OLD FAVOURITE - ESP/SPEEDTRONIC SL350 2006

[MBGB]

After trouble free motoring had these two favourites come up. MB dealership checked it out even when it was displayed but didn't cure the issue.
Could it be anything to do with the overdrive stick, because mine does not appear to work. Changed the brake switch last time and it seemed to clear it down.
Anybody had this very same thing happen, and is it a case of trying a new OD stick?
Would really appreciate any views as it is very frustrating, when a simple stop, turn off and turn on seems to clear it.

 

[MBGB]

Hi Guys,
Anybody got any ideas I can try please?. I understand from reading various threads that the BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH often fail, and I hope by fitting a new one next week, it will drop the ESP from the equation. The O/D did work properly for a short time yesterday, but not today with the Defective go to Garage coming up every few seconds. Those units look pricy with the three stalks on them.
Car drives fine otherwise!!

 

[John Laidlaw]

Could well be the brake light switch again, depending on when you last changed it, it's a known fault as you know. Not sure what you mean by OD switch on an SL?

 

[MBGB]

Could well be the brake light switch again, depending on when you last changed it, it's a known fault as you know. Not sure what you mean by OD switch on an SL?

Hi John,
Thanks for that. I changed it about two months ago, simple job, but not sure when I fitted it, that it was a genuine part, albeit it was new.
The Over drive stalk appears to have a mind of its own. LED comes on OK and spuriously works as an OD should, but I suspect this may be the cause of the SPEEDTRONIC coming up. My local MB Dealership say they lifted the nearside carpets, to check the loom and that was OK, I didn't think the loom wss there, but heyho, that visit cost a bomb as you can imagine.
I feel they have lost interest as they can't easily come up with a solution without offering to change the ECU which is about £2k.
I don't think it is that because everything else functions beautifully, and it appeared suddenly, almost like a switch failure or a lead coming undone. However, a turn of the key resets the words but it does come back.
I will change the brake switch again this week and see if that helps cure part of the problem.
Appreciate your help

 

[John Laidlaw]

Worth checking too if you've any water ingress under the carpets, as you probaby know the variomatic roof seals are notoriously bad too and will leak water into the boot especially if they've not had the modification.
So have you got distronic on this car?
Edit: Ignore the Distronic bit!

 

[PHUNN]

Worth checking too if you've any water ingress under the carpets, as you probaby know the variomatic roof seals are notoriously bad too and will leak water into the boot especially if they've not had the modification.
So have you got distronic on this car?
Edit: Ignore the Distronic bit!

Hope you won't mind an interjection on this topic.
Your reference to 'the modification' when mentioning the notorious roof seals, threatens to bring on an attack of the vapours, especially as we are, even as I type, 'enjoying' some nice Welsh weather here today (and that's why I'm sitting pestering you on the PC rather than out burbling around the lanes with the roof off!)
Please can you tell me more about the 'modification' and how I might determine if our new (to us) car has received it? And while on the topic of leaks (as opposed to leeks, which are also not a favourite of mine) would you be able to direct me to an area of our esteemed site which gives details/schematics of the water drains so prone to blockage, or so I read..?

 

[MBGB]

John,
Thanks for that. But even after the MB dealership lifting the carpets, it was as dry as a bone. As this my second SL knew about the roof leaking into the boot was apast problem. All dry as bone back there too, rubber/foam roof motor protector is also dry as a bone. This is quite a frustrating issue, the ESP/SPEEDTRONIC with the words keep coming up, good job its not the newer car, with lights doing the same job!!
I know its probably a no no, but is there a fuse fro ESP I could pull, would it really have a major impact, as the ESP button on the central consule doesn't light up when you push it, and I started to wonder whether that switch had failed and the cause too!!
Any experience of that, as this R230 series appear to be prone to switch failures causing dramas??

 

[John Laidlaw]

Biggest issue can be battery drain from the consumer batteries and even just low charge on them. They do not like it at all and will throw up numerous electrical glitches because of it....

 

[John Laidlaw]

Hope you won't mind an interjection on this topic.
Your reference to 'the modification' when mentioning the notorious roof seals, threatens to bring on an attack of the vapours, especially as we are, even as I type, 'enjoying' some nice Welsh weather here today (and that's why I'm sitting pestering you on the PC rather than out burbling around the lanes with the roof off!)
Please can you tell me more about the 'modification' and how I might determine if our new (to us) car has received it? And while on the topic of leaks (as opposed to leeks, which are also not a favourite of mine) would you be able to direct me to an area of our esteemed site which gives details/schematics of the water drains so prone to blockage, or so I read..?

Not a problem- the 230 should have its own very special forum!!
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php?threads/boot-leaks-230-update.150296/
That's where you want to start- I know our old friend Malcolm will be happy to share this. Sadly I see this has been affected by the damned photobucket issue- Malcolm has the original pics but he is poorly at the moment so unlikely to be able to post them back up directly. I wonder if any other member downloaded them and can append to the DIY section please?

 

[MBGB]

Hi John,
Yes done the usual battery changes at great expence, but still ESP/SPEEDTRONIC issues.
Any idea of the ESP fuse number? I have considered removing it. I hear from an ex MB engineer there is a SERVICE code on the steering column you can access to do turn it off, or is that for specialists only??

 

[John Laidlaw]

Key to position 1 and press the trip reset button twice (I think or 3?, I think twice)will get you into the engineering menu where you can switch of ESP. Worth a try. Not sure the ESP has a fuse? I will see if I can find my copy of the fuse/Sam/Canbus chart- I lost some stuff when I sold my 230

 

[MBGB]

Key to position 1 and press the trip reset button twice (I think or 3?, I think twice)will get you into the engineering menu where you can switch of ESP. Worth a try. Not sure the ESP has a fuse? I will see if I can find my copy of the fuse/Sam/Canbus chart- I lost some stuff when I sold my 230

This is what he told me if it helps anybody else but not sure if I should try something that is away from a workshop where it can be put back!!

John,
Just tried that ESP- w.term.15 off displayed already set. If I turn it on ABS and others appear. It is 3 quick pressses of the stalk confirmed

 

[MBGB]

This is what he told me if it helps anybody else but not sure if I should try something that is away from a workshop where it can be put back!!

John,
Just tried that ESP- w.term.15 off displayed already set. If I turn it on ABS and others appear. It is 3 quick pressses of the stalk confirmed

John,
Does this make any sense:
1. Turn key to Pos 1
2. change the cluster to MPH
3. Hit reset button 3 times to get into service mode
4. Use menu buttons to get to ESP ON/DYNO MODE ESP OFF
5. Pick ESP DYNO MODE and turn the key back to 0 and then start the car??

Is that for more modern cars as I say I can't find a change KM;s to MPH as it is in MPH already??

Given to me by a frustrated mechanic at MB as they are instructed not to advise this of course which makes sense at Brands Hatch, but if you drive as you should do ESP should be an option IMHO! if it fails this many times caused by silly things.

 

[MBGB]

Tried that as well can't seem to get anything resembling ESP ON/DYNO MODE ESP OFF so it must be for the next generation of SL's

 

[John Laidlaw]

Sorry for the late reply, been out...
Yeah I'm guessing so, mine was the 2009 FL model and it was Simply that....

 

[PHUNN]

Not a problem- the 230 should have its own very special forum!!
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php?threads/boot-leaks-230-update.150296/
That's where you want to start- I know our old friend Malcolm will be happy to share this. Sadly I see this has been affected by the damned photobucket issue- Malcolm has the original pics but he is poorly at the moment so unlikely to be able to post them back up directly. I wonder if any other member downloaded them and can append to the DIY section please?

Thank you very much for this, John. I'll be out doing the boot seal check tomorrow, with my fingers crossed!
The (missing) photographs would be very useful indeed and it is certainly a great shame that the sterling work put in by Malcolm and friends should go to waste.
The article will, I hope, take care of the 'watery boot' syndrome.
However, did I read somewhere that there is another drainage 'glitch', in the engine compartment, around the battery carrier area? Or was that maybe in the SLK (not that I ever had a (well at least not THAT problem!) problem with the three (Mk 1,2 and 3) we owned over the years.
The 230 is going to a local 'indy' next week for a ride height (and recalcitrant Sat Nav) diagnosis so there may be news on those topics thereafter.

 

[MBGB]

Well the saga continues. Brand new MB brake light switch fitted, second one in 3 months, which cleared the ESP code but left the SPEEDTRONIC behind which is still displaying.
Because of the lack of enthusiasm shown by my local MB dealership and of course the extortionate costs each time, I am taking it to a local ex mechanic for MB with his own STAR system on friday and see what he thinks.
At least I can look the mechanic in the eyes and speak to him rather than someone of the service desk who has enough to do without understanding every model intimately!!
John, did you find anything your end which might help? I am being told this is quite common, just need to find the fault using the CAN system

 

[MBGB]

Went to a totally independent ex MB mechanic this morning, (face to face) who ran it through his MB STAR system and it points to the control box from all the faults showing, which he feels MB should have picked up on.
Even a non standard radio can cause issues apparently, or different tyres/pressures etc. Very enlightening visit hopefully going to try to rectify it next week. Its a real shame the MB workshops don't do a face to face with the customers and explain what they do or have done for their high sums!!

 

[Naraic]

So when you refer to OD you actually mean the Cruise Control? If yes then worn rear tyres can cause this to become inoperable.

 

[MBGB]

Nariac,
Thanks, yes all original tyre replacements at the same pressures. This particular year and model, does not have a tyre pressure monitor fitted, albeit the computer says it has!