are stored in that particular system , I believe it is the DM (Diagnostic Module). :cool:

Assuming the wiring harness has been replaced, try this before you get into a lot of diagnostics:
In the engine compartment, check every vacuum line you can get your hands on for hardening/cracking due to aging. These are the small, approximately 1/8" diam., white, maybe black, plastic lines you'll see throughout the engine compartment. Make sure they are all connected to something with a snug fit. If any duck behind the engine, follow with your fingers and make sure they attach somewhere. Very gently, squeeze and slightly bend every one with your fingers. They should be stiff but flexible. You'll feel it if one is hard and starts to crack. Those are the ones to replace. The two lines under the cover on top of the engine are especially vulnerable. Pull the cover and check them. Make sure the mating rubber connectors are soft with no cracks and the lines go into them securely. Lines and connectors are inexpensive and available at local MB dealer. You may be able to turn off the CEL light by disconnecting the battery at the negative post for a couple of minutes but if the problem is still there it will come back on. Have the radio code ready.
If the wiring harness has not been replaced or your aren't sure then search this forum for info on how to determine if your harness is bad. You can still look for bad vacuum lines but poking around near any wiring could make things worse.
Good Luck, Dan

I don't believe that any of the C-class sedans (w202s) had that particular diagnostic module. It was limited to the w201, w124, w126 (some, not all) and r129 (very early) models. The w202 had OBDII data connectors...you can take it to Autozone and they should be able to read the code(s) for you (free).

"95 202.028 is OBD11..... NO flash codes ..

To my knowledge vehicles fitted with engine MILs of that era were allegedly CA vehicles. The emission label under the hood will either be Yellow for CA Black for Federal. CARB (California Air Resource Board) mandated that vehicles sold in this state were to have general readout capabilities for SMOG testing, that way any repair facility could address a DTC. The LED would be mounted within close proximity of the control unit.

My knowledge of federal vehicles being outfitted with enigne MILs is somewhat limited. My understanding is MY 1995/96 is when the rest of the country needed to conform to the higher rulings mandated by EPA.

It appears it may be one of those days where I learn a little more about federal cars.

I stand corrected, I had the 202 confused with the 124, both were fitted with HFM so my immediate thought was directed to the X11/4s1 (LED). What was I thinking :confused: :headshot:

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, getting old and it starting to show :eek:

Common mistake, as both are HFM/SFI and 104 engines.
The '95 C class was first OBD11 production , where the late 124 were still Impulse format OBD1. [ w/led /16 pin with N59 diagnostic module . ]
All OBD11 from "96 on...