'06 E350 - OBD Code 2053 - PremAir Sensor

[Phalcon51]

I had recently posted about finding a stored code of P2570 - "Direct Ozone Reduction Catalyst Temperature Sensor Circuit High". Thanks to forum member mespe I learned that it actually referred to a temp sensor on the radiator associated with the catalyticly active coating on the radiator that converts ozone (O3) in the air flowing over the radiator surface to oxygen (O2). The prime purpose, it seems, of this sensor is simply to inform the computer that the catalytic coated radiator is present and has not been replaced with a non-SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) radiator. The sensor is attached to an aluminum mount with a Loctite 4204 adhesive.

I subsequently took the car in to my local MB dealership where they ran their own scan and came up with the following code:

"Code 2053 - PremAir Sensor - Short circuit to positive"

They're wanting about $725 parts and labor to replace the sensor.

It seems that the common failure mode is for the temp probe, an extension of the plastic housing, to fracture, breaking the internal wires along with it. Mercedes is offering rebuilt units for $157 (but with a whopping $635 core charge!) that can be glued into the radiator mount after removing the broken remains of the original temp probe. (My understanding is that MB will return the core charge even when the returned sensor has a broken off temp probe)

So here's my question - has anyone here actually replaced one of these, and what's the best way to remove the (possibly) broken off temp probe? And if it's not broken but just internally shorted or open, how best to break the adhesive joint and remove the entire sensor without doing any damage to the mount.

Also, I'm not sure if this sensor actually resides in the coolant chamber of the radiator or if it just senses the radiated heat outside the radiator. Anyone know?

I believe the sensor mounts on the lower right inboard side of the radiator and so will probably require removing the radiator to replace it but I'd like some confirmation of that.

Thanks for any help.

[97 SL320]

Hmm, I had read that Volvo invented this radiator system a while back but didn't know that it was being used.

This makes for an interesting issue. Can you be held liable ( through an emission test ) for an emission component that does not reduce the emissions from your own car?

Get a hold of a wiring diagram, and see if this is a 2 or 3 wire sensor. You might be able to use something else. I also don't see how a temperature sensor can tell the difference between a regular and cat rad.

[MAVA]

Here is link to all the modern diagrams, but you can only use this site with a windows machine, yet using only internet explorer browser, and to view the diagrams you need DXF viewer(Autocad File Viewer)

NEXEDGE StarFinder

Best of luck,

Martin

[97 SL320]

As a data point, I tried the site on a few browsers as a test and I'm not able to get past the selection screens:

Fire Fox 27.0.1

IE 11.0

I expected an error with FF, however it is asking for IE 9.0 or better even with IE 11.0, the site looks like it is from 2008 so there must be an upper limit.

I am able to get to some pages when searching through Google for a link so it appears that IE 11 partially works.