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04-25-2017, 02:06 PM
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#1
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Contributing Member
2018 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Austin (Hays County)
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,164
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Check engine light
On way home from 200-mile trip, I stopped at my usual place for diesel. On leaving the station, the check engine light came on. The rig is right at 20,000 miles and had run beautifully the entire trip.
My first thought was that my arthritic hands did not get the fuel cap on tight, so I restarted it a few times after checking the cap. On about the 5th start, there was no check engine light, so I thought that was solved. I washed the AI ... still no light. I stopped for lunch and the light is back. I did a few restarts, and still a light. The engine runs fine.
We leave tomorrow morning for a 300-mile round trip. The manual says I have 500 miles and then I will get into the XX starts mode. Not much I can do but go.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2018 Interstate GT, "Sabre-Dog V"
WBCCI #9632
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04-25-2017, 02:21 PM
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#2
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3 Rivet Member
2014 22' FB Sport
2017 28' Flying Cloud
Southwest Ranches
, Florida
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 170
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Did you fill the DEF tank? If not that will cause your engine management software to limit the remaining number of starts.
My 3.0 L diesel's light came on at about 30,000 miles. Mercedes said it was a sensor for the particulate filter. They repaired it under warranty.
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04-25-2017, 02:45 PM
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#3
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Contributing Member
2018 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Austin (Hays County)
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,164
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Plenty of DEF. I topped it off just to check and there was plenty in the tank. Low DEF lights a second symbol on the panel and only the engine symbol was lit.
I did run an oil check and it was a quart low, so I added a quart. It now indicates oil full.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2018 Interstate GT, "Sabre-Dog V"
WBCCI #9632
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04-25-2017, 04:15 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2024 Interstate 19
Fulton
, Maryland
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3,867
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Are you getting any other messages with the "Check Engine" light (aka Check engine indicator lamp)?
__________________
- - Mike
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2024 Airstream Interstate 19e AWD
Previous: 2013 Airstream Interstate 3500 Ext Lounge
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04-25-2017, 04:50 PM
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#5
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Contributing Member
2018 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Austin (Hays County)
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,164
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boxster1971
Are you getting any other messages with the "Check Engine" light (aka Check engine indicator lamp)?
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No. Absolutely nothing else indicated. That is what puzzles me. The CE light came on just after refueling after a 200-mile uneventful trip. That's why I first thought it might be a fuel cap not tight.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2018 Interstate GT, "Sabre-Dog V"
WBCCI #9632
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04-25-2017, 06:15 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2024 Interstate 19
Fulton
, Maryland
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3,867
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pahaska
No. Absolutely nothing else indicated. That is what puzzles me. The CE light came on just after refueling after a 200-mile uneventful trip. That's why I first thought it might be a fuel cap not tight.
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OK - you have obviously looked at the owner's manual. Since you mentioned the 500 miles and start limits I assume the CEL was on steady. If it flashed or is flashing it could be the other caused in the manual. Since the light did go out once it also may be nothing. Either was best to take it to dealer that can check the codes and isolate the problem.
BTW - diesels like the Sprinter don't have the vapor recovery systems so the van will run fine even without a fuel cap.
__________________
- - Mike
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2024 Airstream Interstate 19e AWD
Previous: 2013 Airstream Interstate 3500 Ext Lounge
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04-25-2017, 06:41 PM
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#7
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Contributing Member
2018 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Austin (Hays County)
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,164
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It is due for service soon after this rally. If there were any other symptoms of engine problems, I would be a lot more worried. Seems like the fact that the light did go out for several starts would indicate a marginal condition.
The diesel I filled up with was at my usual station, but the light came on so quickly after refuelling that it was certainly still burning the previous fillup that had taken us about 400 miles without problems.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2018 Interstate GT, "Sabre-Dog V"
WBCCI #9632
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04-25-2017, 07:49 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2007 28' International CCD
Springfield
, Missouri
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,423
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Check engine light
Go to a Oreillys Auto parts and tell them you had a check engine light come on.They will plug in a hand held OBD2 scanner and retrieve the stored code in the vehicles ecu.That way you know what happened.This is a free and very simple procedure.Takes maybe 5 mins.Guessing is a waste of time.
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04-26-2017, 08:22 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2007 Interstate
League City
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,139
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I thought NCV3s had built-in OBD scanners? Maybe not. Either go to a parts store, OR, you can buy one and plug it in and leave it there, in the port. We did this. It communicates by Bluetooth with i-devices. It's easier than lugging around a hand-held unit, which is what we used to do. My husband knows which brand ours is.
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04-26-2017, 09:34 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2024 Interstate 19
Fulton
, Maryland
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3,867
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Moflash
Go to a Oreillys Auto parts and tell them you had a check engine light come on.They will plug in a hand held OBD2 scanner and retrieve the stored code in the vehicles ecu.That way you know what happened.This is a free and very simple procedure.Takes maybe 5 mins.Guessing is a waste of time.
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Those generic OBD2 scanners at auto parts store will not help much on a diesel Sprinter. You need to go to a Mercedes, Freightliner or good independent shop that has access to the unique codes used on the Sprinters, especially the NCV3 models.
The new Sprinters do not have built-in OBD scanners, but they do offer some info messages on the dash display. However the OP, Pahaska, only got the CEL without any additional messages. It could be just an ECU glitch or a sensor going bad. Only a full scan with access to data will help.
__________________
- - Mike
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2024 Airstream Interstate 19e AWD
Previous: 2013 Airstream Interstate 3500 Ext Lounge
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04-26-2017, 09:50 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2005 30' Classic
Burlington
, Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,743
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I bought one of the OBD2 bluetooth code readers that just plugs in and transmits data to an iphone/ipad. Only about $30 and at least lets you know what is going on! Handy to keep in the truck. It can also monitor many other engine parameters and you can customise ipod displays.
I bought it on Amazon or Ebay.
__________________
Brian & Connie Mitchell
2005 Classic 30'
Hensley Arrow / Centramatics
2008 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD,4x4,Crew Cab, Diesel, Leer cap.
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04-26-2017, 10:22 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2006 22' Interstate
Port Angeles
, Washington
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 936
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Ive seen 'new stored' codes not light up the CEL until after a restart. So it may have nothing to do with re-fueling, but rather just a shut off and restart.
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04-26-2017, 01:51 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2011 Interstate Coach
Overland Park
, Kansas
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,798
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You can also check out a ScanGauge II as it can display codes and a lot of engine parameters. It worked for me when my NOx sensors went Tango Uniform. It plugs in to the OBD II port.
__________________
Glass half full or half empty to an engineer is the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
2011 Interstate SOLD! Upfitted 2017 Transit 350. SOLD!
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04-26-2017, 03:06 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2013 Interstate Coach
Waterloo
, Iowa
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,598
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A simple restart (or two or three or ...) is not enough to reset the CEL if in fact the problem has gone away. A reset of the CEL is allowed (by EPA) if the problem does not re-occur in a certain number of driving cycles. Google Mercedes Sprinter Driving cycle and you'll see how to put the engine through a driving cycle. (It may help to rub your stomach and pat your head too.) I suspect the MB dealers have a device that can reset things without having to go through the driving cycle - but they will probably charge you to do so.
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04-26-2017, 04:42 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2007 28' International CCD
Springfield
, Missouri
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,423
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Check engine light
[QUOTE=Boxster1971;1941216]Those generic OBD2 scanners at auto parts store will not help much on a diesel Sprinter. You need to go to a Mercedes, Freightliner or good independent shop that has access to the unique codes used on the Sprinters, especially the NCV3 models.
The new Sprinters do not have built-in OBD scanners, but they do offer some info messages on the dash display. However the OP, Pahaska, only got the CEL without any additional messages. It could be just an ECU glitch or a sensor going bad. Only a full scan with access to data will help.[/
Simple to check as a Sprinter is not the space shuttle.When a CEL light comes on that code is stored in the ECU for up to 100 restarts in most cases.But no worries
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04-30-2017, 02:39 PM
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#16
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Contributing Member
2018 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Austin (Hays County)
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,164
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I drove it 125 miles to the rally Wednesday and 125 miles home today with the CE light on. No problems. Got the usual 18.5 mpg going and 17.6 coming back against a wind. The engine was smooth as always.
I'll call FreightLiner tomorrow and see when I can get them to scan it for me. I can't believe it is anything very critical given the way the rig runs.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2018 Interstate GT, "Sabre-Dog V"
WBCCI #9632
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05-01-2017, 09:21 AM
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#17
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4 Rivet Member
2014 Interstate Ext. Coach
Camas
, Washington
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 288
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pahaska
I drove it 125 miles to the rally Wednesday and 125 miles home today with the CE light on. No problems. Got the usual 18.5 mpg going and 17.6 coming back against a wind. The engine was smooth as always.
I'll call FreightLiner tomorrow and see when I can get them to scan it for me. I can't believe it is anything very critical given the way the rig runs.
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Good luck and please post the result. On our maiden trip home I also got the engine icon light lit for about 80 miles, somewhere between Lake Charles LA and Houston TX then it went away ever since, 6000 miles ago.
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05-04-2017, 01:15 PM
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#18
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Contributing Member
2018 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Austin (Hays County)
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,164
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I took it to FreightLiner today and had it scanned. Both upstream sensors are DOA.
Then, I learned something. Mercedes will not reimburse FreightLiner for warranty repairs. In fact, even though it is a warranty item, I had to pay for an hour of tech time. You live and learn. FreightLiner will happily do routine maintenance and Mercedes accepts that. They were so nice there and a lot closer, I'll go back for maintenance.
Mercedes of Austin will not touch a Sprinter. I have to take it up to Mercedes of Georgetown to get it done. They will have to scan it again, but this time, I will not have to pay for it. I have an appointment for 10:00 tomorrow. I'll leave before 7:00 to avoid the worst of Austin work traffic and eat at Cracker Barrel close to Mercedes. I can kill some time at the outlet mall which is better than fighting traffic.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2018 Interstate GT, "Sabre-Dog V"
WBCCI #9632
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05-04-2017, 05:11 PM
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#19
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3 Rivet Member
2011 Interstate Coach
Evansville
, Indiana
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 239
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pahaska
I took it to FreightLiner today and had it scanned. Both upstream sensors are DOA.
Then, I learned something. Mercedes will not reimburse FreightLiner for warranty repairs. In fact, even though it is a warranty item, I had to pay for an hour of tech time. You live and learn. FreightLiner will happily do routine maintenance and Mercedes accepts that. They were so nice there and a lot closer, I'll go back for maintenance.
Mercedes of Austin will not touch a Sprinter. I have to take it up to Mercedes of Georgetown to get it done. They will have to scan it again, but this time, I will not have to pay for it. I have an appointment for 10:00 tomorrow. I'll leave before 7:00 to avoid the worst of Austin work traffic and eat at Cracker Barrel close to Mercedes. I can kill some time at the outlet mall which is better than fighting traffic.
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My local Freightliner dealer replaced a DEF tank heater under emissions warranty last year. However, they also sell MB Sprinter vans and have a Sprinter technician on staff. The dealer you went to must not sell Sprinters or doesn't want to deal with warranty paperwork. Since Daimler AG owns MB and Freightliner, warranty costs likely get reimbursed to the dealer by the Daimler mothership eventually.
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05-04-2017, 06:17 PM
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#20
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Contributing Member
2018 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Austin (Hays County)
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,164
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BurntAsphalt
My local Freightliner dealer replaced a DEF tank heater under emissions warranty last year. However, they also sell MB Sprinter vans and have a Sprinter technician on staff. The dealer you went to must not sell Sprinters or doesn't want to deal with warranty paperwork. Since Daimler AG owns MB and Freightliner, warranty costs likely get reimbursed to the dealer by the Daimler mothership eventually.
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They sell Sprinters and several are on their website. Several Sprinters were in their shop when I was there. Maybe it is because there is a Mercedes dealership in the area that can do the work. I can only go by the guy on the desk, who was very professional and helpful. Made me want to go there for service. Nice clean shop and I counted 4 Sprinters being worked on.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2018 Interstate GT, "Sabre-Dog V"
WBCCI #9632
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