engine warning light and now misfire

Hi folks,

C200K 2005 97k miles (new shape & has the engine with black cover on it).

Engine light came on some weeks ago while in heavy slow traffic (10 mph max).
Went off after hill climb and restart.
Came back on in similar conditions e.g. heavy slow traffic (but not so slow this time). Went off next day.

Came back on in roughly same conditions two weeks ago and has stayed on since.

Over weekend took it 230 miles up motorway - fine but light still on. Coming back yesterday I came off motorway and up v. steep hill (birdlip & air balloon roundabout - infamous) climbed absolutely fine then set off from roundabout on three cylinders. Stayed like that for the rest of the way home (20 miles say. Didn't want to stop !). Stopped at destination as normal and immediately started it and all was well - light is still on but back to four cylinders. Been fine since (another 70 miles) - but still light remains on.

Any clues anyone - before I suspect I spend a fortune at the garage !?

many thanks !
John.

 

I do not know if this one suffers from oil from the camshaft sensor or not, but best to get the car on STAR with a good indie, and that should tell you what is going on

 

Spilt air pipe under the manifold, leaking oil into the wiring looms from the cam magnets or a stretched timing chain.

Like Malc has said you need a STAR diagnosis test to establish some fault codes first.

 

Surely your not far from colin at MBS, go see him.

jib

 

More info from my local Indie...

First set of fault codes -
2047-001 secondary air injection, malfunc (function chain). Air flow too low [P0410]
2058-001: Fault lambda control, upstream TWC (caused light)
201C-001: Selfadaptation of mixture formation. Mixture too rich in the part load range [P0172] (caused light)
2029-001: Selfadaptation of mixture at rich stop (Tendency towards lean)
2038-001: G3/1 (O2 sensor downstream TWC) Short circuit to ground [P0137]

We cleared those and sent me home waiting for the light again.
Sure enough, setting off down the motorway revved it reasonably hard and light came back on and back to three cylinders. Turned engine on and off and cylinder back on-line as before.

Fault codes are....

2029-001: selfadaptation of mixture at rich stop. tendency towards lean.
201A-001: Misfiring of cylinder 1, damages TWC [P0301].

Booked it in for potential split breather hose (but it's not hunting which usually happens apparently?) - any other thoughts folks? He did mention that the misfiring cylinder and shutdown can sometimes be due to rocker cover leaking oil? Not sure why the cylinder shutdown the first time round but no code !?

Thanks for all your help folks !!!