Code Reader for W124?
 

Hey Guys,

What type/brand code reader does anyone use on their W124? Specifically, I'm looking at my '91 M103.

Or does it make more sense just to make my own?

Thanks.

I would suggest building your own. It is simple and most of the people on this board will relate to the results from it.

If your car is not Cal version, 91 did not have much for code storage.

But the tol is coolanyway.

Here is some info on all the codes .

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/1039/mercedes/cs1000_mb.pdf

I think I'll take a shot @ building my own.

While not specifically about W124's there's a lot of good info here about Scanners including a good diagram to make your own:

http://pages.prodigy.net/jforgione/MB_X11.html

Good info Arthur. Thanks!

You're Welcome
Make the tool..with all those cars , you will use it somewhere.

I made one for a Tech friend of mine [ He owned an Indie shop] and he liked it better than his scanners. I made it from a small pocket flashlight, with the led in where the reflector was ..so it fit his hand nice and you could see it well, even in strong sun b/c of the reflector,etc. Ran the leads out the bottom, etc...was cool. Bright Yellow too , Fluke Yellow... like any good meter should be...:)

SOOOO,

I went there one day and he was under the hood of a car with the owner standing next to him, he's looks over to me, takes the tool up to his mouth like a microphone, and he talks into it like it was VOIP ...'" Requesting Diagnostic Initiation, Chassis xxxx, Vin # xxxx ..bla,bla, bla ..."
While he is doing this, he is pressing the button for code flashback...as soon as it starts to retrieve , he tips the head of the flashlight over to the owner to see the Red Flashes comng back ...the guy looks and shakes his head YES ..I see it ..Cool.

We are in the corner with all we could do from rolling on the floor..

He is a fuuny guy... did he whole thing without cracking a smile...Cust didn't have a clue..

OBD2 didn't arrive until 1995.

All your car has is a flashing LED--count the flashes, reference the manual. There is no "connection" for a code reader.

Now That's FUNNY!
 

Thanks for sharing Arthur, I was ROTFLMAO for 15 minutes! There's no way I could have have stood by a watched that show without cracking up!

I still LMAO even when just telling the story.....

..he was so good at the ad-lib way he did it, I almost think he could have fooled me if I hadn't known better. It was the perfect spoof.......

I will never forget his opening. dead serious line ..."Requesting Diagnostics Initiation "'....Perfect..just like he was talking into some new High Tech NASA Programmer or something...:):):)

Hey Guys,

I built a nice little code reader as described in various links provided here and attempted use as described.

And it didn't go as planned. As I understand, I should plug Black into #1, Yellow (green in my case, no yellow wire :D) into #3, and Red to + on the Battery. Then hold button in for 3-5sec & count flashes. Well, I don't get any flashes, not even the one for "No Fault Codes". Key was on. The LED lite when the button was pushed, but I got no flashes after release. :confused:

I double checked my device to the wiring diagram & it checks out.

Any ideas??

PS: Can someone link me to stevebfl's article on "Evaluating Electronic Engine Controls"? I checked DIY & searched, but couldn't find it...

What DM box do you have?

I'm using the 16pin connector on the firewall in front of the battery on my '91 M103.

OK
Is it Cal version?

You will know that b/c the 16 pin will havea Built-in Led/sw combo..

Anyway, First test your tool

Rd on Bat +, blk on bat -...push button and led will light

Rd on bat +, odd color on bat - , should have Led On w/o pushing button

If Yes to test.... go back and do initiation again, but only hold for 2 secs.

Not CA version.

There's no built in LED. In fact, there's no wire in the #16 hole at all.

Homemade meter works perfectly as you described.

Tried it just holding the button for 2 sec and it worked! I got one blink for "no code".

I'm assuming that I probably cleared any codes that might have existed by holding the button down too long earlier...

Thanks Arthur!

Does anyone have the link to steve's Evaluating Electronic Engine Controls article? I need to re-learn duty cycle.