My son borrowed my car, 1998 E300DT, for a trip to Washington DC last night, and called me while on the Jersey TPK with a problem. The check engine light came on, and also a notice to check engine electronics. The car has 48K, and no lights ever came on before. He had just filled up with, I hope, good Diesel fuel...He was sure it was diesel.(I hope it wasn't gasoline by accident as he has a C280 and is used to saying fill it up). The light came on about 15 minutes after the fill up. I called Roadside assistance, and they felt it was a minor problem probably related to some pollution control problem. The light stays on even pushing the reset button. My son felt that the car was stuck in one gear, probably 3rd or 4th for about 15 minutes, then after he said it felt like it was changing gears allright. He is in Washington now and I don't know what to tell him. The car seems to be working OK even with the warning lights on. Any thoughts about taking the 4 hour drive back to NJ with the warning light on? I don't want him to get stuck in a strange dealership so far from home. Any thoughts about the cause? No fluids were spilled on the controls. Anything he could check under the hood for a simple cause and cure? Thank you for any advice. RSL007

If you are certain that he didn't put gasoline by mistake, tell him to check the gas cap. Make sure that they put the cap correctly. Once everyhting in order disconnect negative from battery for a few minutes and reconnect. Check the instrument cluster for engine light. If off and reappears then you definetly have some problem and it will have to be scanned. If it doesn't light up your ok and it was probably the cap that wasn't secured correctly.

Vinamg

Vinamg: thank you for your reply. If you know, does a loose fuel cap give the same check engine light on the diesel as on the gas engine? Again, thank you for the info...will let you know what happened. RSL007

I think so. Not too sure, but check it out.