Your Mercedes model may experience many different issues resulting in the check engine light being illuminated. Mercedes, founded in 1926 and headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, is a popular luxury German automotive manufacturer that produces luxury personal and commercial vehicles. These high-quality automobiles come standard with many electrical, high-tech features for the optimal driving experience.

With the many electrical systems within Mercedes vehicles, an issue is bound to arise including the illumination of the check engine light. Let’s dive into this issue a little deeper.

How does the check engine light appear?

Mercedes vehicles are equipped with many different electrical features to enhance the overall experience with comforts inside and out. It also strives to maintain the high-performance power that lures drivers to this brand. With the amount of electrical systems in these vehicles, designers added an electronic computer module (ECM) to monitor the health of the vehicle and alert drivers to a problem.

The electronic computer module plays an extremely important role in alerting drivers to a problem that is undetectable to the naked eye. As the ECM continually monitors your vehicle’s various electronic systems while the ignition is on. When a problem is detected, a warning light will appear on the dashboard. The type of warning light shown on the dashboard will vary depending on which system is affected.

Check Engine Light is On but the Engine Seems Fine

The illumination of a Mercedes model check engine light is not necessarily indicative of the problem occurring within the engine itself, but it can affect the performance of the engine. There are a wide variety of problems that can result in this warning light appearing on the dashboard, some small and easy to fix while others are more complex.

• An improperly fitting gas cap: This sounds a little crazy, but a damaged, missing, or improperly fitting gas cap can result in the electronic computer module detecting an issue. When there is not a tightly closed seal from the fuel cap, fuel vapors are able to escape allowing harmful emissions to be released into the air. In addition, drivers may experience a reduction in fuel economy as well. The check engine light will illuminate due to this issue.
• Damaged spark plugs: These intricate parts are extremely important, as they are responsible for the spark that is needed to ignite the air to fuel mixture that allows the engine to run. Spark plugs do not last forever and when these parts fail you will experience engine misfires, poor performance, or be left with a vehicle unable to start.
• A faulty catalytic converter: The catalytic converter removes harmful carbon monoxide from your vehicle. Over time, the catalytic converter is at an increased risk of becoming clogged leaving it unable to function appropriately.
• A Damaged Oxygen Sensor and Mass Airflow Sensor: The oxygen sensor and mass air flow sensors are important to the functionality of each Mercedes. These sensors have a similar role in maintaining the proper air to fuel ratio that is needed to ignite the spark in the combustion chamber. When one, or both, of these sensors, experience damage there is an increased risk of total engine failure as a result of the engine receiving too much or too little air.

If you experience an illuminated check engine light on the dashboard of your Mercedes you should have a trained professional run a diagnostic test using factory-grade equipment for an accurate diagnosis. Should the check engine light be flashing on the dashboard, it is imperative that you pull over immediately and have your vehicle towed to a trusted auto repair facility.

At Das European Autohaus, We Will Help!

Whether you are experiencing an unknown cause for a warning light on the dashboard or are in need of service or repair work, Das European Autohaus is here to help. We are conveniently located in Spring, TX, and frequently help drivers of Houston as well.

Brands we service:

• Audi
• BMW
• Mercedes
• Mini Cooper
• Porsche
• Volkswagen

Our certified and highly trained technicians and mechanics use the latest factory-grade tools and equipment to provide quality work the first time around. We do not want you to leave still experiencing problems which is why we strive for open communication between mechanics and customers in an effort to provide unmatched customer service.