"Check Engine" light -> should I?
 

2 days ago, my "Check Engine" light came on on my '97 C230. The car seemed to work fine, so I continued to drive it. Yesterday, I noticed that the light didn't come on anymore. What's up? Should I have the car checked or leave well enough alone?

Thanks.

Most of the time the CE light is an indication of a smog-related problem, like the O2 sensor. The car will run fine otherwise.

The engine management system has the ability to adjust the mixture within defined parameters, so it can mask the problem. Once the adjustments reach the limits of the parameters, it can no longer compensate, and the light will eventually come back on again.

I'm no expert, so at the very least, take it to a shop that can pull the codes. If no codes, then press on...

On my 95 C220, my engine light also came on and stayed on. I had my mechanic run it through the computer and it turned out to be one of the O2 sensors. My car has two. I had him replace the other one since the car has 60,000 for maintenance measures. The light is off now.