Diagnostic Help Ml320
 

CE light came on two days ago, dealer says that the computer says I need a new mass airflow sensor, I went home to think about it, CE light came off. I am questioning this diagnosis. I don't want to buy a new MAS if that is not the problem. Help!
1998 ML320 40Kmiles

Warranty?
 

Are you sure this isn't covered by your warranty? Doesn't sound like you are far out from under it if you are. If you bought the car from the dealer, stand your ground.

i'm assuming you're a lady?
not to play any gender crap..but maybe you should have a guy take it in and then see what they're diagnostic comes up with....
cause i hate it that women get taken more then men do with mechanical car repair estimates, etc....

proven on undercover tv assignments ugh....don't you hate crooked mechanics....

hope this helps...

This is a fairly common failure.
Gilly

A/F sensor failures on 112's are pretty common and if you get 2 drive cycles without a noted failure the light will go off but....... the code is stored in memory. I've also seen these cause a stumble and surge while accelerating without a CEL.

Watch for sticking EGR valves and broken intake pipes causing the same issues.


Joe

Worked on one just this week with AMM problem. The part was even fairly cheap $248.

I would definitely try to get goodwill coverage since you are still in the warrantee at least by mileage.

And I too hate dishonest technicians, I met one a couple years ago. Too bad I can't say that about dishonest customers. I see them every week.

I have seen more dishonest people on this site than I have ever met in 30 years of association with thousands of technicians. There is a great difference between dishonesty and bad judgement. There is a great difference between dishonesty and technical competancy.

It sounds to me like gender is not an issue here, as the diagnosis for the MAS is fairly simple, and indeed the CE light will go on and off as it fails.

The MAS part on most late-model cars is problematic thanks to stricter emission controls.

Hate to say it, but that's not much help with the diagnosis. Sorry to sound pissy, but you have no basis for assuming any kind of misdiagnosis in this case.

The M112 engine is durable, but the MAS is a problem in most late-model MB (and all other makes too) cars.

don't sound or be pissy...
i was just making a general statement...
a girl here was told by her honda dealership (who are supposed to be the best in customer service or at least one of the best)...that she needed all this added work to her car...gasket replacements, hose replacements, etc. etc. (on a 99' accord)...she asked me about it since i used to work at acura...and i told her to let her boyfriend take it in to a different dealership...he did and they said he didn't need anything but an oil change in maybe 1500 more miles...

so that is why i played the gender card

It’s sad that we live in a society where people capitalize on them whether it’s their gender, race, age, education, etc.

This is not only a problem with techs. My Mom took the 92 te in for a state inspection last week at a local indy in the Charlotte NC area and waas told the front end needed tie rod ens and the head gasket was leaking. Now, this is the same car I just did a valve job on 2 weeks ago and replaced the tie rods and idler arm bushings on. I told her to take it elsewhere and she went to Beck (local dealer) who informed her that the car was fine and was a really clean 92.

I took my PC in to a tech a few years back who told me the motherboard was shot, I said fine, fix it. I got the machine back and the motherboard was original but, the video card was new. When questioned, he admitted the M/B was fine, that the video card was the issue. When questioned as to why the m/b was charged out, he imediately started making excuses.

I dont care what you want done or what you are buying, someone somewhere is going to feed you a line of bull****.



Joe