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[John C]

Hi, I am a newbie, I had my camshaft gaskets changed yesterday and thankfully the oil leak was cured. However as soon as I turned the engine on, the Imobiliser light (Car with spanner) came on and stayed on. The car works fine I drove it home, switched off, locked the car.  I left it for about 30 minutes and then started the engine again, same story, light came on and stayed on but engine functioning as before.

Has any body any idea what the problem might be?  Have searched the manual trying to see if it is a wiring problem but as yet no joy.

Thanks for any help.

JohnC

[cam.in.head]

sounds as though something has been either damaged when they did it or more than likely something not plugged back in .if you try the pedal trick hopefully a code will show up. with foot on brake and other foot hard down on accelerator turn key to ignition position but dont start.spanner light will flash constantly if there are no codes or will flash codes if there are. 10 flashes equals zero. etc.

[terry paget]

Probably the lead not quite in the socket at the LHS back of the head, into vacuum relay for dual ram.

[VXL V6]

Read the codes using the pedal trick (as described in the guides section) and report back. It's not an immobiliser issue as the lamp would be flashing and you wouldn't be able to start the car. More likely something like the rear multi-ram hasn't been plugged back in.

[John C]

Hi, did the pedal test and got code 0330, does anybody know what this means or where I find out?  Thanks again.

Will be checking Terry's theory. 

Thanks for your help thus far.

Rgds, JohnC

[VXL V6]

Sounds like the garage has either damaged or trapped the knock sensor cable

[Lazydocker]

Sounds like the garage has either damaged or trapped the knock sensor cable

Which we all know is a common mistake

[John C]

Thanks everyone, you have all been most helpful.

You were rignt, VXL V6, Code 0332 is a 'Knock Sensor 2' malfunction, will try to put it right myself or take it back to the garage. 

I will let you know how I get on.

Kind Regards

JohnC

[Marks DTM Calib]

Look carefully around the cam belt end of the 2-4-6 cam cover gasket (right hand one as you look at the engine from the front of the car) as I have seen them get trapped there when re-fitting the cam covers.

Also check its plugged in.

Pretty poor for a garage to do a job and then hand back a car with fault light, they clearly didn't test drive it (as the knock sensor shows a code once a bit of load is put on the power plant).....that said, it would probably light up driving out the workshop!

[John C]

Hi All,
 Just to update you, as you have all been so helpful, will be taking the car back to garage on Tuesday for the third time, and having spent most of yesterday afternoon searching for the problem, it was as you said, the Knock Sensor 2 cable is trapped, how they did not find it on the second go around, I do not know.  Anyway, I will take it in and point out the problem to them and get them to put it right, may have to replace the cable as it is very tightly anchored.  I'd rather do it myself but havent got the equipment to do it.

Would advise anyone having the camshaft gasket changed to tell the mechanic/tech? to be careful and not trap the cables.  I imagine you'll get a 'trying to teach your grandmother to suck eggs look' but if it saves you the hassle, why not?

Will let you know how I get on.

Regards

JohnC

[Doctor Gollum]

Garages tend to react negatively to customer advice...

That said, it might be worth reminding them that if it fails prematurely that they will be replacing that gasket for free.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

If I were in your position, I would demand they fit a new genuine knock sensor, and then stand and watch carefully, as they torgue the camcover bolts to 8nm.  I wouldn't trust people that sloppy in their work to torque them down properly.

[grifter]

Hi All,
 Just to update you, as you have all been so helpful, will be taking the car back to garage on Tuesday for the third time, and having spent most of yesterday afternoon searching for the problem, it was as you said, the Knock Sensor 2 cable is trapped, how they did not find it on the second go around, I do not know.  Anyway, I will take it in and point out the problem to them and get them to put it right, may have to replace the cable as it is very tightly anchored.  I'd rather do it myself but havent got the equipment to do it.

Would advise anyone having the camshaft gasket changed to tell the mechanic/tech? to be careful and not trap the cables.  I imagine you'll get a 'trying to teach your grandmother to suck eggs look' but if it saves you the hassle, why not?

Will let you know how I get on.

Regards

JohnC

Having worked in the trade before I can tell you many mechanics don't take advice on board very well. In fact they are likely to jinx something just to piss you off

[John C]

Hi All,

Just to update you, I went back to the garage on Monday, (I couldn't do it sooner as after spending Friday 28 April under the car and partly dismantling to get to the trapped cable, I was hit by a flu bug. Her indoors said 'what did I expect at my age lying on the gravel drive in the cold all day. NO sympathy there. She reminds me of Thora Heard in Last of the Summer Wine).

Anyway I  explained politely at the garage, that having had help from you guys, I had identified the problem and would they kindly release the trapped Knock Sensor 2 cable.  I've known the owner for sometime and he took the information very calmly and asked me to tell the mechanic who had originally fitted the camshaft gasket, who was a little miffed but when presented with the trapped cable, apologised and asked me to bring the car back next day, this I did and now everything is fine.  Many, many thanks to you all.

I am now embarking on replacing the exhaust system, I had it done a few years ago, at a different garage and they put in a rubbish replacement which is giving up the ghost.  I bought a new system from Euro Car Parts, it's only about £70 more than the cheap ones on ebay, but much better quality and will probably see me or the car out. Looking on ECP website it looked like the cost was going to be nearer £300 but when I called in, the cost was £168, very pleasant surprise. I've sprayed it etc to protected the weld joints and now just have to tell Her Indoors that I'm about to spend a few days under the car fitting it. 

After that, I need to tackle the aircon which has decided to give up on me, I've got a trip to Torquay coming up in June and will probably need it working by then.

Yes, I know the book price of car is about £400 max, but you can't get a smoother more comfortable ride when everything is working, and believe me having delivered all types of Mercedes A to E class all over the country, even up as far as Scotland, I much prefer my Omega and will keep it going as long as I can.

Again many thanks for all your help.

Regards  John

[TheBoy]

Sadly, you will find the ECP exhaust will likely be shite.

The £80 ones from Eternal Car and/or ETS on ebay are, surprisingly, about the best quality ones you can get now.