looks like i need to buy a scanner. what kind should i buy and how much should it cost(ebay ?) will it clear all codes or just emission codes? i have a 97 sl500 , a 2000 e320 and a 96 acura 3.5rl . will it work on all?

Should work on all three cars. It will clear all OBDII codes that it can read. Innova and Actron seem to be the popular brands - available just about anywhere including Wal-Mart nowadays. Should cost $50 to $150 depending on functionality. Try a search above - lots of info.

This is a good idea for 1996 & later...


http://www.obddiagnostics.com/

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

The advantages of heavy handed big government, any scanner will work on any car (after 1996). There hasn't been a standard that standard since license plates were required. Just wish they have used a USB port

Do a search and you'll find this topic has been discussed a number of times. Lots of good background in the archives.

As others have noted, if you JUST want to read OBD-II codes, any standard scanner will work thanks to Uncle Sam.

But, keep in mind that generic, inexpensive scanners will not let you see the Mercedes CAN or the diagnostic codes for many of the systems in the car. If you want to get into the detailed codes, its much more money.

__________________
KenP

1996 S500 W140 Coupe

Actually any standard scanner should work, but tht is not always the case. As an example I had to scan a 97 cheap class because the MIL was on. I used my Snap-On scanner and it wasn't recognized. Thinking there was something wrong with my scanner with a 2003 update, I went to a friend's shop and used his Snap-On scanner. Same story. I hooked up his Baum scanner and pulled the codes. To really be able to do everything you need an MB Hand Held Tester or the MB tester the dealers are now using. Trust me. You are not going to get much with a $50 scanner. You might be able to pull a few codes, but then what are you going to do with that information. You get a code that says fuel trim data not plausible. What the H does that mean?

__________________
Auto Zentral Ltd.

An OBDII scanner will only read the standerd set of OBDII codes, as well as read off SOME factory codes provided they are in the same format. For the factory codes the scanner CAN read, you'll need to source a chart of em.