Mr. Hunter, I have a 1998 C280 with the Check Engine Light on. Took it to the dealership and they pulled the P0410 code and found a restriction in the left side air passage in the cyl head. They put a couple of cans of BG44K additive in the fuel tank and said if that doesn't clear it, they'll have to go in and manually clean the passage-cost-Apporx-$2500+! If theire's carbon build up in this passage way as they say, can't I just induce some "Sea Foam" additive through the brake vacume support line and to the fuel to burn it out that way?

Your suggestion(s) appreciated ASAP.

Thanks
Willyb

Sorry to note that BG 44K is a Fuel Injector Cleaner/Fuel Injection System Cleaner, and will have NO possible effect upon the secondary air injection passages.
http://www.bgprod.com/products/fuelair.html


Cleaning the secondary air injection passages is dirty work, but a very possible DIY.
I use many cleaners, (they change all the time), your local auto parts store can guide you when you explain what you are trying to do, (print this,and take it with you).
The car will be down for a few days to let the chemicals work, and plan on replacing the spark plugs after the chemicals burn through the engine.

P0410 Secondary Air Injection System Malfunction

This system uses a separate air pump (drawing fresh air) and a series of passages in the heads or metal and rubber tubes to force outside air into the exhaust stream and help the catalytic converter burn away excessive emissions.

Go to this link for more details on this code.
http://actron.com/faq_detail.php?pid=16298&id=13

Where are you?
Look through the following link for your location, you may find a good independent MB shop that can clean this issue up for a few hundred dollars.
Good MB Shops
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/good-mb-shops/

Have a great day.

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haven't run into this myself but from what i've seen
it usually requires the cyl heads to be removed.
can't see how chemicals can help but hey, who knows?
let us know.

george

how did they confirm the restriction? the way we do it at my shop is, when you are looking at actual values of the Mv of the oxygen sensor you first activate the air pump and see where the mv drops to, if it is not down below 40mv within 60 sec, you can remove the brake booster hose to create a vacuum leak which will simulate what a normal air pump does when on. by mercedes standard it should drop below 40mv with in 60 seconds. normal system will drop to under 20mv, to 10 or so. the tests require factory tools, using it's activation feature. this is what they should have done, you may want to call them and see what they say. the code could be simply an o2 sensor, vacuum valve, or even cracked vacuum lines. i am not saying they are wrong, just for that price it pays to do your own investigating

Can someone please tell me where the secondary air injection is located on a 1997 230C?

Thanks!