Check Engine Light C230
 

I've done a search and have been unable to find the info I need > so here goes:

Car: 1997 C230 // body W202 // engine - M111

I crank up to drive to work the other morning - and I get about half a mile - the car has a sudden change - runs like POS - no power, CEL comes on > I turn around and take another car to work.

I borrow a neighbors OBD-II tester> "gonna pull some codes".... I look under the driver instrument cluster .. no OBD-II port.. I look under pax side... no OBD-II port. >> I don't have a 16 pin OBD-II port/?

I do have the 38 pin plug in the engine compartment.

Am I missing something? I ahve the Haynes manual for the C230 > does not even mention OBD-II

I thought it was mandatory that at model year 1997 that cars sold in USA had the OBD-II port???

One of the pieces on this site said maybe in the drivers footwell... ??

any clues?

I look for a adapter for the Benz 38 pin connector to a 16 pin OBD-II connectoron ebay .... no joy

sugestions??

Has to be there somewhere - within 3 feet of the driver and accessible without tools.

On the '98 it is directly above the driver's legs. Sounds like a AMM problem but pull the code and see if it is the usual P0170.

Found the OBD-II port... it's behind a small "door" ...under driver rightleg.

Plugged in the OBD-II meter > it had 2 fault codes #3 and 4 cylinder misfire. I change out all spark plugs, and take for test drive >> all back to good.

Erase codes and all is back to normal

<http://catalog.peachparts.com/ShopByVehicle.epc?q=&yearid=1997@@1997&makeid=MB@@MB@@X&modelid=C%2D230%2D001@@C+230&catid=F@@Engine +Electrical&subcatid=F1010@@Spark+Plug+Connector&applicationid=000429429&mode=PA>

Buy two of these and put them under each coil.

http://catalog.peachparts.com/ShopByVehicle.epc?q=&yearid=1997@@1997&makeid=MB@@MB@@X&modelid=C%2D230%2D001@@C+230&catid=F@@Engine +Electrical&subcatid=F1010@@Spark+Plug+Connector&applicationid=000429429&mode=PA

The plug change was the remedy..these are the cause.

Arthur,

Are you saying that these connectors make the plugs go bad, or that these are bad but new plugs have masked the symptom for awhile?

The coil plug connectors are Resistors and they are Infamous for mis-fire failures on Waste Spark Ignition systems . They cause low ignition coil voltage at the plugs, so the plug foul after a while..New plugs will do the same in time..........
Any experienced Benz Tech will change these when they change the plugs b/c they are aware of that common fail condition , so it is standard procedure to change them at a regular plug change.
The ones on the open plugs do not suffer from this condition, only the ones under the coils b/c they are engine heat trapped and do not have the snap connection.

Thanks. I will probably need those some day!

if the knock sensor or the irregular running threshold detects a misfiring cylinder, the engine control unit is going to dis-able that cylinder bu cutting off the fuel supply. this is to avoid unburned fuel getting into the catalytic converter which could damage the catalyst.
fault code will be stored.