I lent my '90 190E 2.6 to my sister and her husband for three days while they were visiting here. Today I get a call and they ran out of gas on the freeway. They managed to pull to the shoulder and I told them to call my ins. company because they offer roadside assistance. But then I decided that it would be quicker to just get a gas tank and meet them since they weren't too far away. Got there before the roadside assistance came, and I guess they had called or flagged down a highway patrol person. He cancelled the roadside assist, so I was told. Anyway, I poured in about a gallon of gas and the car started. We went back to my place, and from there to the gas station and then to the train station.

So while I was driving the 190E, I noticed the CEL lit. I couldn't check it until I got home. It was a code 17. I reset it and now the CEL is off. What is a code 17? I thought for the 103 engine it's up to code 12? Also, I drove the car for about 50 miles with CEL on before I could reset it. Had to take my sister and her husband to the train station.

The car now has a full tank of 91 gas and the CEL off. Anything to worry about? I just don't like the idea of running the car till it runs out of gas. I was a bit annoyed that it happened. Apparently they thought the car had enough gas. They said it was at the qtr. mark and thought it was enough to get to my place and get gas. Looks like they didn't see the gas light come on.

Nothing to worry about at all... These things throw codes like nothing..

Code 17 - Oxygen Sensor is shorted to positive or ground

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Running out of fuel can cause wear to the fuel pump, it is lubricated by fuel. Fortunately however, once the fuel pump is pulling enough air to not develop proper pressure, the engine won't run and the ECU shuts off the fuel pump with no spark (CIS-E/your car).

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

So does this mean my O2 sensor is now ruined?

Should I start listening for weird noises coming from fyel pump?

I don't know why my sister or her husband didn't bother to fill up the tank to begin with. It's not that they weren't going to do it, just should have done it sooner. I'm a bit irritated now.

Be thankful they came to visit you. You'll be throwing parts at your 19-year-old car anyway (ask me how I know).

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Prost!

If your O2 sensor were bad the code would have came right back. The fuel pump is fine. cars run out of gas all the time with no harm done.

Relax and enjoy the ride.

Thanks for the info, guys. I can be very picky about my cars and how they are treated, and having one of them lent to other people and not really knowing how it was driven plus this issue of running it dry just got me all crazy concerned, hence my irritation. I could have said no when my sister asked if she could use my car, but I wouldn't feel right. Besides, this was my first time to meet my BIL, and I wanted him and my sister to enjoy their stay here.