i have a 1999 s 420 with 80052 miles on the odometer. the check engine light came on at approimately 80000 miles on the odometer. a friend suggested i take the negitive battery cable loose an reconect to see if this would cause the light to go out. i did this an the light was out for about the next 50 miles an now the light is back on. i purchased the car from the original owner on january 26 2006 with 71000 miles on the odometer. he provited me with the service records when he owned the car. when reviewing these i find he replaced the left and right oxygen sensors after the catalyst at 62744 miles on the odometer because the check engine light had come on. sugestion are appreciated. will i do damage driving the car short distances? thank you

You need to have the specific diagnostic trouble codes pulled to find out which ones triggered the check engine light. Otherwise, you are just guessing. Depending on what is triggering the light, yes you may be causing expensive damage.

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08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

Drive another " short distance " to the M-B dealer, or any competent mechanic, that is familiar with M-B's.
Have the troublecodes read and then report back here with the code numbers.
Somebody here can probably point you in the right direction, after receiving this vital information.
P.S. tell your friend not to delete any stored troublecodes, without first recording them.

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2007 C 230 Sport.

McParts stores like Auto Zone will also read your codes for you for free.

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Len
'59 220S Cabriolet-SOLD and living happily in Malta
'83 240D 351,500 miles original owner-SOLD
'88 560SL 41,000 miles - totaled and parted out
https://sites.google.com/site/mercedesstuff/home
'99 E300 turbo 227,500 miles
'03 SLK320 40,000 miles - gave to my daughter
'14 Smart electric coupe 28,500 miles
'14 Smart electric cabriolet 28,500 miles
'15 Smart electric coupe 28,000 miles

sokoloff made me aware that auto zone would do the code check for me. i called auto zone this am to see if they would have time to do this if i brougt the car in within the hour. the answer was affirmitative. on the way their. approximately 20 miles, i stopped to fillup with gas. when i went to remove the gas tank cap i notice the cap was just sitting on the tank. my wife was driving the car the last time gas was put in the car. she said since she did not know how to do this, she had her lady friend riding with her put the gas in for her. i filled the car with gas an put gas cap on properly. on the way to auto zone the ligft went out. i asked the person at auto zone if the gas cap was left loose could this cause the light to come on? his answer was yes. i forgo any additional check but will return should the light come back on. any additional thoughts you may have will be appreciated

A loose gascap will trigger a check engine light on just about any newer car.
Can't have all those Hydrocarbons spewing into the air.
Looks like you cured the " problem ".

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2007 C 230 Sport.