Just had to reset the computer again - checked and got 12 flashes (indicates EGR sensor I believe - anyone confirm / correct me ?). That's the second time I've had this code, the last time was January '04 / ~128000 miles which makes it a ~22 months / ~12000 mile interval. Is this a common occurrence or am I looking at some (long term) problem ?
By way of additional information, the motor pinks (pings ?) quite heavily when hot and number 4's spark plug shows evidence of being the most significant oil burning cylinder - the rest all look quite healthy (motor burns ~quart per 1100 miles). Wish I could do something about the pinking - I've already had an MR2's motor destroyed that way - don't want to repeat that with this car :-(.
Any decent places in San Diego where I could have it checked out ?

Just a couple of basic questions: Are you using premium fuel in the car as recommended? Have you had the timing checked? Any good local mech should be able to look at the motor operation with his diagnostic devices.
Ben Carter

__________________
Ben Harrison Carter
1999 Mercedes ML320 87K
1992 Mercedes 300CE 89K
1995 Corvette 29K -- Sold Dec 09
1989 Mercedes 420SEL 99K -- (Sold 4/08)
1968 Mercedes 230S (106K) (Sold 9/06))
1976 Mercedes 450SEL 130K (Just sold - 06)
1961 Mercedes 220Sb (sold years ago)

Ben,
yup - we use the good stuff, or at least as good as we can find in San Diego. I've noticed with my MR2 that some gas stations' regular upsets that motor, but it doesn't sem to matter where we fill the Merc up at, it still rattles away when it's hot'n'bothered. Timing's dead nuts-on - had the timing light on it myself (I used to work on cars......). I'm beginning to wonder if it could be worth cleaning / flushing out the cooling system. I noticed a couple of blocked waterways on my MR2's head when it blew it's head gasket - ever been known to happen on these motors ? Sounds desperate I know, but ..........
Thanks for the reply.
Simon.

How about the timing chain or something of that nature ?? Rattles can even come from a loose belt/pulley etc. etc. It takes a real expert and a lot of luck sometimes to find a car noise of any kind !? Good luck... Ben Carter

__________________
Ben Harrison Carter
1999 Mercedes ML320 87K
1992 Mercedes 300CE 89K
1995 Corvette 29K -- Sold Dec 09
1989 Mercedes 420SEL 99K -- (Sold 4/08)
1968 Mercedes 230S (106K) (Sold 9/06))
1976 Mercedes 450SEL 130K (Just sold - 06)
1961 Mercedes 220Sb (sold years ago)