Adblue EML - Your engine will not start in 500,499miles

[Wesuv'Englun]

We have a 2016 GLC 250 with full service history. It has covered 65K. Recently the EML appeared, followed by a more specific warning that Adblue - in 500 miles your engine will not start. This has counted down to 300 while we have waited to book into MB main dealer.

The car is covered for regular services but does not have an extended warranty. We have been too the fault will need to be traced requiring 4-6 hours of work (£160+/hour) and the there would be a 75% chance that the engine would indeed not start if we chanced ignoring the light/message.

There has been a suggestion this may be own to rodent damage (seems pretty unlikely). I can see other threads with similar issues. This seems to be an electrical issue and while I can understand mechanical parts naturally wear, it is hard to understand why this should happen in a 3/4 yr old vehicle.

Grateful for any comments/advice. Thanks

 

[John Laidlaw]

Welcome, I misread your thread title- engine will not start in 500,499 miles! Doubt mine will either...
Anyway, rodent damage - do you garage your car for weeks at an end? Doubt it given the mileage it’s driven I’m guessing.
If you’re out of warranty anyway I’de be inclined to find a Mercedes Independent garage for a more reasonable estimate- I doubt MB will do anything for you directly

 

[keefysher]

Have you checked the AdBlue level via the steering wheel/display menu? It may just need a top up!!!

The message you describe is familiar when AdBlue is getting low.

This thread and post 2 & 23 may be of assistance to you:
https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php?threads/adblue.174057/page-2#post-1697863

 

[alexanderfoti]

Its all a bit of guess work really. Normally it will ask for a top up if low. If the EML light is on then there is probably a fault with the adblue system.

Have they given you this 6 hour after looking at the car? If so, then they may have an idea of the fault. If not, then I think a more reasonable initial diagonstics of 1 hour, to give an idea of where the fault lies may be more sensible.

 

[flowrider]

Wouldn't do any harm to buy some Adblue and top it up to see if the issue goes away.

 

[Wesuv'Englun]

Have you checked the AdBlue level via the steering wheel/display menu? It may just need a top up!!!

The message you describe is familiar when AdBlue is getting low.

This thread and post 2 & 23 may be of assistance to you:
https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php?threads/adblue.174057/page-2#post-1697863

Many thanks - foolishly omitted to mention the AdBlue is topped up/full. I understand AdBlue sensor can malfunction but it seems that is not the (simple) case here.

 

[Wesuv'Englun]

Wouldn't do any harm to buy some Adblue and top it up to see if the issue goes away.

Thanks - yes, should have mentioned tried that first - all topped up - still EML light -still threatening not to start!

 

[keefysher]

Many thanks - foolishly omitted to mention the AdBlue is topped up/full. I understand AdBlue sensor can malfunction but it seems that is not the (simple) case here.

No worries.

However, you would be best advised to get it on STAR to establish the true issue. A main dealer will charge you for a diagnosis then quote for the requisite remedial work, not give you a ball park figure of hours without having put it on STAR.

Where are you located in order we can guide you to a decent dealer or Indie.

You mention it has an extended warranty, does it cover the fuel system?

We know NOX sensors are a known weakness and are replaceable gratis by MB. That the EML and Ad Blue message are showing, a guess would be overfuelling.

Has the car had the recent recall work done involving a software update for Ad Blue?

 

[Wesuv'Englun]

Many thanks,

The main dealer is sytner in Bristol - I am assuming diagnostics carried out on STAR or an equivalent.
It did have recent recall for update but can't recall if that was for AdBlue. The dealer have been in touch with head office in Germany and they have requested the NOX readings.

Has service cover but not extended warranty.

Many thanks for your thoughts.

All best

 

[LostKiwi]

You're in luck.
Steve at Avantgarde is near Bristol and is a very highly respected indy. Rather than take it to MB (who will drain your wallet at record speed) get Steve to take a look.

 

[OLWBAMB]

Had same issue. AdBlue level warning came on - fair enough, had been a while since I topped up. I added 10L and did a couple of short journeys and waited for it to clear. No good, message stayed on, so added another 10L and filled it to the brim. Things got worse: 500 Mile countdown started, and EML came on.

Had to take it to MB Dealer who identified the car was reporting Bad AdBlue Quality. The percentage of Urea needs to be over 35% and mine was at 33%. So they added 'some of theirs' and brought the mix to 40%. Issue cleared. So hopefully this helps someone in the same situation. I will try to buy better quality AdBlue in future.

 

[ajlsl600]

B interesting. That is. In the summer I will look to see if that was my issue. I got sick of it and deleted adblue, egr. However if the fix was simple I wud hav a go at re in stating. Delete outfit say they kept required files.
Cleaning adblue nozzle and trying again does not seem too difficult.

 

[Wighty]

Had same issue. AdBlue level warning came on - fair enough, had been a while since I topped up. I added 10L and did a couple of short journeys and waited for it to clear. No good, message stayed on, so added another 10L and filled it to the brim. Things got worse: 500 Mile countdown started, and EML came on.

Had to take it to MB Dealer who identified the car was reporting Bad AdBlue Quality. The percentage of Urea needs to be over 35% and mine was at 33%. So they added 'some of theirs' and brought the mix to 40%. Issue cleared. So hopefully this helps someone in the same situation. I will try to buy better quality AdBlue in future.

Also add some Forte anti crystal additive buddy

 

[ajlsl600]

Tried that. Didn't help

 

[DSK]

Best to syphon and refill, with fresh stuff and the anti crystallisation additive perhaps every 6 months.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Wighty]

Tried that. Didn't help

Not you buddy

 

[rf065]

Not you buddy

It didn't help me either! Should maybe call it snake oil.

 

[Wighty]

It didn't help me either! Should maybe call it snake oil.

It won’t solve everyone’s problems but it’s the cheapest start point with fresh adblue. It’s what i would do .
Might give the op some breathing space .

 

[ajlsl600]

Possibly, once prob cleared and adblue nozzle clear of crystals

 

[STRallying]

Hello,
Reading the above is sort of similar to the problem reported on my GL350 two weeks ago.
Adblue message plus engine light on. Topped up fluid, no change, cleaned the metering valve on the exhaust. MD dealer here scanned and reset informed me he couldn’t find any fault, until I told him I’d cleaned the white deposits out. He then said this is caused by leaking valve and new one required.
$2000 quote to replace, now I can one delivered to here from UK for $240. Does this valve need to be programmed into the system or is it a straight swap??