CLK Man
Senior Member
I own a CLK 230K, X reg and and am having a series of problems and hope someone would be able to steer me to solutions. The major problem is the outside temp gauge / sensor. Also the air con does not seem as cold as other Mercedes I have been in and a problem regarding the fuel gauge; I will write on each topic separately.
The outside temp gauge tells me that the temp is minus 38 deg when it is hot day at say 25 deg. The sensor has been replaced by the dealership, but after a day or so, it comes back with the same problem. On start up the gauge often starts at a minus reading and then either "cycles" up and down, eg starts at minus 5, then goes up to + 10, then down to - 15, then up to + 12 etc, etc.
Over the last few days, during the hot weather, it starts with the temp being "-38.5 deg". then goes down in stages to about 0 deg and then stays there for a while, then goes to the correct temp (as far as I can tell - ie hot day, so temp gauge shows + 20).
I have been told that the air con problem is linked. I have been told the air con takes readings from the sensor to know when to come on and cool down the car. If it's hot outside and you want the inside to be cool - then OK - it cools down, but if if it's "freezing" outside, the air con is smart enough not to come on. Because the sensor is sensing incorrectly, it seems that the air con is not working well - it does not cool down to the level of a Peugeot 206 we have. The sensor has been replaced by Mercedes, yet the problem continues. As time goes on, we are now told that the air con does not cool down to the temp of a fridge, however, it seems it does cool down more than it originally did - but not as much as the 206 does. The 206 gives you a "frozen" hand in minutes, the CLK would take an age to do so. The air con system has been tested for leaks, but no fluid has been lost. We have noticed that on position 2 the noise level is at a particular level, yet on 2 separate trips, the noise level and blow speed from the air vents increased to what is expected on level 6 - all without the dial being moved - the increase came and went all in a few seconds. Are we comparing incorrectly / expecting too much?
A few weeks ago, whilst the temp gauge problem was newly acquired, on a full tank of petrol, the fuel gauge at evening showed full - so OK. Next morning, after no miles driven, the fuel gauge was showing no fuel at all. Knowing this to be incorrect, waited before setting off, then after about 1 minute, the gauge moved up to halfway between full and 3/4 full. Had "lost" a few litres overnight. Straightaway, turned to the fuel computer and saw that 0.2 litres just vanished before my eyes on tickover. Fortunately, this problem seems to have been cured by the outside temp gauge sensor being replaced.
We are running out of ideas. Could it be that the sensor is working perfectly, but the car's unable to decode the info correctly - ie does the system need to be re-set? Would the ECU be the problem?
Would anyone have any solutions to the problems, even if you can help with just one of them, I would be very grateful as it is beginning to wear me down.
Regards and thanks,
HPMan.
The outside temp gauge tells me that the temp is minus 38 deg when it is hot day at say 25 deg. The sensor has been replaced by the dealership, but after a day or so, it comes back with the same problem. On start up the gauge often starts at a minus reading and then either "cycles" up and down, eg starts at minus 5, then goes up to + 10, then down to - 15, then up to + 12 etc, etc.
Over the last few days, during the hot weather, it starts with the temp being "-38.5 deg". then goes down in stages to about 0 deg and then stays there for a while, then goes to the correct temp (as far as I can tell - ie hot day, so temp gauge shows + 20).
I have been told that the air con problem is linked. I have been told the air con takes readings from the sensor to know when to come on and cool down the car. If it's hot outside and you want the inside to be cool - then OK - it cools down, but if if it's "freezing" outside, the air con is smart enough not to come on. Because the sensor is sensing incorrectly, it seems that the air con is not working well - it does not cool down to the level of a Peugeot 206 we have. The sensor has been replaced by Mercedes, yet the problem continues. As time goes on, we are now told that the air con does not cool down to the temp of a fridge, however, it seems it does cool down more than it originally did - but not as much as the 206 does. The 206 gives you a "frozen" hand in minutes, the CLK would take an age to do so. The air con system has been tested for leaks, but no fluid has been lost. We have noticed that on position 2 the noise level is at a particular level, yet on 2 separate trips, the noise level and blow speed from the air vents increased to what is expected on level 6 - all without the dial being moved - the increase came and went all in a few seconds. Are we comparing incorrectly / expecting too much?
A few weeks ago, whilst the temp gauge problem was newly acquired, on a full tank of petrol, the fuel gauge at evening showed full - so OK. Next morning, after no miles driven, the fuel gauge was showing no fuel at all. Knowing this to be incorrect, waited before setting off, then after about 1 minute, the gauge moved up to halfway between full and 3/4 full. Had "lost" a few litres overnight. Straightaway, turned to the fuel computer and saw that 0.2 litres just vanished before my eyes on tickover. Fortunately, this problem seems to have been cured by the outside temp gauge sensor being replaced.
We are running out of ideas. Could it be that the sensor is working perfectly, but the car's unable to decode the info correctly - ie does the system need to be re-set? Would the ECU be the problem?
Would anyone have any solutions to the problems, even if you can help with just one of them, I would be very grateful as it is beginning to wear me down.
Regards and thanks,
HPMan.
