2001 Sprinter 316 Cdi ASR Warning Lights Fault

[twodogron]

Hi,
Anyone out there familiar with Sprinter electrics or does anyone have experience of this problem.........
The "Fault" concerns the ASR warning light (the picture of a wheel with arrows pointing in both directions of rotation) coming on..
First let me say that I've taken it to Mercs Commercial twice so far for this fault.
To date they've put it on the diagnostic computer twice, first time they could'nt find anything wrong, second time (month later) they replaced the brake light switch in the footwell behind the brake pedal, that was on the 12th August.. and said that should fix it!!!
Now again today (30th Aug) after only 300 miles it came on again, first time since the 12th...
Symptoms :- VERY Occassionally the said warning light comes on for no apparent reason. I can get it to go out by switching off the engine and re-starting. It might not come on again for days, weeks or even months sometimes...... the vehicle performs 100% with no other noticible defects..
You might say don't worry about it, and I would'nt normally, but I want to sell it and would'nt want the new buyer coming back to me in a temper !!!
Any ideas or solutions out there because (with respect) Mercedes don't seem to have much of a clue................... although in fairness to them I can never get it to repeat itself whenever I visit the workshop..
Any one wondering about the lack of mileage in the time frame.. It's a Motor Home...

 

[dava]

This is a traction control light, probably caused due to your 316 being a camper. this comes on when the vehicle leans over on a corner and the wheel lifts off the ground, the traction control cuts in to take drive from that wheel. This is not registered as a fault code, so it wont show. We get this a lot with ours as they are all high tops on running on the limit all the time, nothing to worry about, just be aware of it when cornering.

 

[twodogron]

This is a traction control light, probably caused due to your 316 being a camper. this comes on when the vehicle leans over on a corner and the wheel lifts off the ground, the traction control cuts in to take drive from that wheel. This is not registered as a fault code, so it wont show. We get this a lot with ours as they are all high tops on running on the limit all the time, nothing to worry about, just be aware of it when cornering.

Thanks Dava,
Funny you should say that...
The last time it came on I'd just negotiated an adverse cambered roundabout without touching the brakes, only noticed that the light was on when accelerating out of the roundabout.
That makes a lot of sense....... I'll now be very aware when negotiating bends or roundabouts and if confirmed will breath a sigh of relief...........
Just couldn't work out how it came on without touching the brakes after Mercs told me it was Brake related, in fact they now want to replace the Anti Lock Brake Control Valve !!!!!! (how many £hundreds would that cost??)
Many Thanks,

 

[dava]

What you probably did not realise was that it also took the throttle away from you, fly by wire and probably applied a brake to that wheel, it's all done through the traction control and the ecu, clever piece of kit realy, the A class was terible for it and you felt it happening on them. Any how you got mail!

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

This is a traction control light, probably caused due to your 316 being a camper. this comes on when the vehicle leans over on a corner and the wheel lifts off the ground, the traction control cuts in to take drive from that wheel. This is not registered as a fault code, so it wont show. We get this a lot with ours as they are all high tops on running on the limit all the time, nothing to worry about, just be aware of it when cornering.

Not sure this is entirely right, my 11ft tall luton often picks up a wheel when cornering and the ASR light has never come on. The light that does show during the moments that traction is lost (due to slippery wheelspin or wheel lifting) is a flashing orange triangle. This triangle will light permanently if you turn off the ASR (button on centre console). However I must admit that it is exactly at these times that you do not look at the dash so maybe the ASR lamp also shows occasionaly, it's just that I have never seen it during a lot of spirited driving.

There has been a previous post related to the ASR function and without refering to my owners manual I am certain the ASR lamp only lights during startup as a function indicator then goes out during driving and the manual states that if it re-lights during use this indicates a fault.

What I have done with certain cars where the dealers couldn't find engine management faults in similar circumstances is to drive around until it occurs then drive to the dealer and leave the engine running (fault lamp lit) while they plug into it to diagnose. presumably they have plugged in twice and charged you twice already with no success so I would insist they plug in for free this time. now you have a possible situation that causes it perhaps you will be able to recreate it more easily.

Hope the above helps.

I am fairly certain that ESP was not fitted to panel vans until 2003 so I reckon you can discount a fault there but it might be worth checking.

 

[panason1c]

This is a traction control light, probably caused due to your 316 being a camper. this comes on when the vehicle leans over on a corner and the wheel lifts off the ground, the traction control cuts in to take drive from that wheel. This is not registered as a fault code, so it wont show. We get this a lot with ours as they are all high tops on running on the limit all the time, nothing to worry about, just be aware of it when cornering.

If the above was correct then wouldnt the light extinguish itself after leaving the corner?.............Twodogron said in his original post that he has to switch the ignition off and on to reset the system before the light will extinguish.

 

[twodogron]

Latest Outcome

Hi All.....

Just thought I would conclude this thread by letting everyone who's interested know the latest outcome in this trivial yet annoying little saga.........

After my 3rd visit to Mercs yesterday 3rd Sept they found a stored error code C1408,, Pressure Sensor........

This is attached to the ABS Control Valve, after checking the adjoining wiring, the Pressure Sensor Sender Unit was replaced.
Everything now checks out as normal but then it always has done on conclusion of my previous visits.

Sorry if I sound sceptical but we shall see with time..........

However, on a positive note MB are confident this will cure my current headache..

For anyone thats interested the MB Pt No. of the Pressure Sensor Sender Unit is MA003 542 05 18..

Good Luck all and thanks for the input..