211 steering sensor

[jberks]

Hi all,
just a curiosity question...
ESP is on the blink. It's happy when I start up, but by the time I've backed out of the drive, it's turned itself off. I suspect it's the steering sensor, though could be wrong. Assuming I'm right, is this a simple bolt on, or are we looking at a column out?
Anyone know?
cheers
JB

 

[television]

If you turn off the engine and re start, is the fault still there, or does the fault come up when you touch the brake pedal

 

[jberks]

Hard to say. I'm ruling out the brake switch primarily because the ABS and BAS are happy. Just the ESP. It doesn't seem to fault when I start up and put my foot on the brake though I haven't had chance to fully check this but it seems to trip once I start twirling the wheel.
And wouldn't you know it ...The MB warranty ran out 2 weeks ago!!
Now very glad I took out an extra year when I bought the car!
Given this and the problems my Dads having, I will probably look at service plus when this time next year.

 

[Ellsy Tanners]

The steering angle sensor is reletivley easy to change, steering wheel off, then it all comes off together with the stalks and is striped down easily with a few torx screws.

Sounds like the most likley cause off your fault to me

 

[jberks]

Thanks.
Tested it out tonight. Pressed the brake a few times. Reversed out straight and gently straighted up. All fine. Then turned round a corner out of the carpark and up it popped. So it looks like it will be the angle sensor.
Booked in on Thursday so we'll se what they say.

 

[type49]

Try starting up & just going lock-to-lock without actually moving. Does it still come on? If so, sounds like you're correct. As ET says, wheel off, one T30 torx under the column & give the whole column a good tug, it should come off. Then T10 torx to strip.

 

[jberks]

Thanks guys. The failure is consistent. As soon as I move off, I get the warning. Oddly the SBC hold is unavailable too, not sure why this would be affected by the angle sensor but I guess it's wired into the esp in some way.