Is my 1996 C180 OBD2 compliant, or is it something else?

AGC35

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Hello,

About a year ago, I purchased a 1996 C class, C180, Esport, petrol, 1.8, automatic, RH drive, 120,000 miles, W202?

I live in Cornwall UK, by the sea, and I’d like to use this car until at least 200,000

Just whistled through MOT, with only a few advisories, but I’d like to get hold of a diagnostic scanner for it.

Background: A while ago, the following lights came on as I braked hard at a roundabout: ABS fault, Worn brake pads, & Low brake fluid level/Parking brake applied, plus the speedo went to 0. I continued driving and got home, turned the engine off, and later that day started the engine, and everything was back to normal. So worried, but as the days went by, forgot about it.

6 months later, it goes in for the MOT, and passes – but the very next morning, those lights come on again, and the speedo stops. I made my journey, driving normally, sounded like I was going through the gears alright, arrived home, turned off the engine, but when I started it again, those warning lights came on again, and the speedo isn’t working.

Within a forum, it was suggested that severe braking within the MOT test can set these warnings off. When I picked up the car there were no warning lights – maybe they’d been re-set? There was an advisory of ‘brake pads wearing thin’, and the car is booked in to deal with that.

Meantime, my question is: Is it OBD2 compliant, and if so, where is the port? Or is it something else?

Please advise as elsewhere many causes & solutions have been suggested for similar occurences, and I’d like to see what a scanner says.

Thanks in advance.
 

LostKiwi

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No its not OBD2 compliant. The only readers I'm aware of will talk to it are Star and Cardiff (not iCarsoft).
A failing brake light switch can cause zimilsi issues otherwise probably a failing ABS sensor.
 
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AGC35

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Thank you LostKiwi, could a sensor be dis-lodged by the severe braking during an MOT, and maybe dis-lodged a little, if I'd approached the roundabout too fast and slammed on the brakes?
 

LostKiwi

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No, can't see how that would be possible.
 
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AGC35

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No, can't see how that would be possible.
Just took the car to the garage for tomorrow ... and sod's law, I started the car, no warning lights, and the speedo worked. Left it with the mechanic, who'll do the pads, and see what he can see. Thank you for your advice, which I passed on to the mechanic who will check the brake stop light switch, and the ABS sensor(s).
There was nothing different than earlier today, the rain was just as heavy, so no idea what changed.
PS the START diagnostic kit is a little too expensive for simple curiosity, and I couldn't see any CARDIFF equipment at all, except code explanations for a paediatric scanner.
I'll update this thread if anything changes ... thanks.
 
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AGC35

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Hello, especially LostKiwi if you're about.
Since my last entry, everything has been OK, but the 3 lights are on again now, no heavy braking or rain before they came on, just turned it on - and there they were.
Been like it for a week (with no speedo) so took it to my local garage, who tried their diagnostic kit, using a 38 to 16 pin converter, but they were unable to diagnose anything, therefore couldn't put the lights/codes out, so am booked in at a local MB specialist garage for their star 'reader'.
Have meantime bought a 2007 Matiz for my other half to tootle around in which is OBD2 compliant, and has a 16pin port - so have ordered a cheap scanner for the Matiz. Plus a 38 to 16 pin converter, just to try - should give the same result as above, but you never know.
Will advise what the MB garage says ...
 

LostKiwi

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38 pin to OBD will only give you the engine ECU as the only connected pins are 1,2,3,4.
The 38 pin connector has a pin for each ECU (many will be blank in most cars).
For example...
Pin 1 - ground
Pin 2 - Switched 12v
Pin 3 - permanent 12v
Pin 4 - Engine ECU
Pin 5 - Engine ECU (other bank on V12)
Pin 6 - ABS
Pin 7 - EA/ISC/CC
Pin 8 - Brake assist

And so on...
 
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AGC35

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I noticed that - looking closely I can see 10 holes with a copper 'ring' within them, and the rest are blank.
So. I may donate this connector to my normal garage ... I just feel at the mercy of the Merc garage, and felt I needed to 'do' something (looks like waste a few pounds - hey ho).
 
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AGC35

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Further to the main issue, the mechanic at my local garage, made almost a throw away remark about a possible cause of the speedo not working being a damaged cog 'ring' on the drive shaft.

I appreciate it is 'old skool' thinking but - work from the problem - speedo not working - possible cause - showed me some 4"/10cm cog rings, that he thought may be damaged or have got some road material on/in it that causes the speedo issue, that then could show the warning lights - that is, if that could be the error that these lights convert to .
He didn't recommend doing anything other than 'get thee to a Merc specialist garage' and get their reader advice first.
Then go from there.
 

LostKiwi

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Further to the main issue, the mechanic at my local garage, made almost a throw away remark about a possible cause of the speedo not working being a damaged cog 'ring' on the drive shaft.

I appreciate it is 'old skool' thinking but - work from the problem - speedo not working - possible cause - showed me some 4"/10cm cog rings, that he thought may be damaged or have got some road material on/in it that causes the speedo issue, that then could show the warning lights - that is, if that could be the error that these lights convert to .
He didn't recommend doing anything other than 'get thee to a Merc specialist garage' and get their reader advice first.
Then go from there.

The cog ring is also known as a reluctor ring.
The ring passes close to the end of an abs sensor and reports the speed of that wheel. The signal from the sensor varies according to the rate at which the teeth on the reluctor ring pass the sensor.
Rusty, split or damaged reluctors can cause misreported speed as can a failed or dirty sensor, broken wire or sensor too far from the reluctor.
From memory the left front wheel reports the speed for the speedometer.

On some cars (W203 for example) there is no reluctor. Instead the wheel bearing seal is magnetic and the pulses from the magnets achieve the same thing.
 
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AGC35

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That's brilliant information, thanks. I think my car is a W202 model, at least that is what ebay add when I put my reg in.

The carsoft Merc V12 System at 195 euros is close to the price I paid for the car, so I'll talk to my mechanic after going to the merc specialist garage. I'm told the garage is near the main dealer, and staffed by ex-dealer mechanics who set up on their own. So sounds promising as far as charges are concerned - they've quoted £45 + vat for the scan.

Of course the main problem now, is my speedo not working, and in 11 months time, will be the new MOT with all the things that can fail, such as these warning lights - not to mention the speedo!

ebay - "
Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2000
W202 [1993-2000] SaloonC 180
Saloon1799ccm 122HP 90KW (Petrol)"
 
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AGC35

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Hello,
Here's an update ...
My appointment to get a diagnosis on the merc garage's Xentry Star Diagnostics machine was Monday afternoon. I took the car out on Sunday afternoon, it was raining, but not too heavy, and the 3 lights were on (& no speedo). Stopped for a coffee, reversed out of the parking area, and the lights were out! On the way home, the pads light flickered a few times only whilst braking, and that was it. Monday am, contacted the merc garage, spoke to an engineer, who said not to come in until all 3 lights come on again. Mentioned LostKiwi's reluctor ring, and he agreed, it could be the culprit, and expects the diagnostics to pinpoint the problem area - and they can then make recommendations and estimate ...
The mechanic was not drawn on whether there could be any history recorded and obtainable from the ecu, with the car being 1996, and reiterated, wait until the lights are on again.
Meantime, booked the car in to my local garage for pads+ as that had been an advisory on the last MOT anyway.
Since Sunday, the lights have stayed off, the car is running nicely, and the only blot on the landscape is the headliner - but that's for another thread.
I suspect the MOT history wouldn't help to indicate what my problem is, but happy to add my reg no, unless that is discouraged.
 

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