Car back in local garage with strange fault

[LPGJOE]

Here we go, 06, W221 320 CDi, been playing up, back into local garage again, This must be the most unreliable car ive ever had, previous car was a Range Rover and got used to the odd little problem with it only got rid due the the fuel consumption , So bought a Merc (1st one ive had) and all its been is paying out, Belive its the biggest mistake ive ever made with cars, anyway what we have this time ;
2124 bank 2 thermal overload of control module N3/9 (CDi control module)
0203 fuel injector cyl 3 thermal overload of control modual
0206 """"""""""""" cyl 6 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
2549 Injector monitoring valve is above limit.

Not got a clue what any of this means ? am i looking at new injectors ? a new control modual or some other fault, garage are suggesting a possable fault with ECU and want to send it for testing :

This car is just running away with money, thinking I would be better off setting it on fire and claiming on insurance,

So question is what price if needed are Injectors ? What price for Injector module ? Can ECU be repaired ?

 

[Blobcat]

What’s needed is a Mercedes specialist independent (we have quite a few on here as members and supporters) rather than a general garage.

An S Class is an expensive and complex beast that garages can struggle with. They can also see it is a Mercedes S class and charge appropriately regardless of the fact it is 14 years old and not worth that much.
It can also still have an £80k appetite...

 

[LostKiwi]

As above. You need someone with Star and the knowledge of how to use it properly to do a proper diagnosis.
Guessing is the best way to drain your wallet that I can think of (other than getting married).

 

[Blobcat]

As above. You need someone with Star and the knowledge of how to use it properly to do a proper diagnosis.
Guessing is the best way to drain your wallet that I can think of (other than getting married).

Getting divorced...

 

[LostKiwi]

Getting divorced...

You have to get married first

 

[mioba]

expensive car and not knowing how to use a code reader = throwing away money.
Falling out of love with the car is not the cars fault.
s class are cheap as chips to buy used but you maintenance is whats costs if you want to keep it prim.
Get a good Mercedes indy who knows what they are doing.
where are you located. Someone will then hopefully recommend an Indy for you.

 

[Flyinspanner]

A general garage will have a ‘professional’ generic code reader.

STAR is a specialised system which can interrogate systems/components to a much deeper level, and pinpoint actual causes rather than the generic readers.
(Which will save ££ in time and changing components for ‘possible’ causes that still don’t cure underlying/masked issues).

Maybe someone can recommend a good indie near to Tavistock or you could use the ‘specialist finder’ in the useful links at the bottom of the page hope it gets fixed

 

[Jim2]

As above. You need someone with Star and the knowledge of how to use it properly to do a proper diagnosis.
Guessing is the best way to drain your wallet that I can think of (other than getting married).

Yes, but there is a lot of guesswork in that too !!! LOL

 

[Rob76]

You could try Mercare - they are only 10 miles away?? Fault codes rarely equal solutions in MB's - we have all been there!!

 

[mioba]

If the operator knows how to use a reader and use the diags on a the reader then there is much more chance of success for solutions and pinpointing the offending item..

 

[dry run]

Hope you get it sorted

 

[LPGJOE]

expensive car and not knowing how to use a code reader = throwing away money.
Falling out of love with the car is not the cars fault.
s class are cheap as chips to buy used but you maintenance is whats costs if you want to keep it prim.
Get a good Mercedes indy who knows what they are doing.
where are you located. Someone will then hopefully recommend an Indy for you.

Located on edge of Dartmoor, Tavistock , Devon we have maine dealer and 1 other that i know of, seems the key is for them to have the Stars system.

 

[McDonald]

Located on edge of Dartmoor, Tavistock , Devon we have maine dealer and 1 other that i know of, seems the key is for them to have the Stars system.

Main dealers are for cars under 5 yrs old. They charge vigorously. Mechanics in Mercedes specialist garages often worked for Mercedes in the past, so they have great experience with these older Mercs. They charge more reasonably.

Rob76 has already suggested Mercare, which is local to you.

Good luck with getting it sorted.

 

[Botus]

Here we go, 06, W221 320 CDi, been playing up, back into local garage again, This must be the most unreliable car ive ever had,

sorry to hear.... mine is exactly the same... its was and is still like new (should be most of its been replaced)

 

[Botus]

I think all w221 tractors got the DPF (optional extra on e class around this time), in which case you may want to ensure you do regular long drives at highish revs to give it a clear out.

I can also believe there would be some software updates to the vehicle its probably never had (a daily thing today but never ever back then) ... I'd get up to @Steve@Avantgarde in Clevedon, a long trip but probably worthwhile

 

[LPGJOE]

I think all w221 tractors got the DPF (optional extra on e class around this time), in which case you may want to ensure you do regular long drives at highish revs to give it a clear out.

I can also believe there would be some software updates to the vehicle its probably never had (a daily thing today but never ever back then) ... I'd get up to @Steve@Avantgarde in Clevedon, a long trip but probably worthwhile

That's a problem at the moment, will run for so long, then EML light comes on engine cuts out until it cools down then it will run fine again, things ive had done in the first 12 mths of owning it, Gearbox oil & filter change & relay / propshaft mounts and rubber connection to diff / rear brake calipers , discs & pads , offside steering link, engine oil& filter change, got some minor electrical glitches that im not to bothered about, could understand if it had been neglected but its got a full service book stamped all been done by Merc main Dealer or specialist garage thats one of the reason's i bought it (Not got any paper work other than service book) except the last one that was done by the garage that sold it spent over 2.5k in 12mths thats 50% the cost of the car and now it could be another 1k or more, My old RR would cost me no more than £500 per year, Merc tell me no updates are due.

 

[LostKiwi]

When you read the codes did you read them immediately it stopped or after a restart?

 

[Botus]

merc would always tell you that no updates are available (as do all manufacturers) even though every single module on the car has at least 3 later versions of software available... they don't want you to A) make the car better, B) more reliable or C) at least feedback more info on what's wrong

many will NOT be believe this.... nearly every module on mine has been updated, but the last few are causing me headaches and one has had a staggering effect.

a CGW update 3 years back allowed far more diagnostic capability, when you then add in updates to various modules suddenly it unlocks way more info about faults… my diagnostics has for 4 years taken 30 minutes to scan all 50 modules.... then recently trying to resolve a bug introduced by Mercedes with an incompatible Rear SAM update. I pushed a comand screen update at the car and now it will scan everything in 6 minutes ?

But that trip still didn't get a replacement SAM on the car, they couldn't manually code the options correctly, where I'm trying to resolve something with a software compatibility issue even Autel know it isn't suitable for the car but Mercedes Benz SCN is still pushing this out and breaking cars !!!

most updates makes little end user difference, and some are not a great idea (see above) … but gearbox and drivetrain always a good idea

 

[Uncle Benz]

Depends on the model, but I'd suggest the e box cooling fan has packed up.

 

[LPGJOE]

Depends on the model, but I'd suggest the e box cooling fan has packed up.

Thanks something else to check out, Wlii get garage to check it out, is this located in the control unit under the bonnet drivers side ? is it a replaceable item ? or needs complete unit ?

Thanks for your feed back.