60six
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Posts: 1,657
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May 18, 2023 19:21:32 GMT
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I have a mate with a lovely w202 c250 mercedes estate - It recently went into limp mode and is stuck in second.
I have a genuine autocom diagnostics tool with the correct 38pin adapter and I can read codes etc on the main ECU, but when it comes to the gearbox ecu - nothing. fails to connect.
The main issues are : - nothing online - diesels & petrols of pre OBD era are completely different and the tool I wanted to use, HFMscan does not work with diesels. Autocom gets further but again fails when it tries to connect to the TCU (transmission control unit)
The reset procedure appears to do nothing too - various door closes and igntion switching - still stuck in second
Does anyone know anything else I can try? - There is a unit called carsoft 7.4 but it isn't available and is a chinese copy anyway
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Some 9000's, a 900, an RX8 & a beetle
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May 18, 2023 21:35:05 GMT
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In a nutshell you need to use an OBD scanner with a 38 pin adapter that's capable to diagnose transmission fault codes. A genuine Carsoft 7.4 will but there's others like Autotel etc.
Stuck in 2nd is not an uncommon fault, can't remember the causes but a search on web should help.
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Still learning...still spending...still breaking things!
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May 26, 2023 12:22:14 GMT
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Start by looking at the gearbox wiring where it plugs in to the gearbox. When the internal seals fail on these and the connector and its adaptor get oil in them it can cause all sorts of issues. Replacement connector adaptor is only 20-30 quid if so, but be careful undoing the 7/8mm bolt down the middle as they can break and then you need to taker the valve body pack out to get them remaining part of the bolt out.
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60six
Posted a lot
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Posts: 1,657
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gearbox wiring was thought to be the issue as the old trick of oil travelling up the loom had affected the seals - connection adaptor replaced, thankfully bolt came out ok
Diagnostics stuff tried so far to turn off/reset limp mode.
Holding down accelerator cable 10 seconds trick - no change
Autocom/delphi with correct adapter cable - I can get to the limp mode section in the software, but fails to communicate.
HFMscan - After reading it turns out it don't work with diesels
This lovely old estate has 250k on it but electronic diagnosis on late 90's cars is a bit 'wild west' as obd2 was only standardised around 2001, before then, every make had a different interface cable
I have access to an MB STAR c3, and it only has the w203 on it - If I am not bald now I soon will be!
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Some 9000's, a 900, an RX8 & a beetle
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60six
Posted a lot
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Posts: 1,657
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In a nutshell you need to use an OBD scanner with a 38 pin adapter that's capable to diagnose transmission fault codes. A genuine Carsoft 7.4 will but there's others like Autotel etc. Stuck in 2nd is not an uncommon fault, can't remember the causes but a search on web should help. Ordered a carsoft 7.4 on your rec today - not the easiest thing to find! |
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Some 9000's, a 900, an RX8 & a beetle
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60six
Posted a lot
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Posts: 1,657
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Jul 10, 2023 19:05:16 GMT
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finally sorted it and cleared the codes. A lot had to be done, summarised here: Didn't want to have to purchase another laptop, but was concerned about needing a serial port. Used a HP Probook 2nd Gen i5 and installed Windows XP on it - Absolutely nothing worked. No USB, video not good, but as I work in IT I remembered years ago a 40GB package called Driverpacks. As I had no working USB or any interface to transfer files to, I removed the CDROM and installed a SATA caddy. On the drive in the caddy I put the 40gb Driverpacks XP installation. Downloaded and run it, and although a lot of script error popups (I used a program called ClickYES to keep clicking YES for me) - must of been at least 100 IE script errors but it thankfully located the intel chipset / USB drivers / VGA driver and also my USB to 9 pin serial cable adapter. The install for XENTRY/DAS is a lengthy process, but plenty of documentation can be found online. Ran the hack to lock the software down and activate, then XENTRY would open up, and after setting the serial port to 19200 8,n,1 the enormous box and cable started clicking and the yellow LED lit up once plugged into the large round socket top right of the engine bay. I found a vin number decoder to determine the age of the car - Supplied April 1997. Now this uses the older system called HHTWIN which I then had to install as all mercs from July 1997 backwards use it, after july 1997 the cars need MBSTAR DAS XENTRY c3/c4/c5. Now HHTwin is completely non-user friendly. A tiny screen appears on the laptop and text appears in this. You can click the back and forward arrows but I could not make sense of all the abbreviations, and there isn't any ARE YOU SURE protection - I found a check for modules (test) option which then found 5 modules of some abbreviated description, then after the test it asked me if I would like to erase all the fault memory ... HELL YEAH! The amount of research and time/money put into this was worth it, but the cables cost me £200 on amazon, I will see what the carsoft box does as I will most likely keep this as its good for older vehicles. The same seller sent the software separately shortly after. Just look for DAS XENTRY in amazon. It can be installed on any laptop if you know XP, which thankfully I do. At no stage should the laptop ever connect to the internet for obvious reasons. I hope this info helps someone else as there isn't much info online about these c250 diesel diags, software, or anything.  |
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Some 9000's, a 900, an RX8 & a beetle
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