I use my 2004 6-spd as a daily driver (about 70 miles round trip). I've had it since late December, with no problems. This morning as I am parking at my office, the Check Engine light goes on and my heart jams in my throat. Car sounds the same, temp is norm, etc. I *hope* it is just a glitch, but when I go out at lunch, same light goes on.

As much as I doubt that the only Chrysler dealership in the 3 counties along the border will be able to help, I am planning to leave work early so they can check what the code would be, as the only code reader we have is OBDII and it is home. The local dealership, Ed Payne of Weslaco, TX, has an abysmal rating on several sites, and I am very hesitant to even let them attach anything to read the car's computer. The same goes for even the local car repair shops as well.

Any ideas if this check engine light is merely the car's way of letting me know that it might need something simple? We check the fluids at least every two weeks, the belts looked normal and taut, and this car does not make any weird sounds or give off odd smells or fumes.

Any ideas would be helpful, though at this time it sounds pretty vague even to me as I write this.

I just have doubts about taking Scarlet to the dealership after reading horror stories here about dealerships that have no clue how to work on this car, and the MB dealerships that will not look at it.

 

I would attempt to find an accredited Euro Shop experienced in Mercedes and have them run a scan. We have a good one here in Austin that I would trust long before any Chrysler Stealership. It cost me 48 bucks to run a complete scan on "Rosey" and saved God knows how much when it turned out to be a bad wheel speed sensor that I was able to replace myself.
Good Luck !

Just my Dos Centavos

 

Well, since the nav system in my car took me about 30 miles away from pretty much only german car service shop, by the time I got the car there and realized that it was not overheating or making weird noises, I decided that it could not be too much of a problem. That, plus the insistence that the shop needed all 3 mechanics to recode a key for a mercedes, plus they wanted me to leave the car over the weekend and would charge me $95 to run a diagnostic, I went home.

Realized (belatedly) that I could use the OBD11 code reader we use for our BMW on this car, and the only code that came up was P0456 (small evap leak). Since I had gassed up the car the day before, I had not thought of the possibility that I could have a loose gas cap, but that is what I am hoping it is.

I tightened the gas cap, had the reader clear the check engine light, adn so far so good.

I just panicked when I saw the check engine light. The last time I was in a car when the light went on was when I was driving back from Houston to Harlingen with my husband sitting next to me a mere 5 days out of hip replacement surgery, and the water pump went on the car. It has now turned into an almost instinctive panic attack when I see the code.

Thanks for the advice; unfortunately, finding a decent mechanic here has turned into a Holy Grail sort of thing.

 

OBDII is what I use, does the job for ya Woody

 

Also any Autozone will run the codes for you as well.

 

Hi all. I had the check engine light come on for me last night too. I had just put air in the tires and put gas in the car. Started it up after the fill up and the light came on. Like the other poster here, the car is running perfectly, so I'm wondering if it might be the gas cap issue mentioned here and other places on the board. I have tightened the cap, but was wondering if there was an easy way to clear the Check Engine Light without going to a dealer, mechanic or otherwise use a reader? Will pulling the battery reset the light, so if it does go on again, I know it isn't just the gas cap? Or do the codes stick in there and HAVE to be reset no matter what?

Also, to the poster who mentioned AutoZone being able to read the codes for me, do they charge for that service?

Thanks all!

 

We had purchased an OBDII code reader for about $60-70 (don't remeber the exact price) when we purchaesd our BMW three years ago, and has more than paid for itself. It fits in a slot under the left knee area of the driver's seat to the right of the trunk release of the XF (you might have to twist a bit to fit).

It runs through a list and will flash either one or a series of codes (the less, IMHO, the better), and - at least the one that we use - will erase the codes once the codes flash across the reader after 5 times.

There are a few decent sites online that will list the codes as well as some links to how to repair the problem (we use www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes)

That being said, I still checked the code to be sure it was not a precursor to something that could become serious; if I continue to get the same codes (I got P0456), then I will need to look at either replacing the gas cap, or checking out the rest of the fuel system.

 

I had a check engine light come on our old Volvo. I took it in and had them look at it, 90$ later I was told it was the gas cap. I always check the gas cap first.

 

My light came on Saturday night. Autozone can read the codes for you, and it's free.

I ran it over there, it had to do with the "Secondary Air Injection System"

took it to the dealership, $400 for 2 new electrical relays. I'm in the process of contacting chrysler.... i only have 40k miles on the car, and they told me that my car was "high milage" and that this electrical item was a "regular wear item" and they wouldn't refund any of it. BS. since when is an electrical relay a "regular wear item"?

this component is known to fail on most EARLY crossfires at around the 30-40k mark... what's up with that, Chrysler?

 

Your '04 has 40K and is considered high mileage? Mine has almost 80K. So far, the only code that comes up is for a lose gas cap.

Thankfully for me I have absolutely no intention of ever taking my XF to the one and only Chrysler dealership in the area. Their service department is awful; what cost you $400 would most likely run past $1000 for me since there still is the mindset here that women know nothing about cars.

I know there are lots of people on this site that either work in the service departments or have had great experiences with them; too bad none live near me.

 

It was the gas cap. Pulled the negative cable for a couple minutes, then reattached and started it up. Light is gone and has stayed off since.

Thanks for the tips everyone!

 

lucky you... I recently had the front fan lock up at around 37 or 38k miles. They replaced that free tho, since it was a defective bearing or something, and apparently a fan ISNT a high wear item, whereas an electrical relay is whatever...