I got a P0400 today. Funny thing is, I think the dealer fixed it a year ago before I bought the car.

I'm wondering if the P0400 is cold weather related. My car has been spoiled by the cold (and lack of snow), it's been in the garage. But, since it snowed yesterday, my wife gets the garage. The E300 sat out overnight for the first time this year, and within 5 miles of driving I've got a P0400.

I know to trace the solinoids and check out the little filter looking thingy. I'm just wondering if this is 'normal' and I should keep a solinoid and filters around as spare parts. Or, will this clear up with the weather?

I'd take a poll and ask how many other E300 guys are having P0400's....


jnc

99 E300
99 Boxster (the other car in the garage
03 S type (the car that evicted mine from the garage
70 914/6. (in winter storage

JNC,

I got the same error last weekend. I left my car out (plugged in) but still outside, and got the CEL and Check Electronics message. I cleared the code and it hasnt come back. I am thinking its time to clean and lube the EGR valve again.

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Dennis
2006 E320 CDI Black/Black Leather. Nav, HTD Seats HK stereo 32000 miles.
2000 VW Passat 1.8t 300,000 miles as of Dec 09, 2009 original owner
1997 E300d Silver 300,000 miles As of Jan 05, 2010
3rd owner SOLD

I got a P0400 on my 98 E300D. It happened on the coldest day of the year when it was outside. The CEL went out so it seem like a one time thing. Now it's in the garage and hasn't come back. Have you done an ERG clean and lube yourself? Is it easy?

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1998 E300 Turbodiesel 190,000 Elsbett Conversion
(Sold) 1992 300D over 251,000 Greasecar Conversion
Over 70 K of veggie miles total.
Follow link below to see the conversions and instructions.
http://www.geocities.com/jaycimini/MainNavigationPage.html

My 1996 E300 has been out all winter, and we have had a stretch of below-zero mornings here. No errors for me.

No errors since I bypassed that sucker 40,000 miles ago. No grunge in the intake manifold, either.

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‘84 300TD “Mountain Goat”
'62 300d Adenauer-350 Chevy - "Max"
'15 VW Passat TDI
'16 Dodge Ram 3500 - Cummins w/6-speed
'68 Mustang fastback
'55 T-bird
‘63 Studebaker Hawk

I cleaned the EGR when I cleaned the intake manifold. I think its easier on the 96 and 97s since the EGR is very accessible, I believe with your Turbo 606, you would have to remove the intake manifold (which isnt terribly difficult just another step).. I would say its a saturday afternoon job. just make sure you have a new intake gasket before starting the project. Do a search on EGR and you will see how some have cleaned and or capped off the egr.

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Dennis
2006 E320 CDI Black/Black Leather. Nav, HTD Seats HK stereo 32000 miles.
2000 VW Passat 1.8t 300,000 miles as of Dec 09, 2009 original owner
1997 E300d Silver 300,000 miles As of Jan 05, 2010
3rd owner SOLD

As was stated it is not a difficult job on the turbo 606 but do start it on a Sat as you will want to let the intake soak with a good solvent (I used biodiesel) overnight to loosen all the crud. I spent more time on crud removal than doing del valves and R & R'ing everything else.

You'll want to get a new EGR seal ring (oring) in addition to the intake gasket.

Is also a fine time to change the fuel lines if they havent been done recently or swapping (E) orings out to viton.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)