ABS light

[SA1]

Hi everyone,

My ABS light has switched on for some reason and consequently I have lost power steering (I think this loss of PAS is usual according to my previous experience and happened a few years ago when I had to replace a reluctor ring - then once ABS light had gone out, the power steering returned.

My diagnostic iCarSoft tool indicated checking front axle wheel speed sensors and identified the RHS sensor (which I believe is the front driver side sensor). I checked the sensors on live mode whilst driving and the values matched up on all 4 wheels. This leads me to believe that all is well with the sensors and also suggests that I have no problem with the magnetic reluctor rings on any of the wheels?

Apart from the error messages on the dashboard 'Service brake - visit workshop', I also got' ESP unavailable Diagnostics/Rig test. Plus ABS warning icon.

I just went back to my car to check the power steering fluid which was not showing a liquid level when I pulled up the plastic level indicator. Looks like I have not kept a eye on this over the past few months like I should have done. I have now topped it up - I put about 30ml in it (first low temp max mark). I drove for about 1 mile and the ABS, ESP lights came on again, with the consequent loss of power steering. The fault indicated RHS sensor again, but I am not sure about this since all the readings showing on my diagnostic tool whilst driving were OK.

Any suggestions to help solve this issue would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[LostKiwi]

It will be an intermittent wheel sensor fault.

 

[SA1]

Ok, first I will try another wheel speed sensor and if that doesn't work, I will inspect the front reluctor ring.
Thanks.

 

[Blobcat]

Ok, first I will try another wheel speed sensor and if that doesn't work, I will inspect the front reluctor ring.
Thanks.

Genuine MB is recommended - quite a few issues reported here of aftermarket ones giving problems

 

[SA1]

I bought a new wheel speed sensor and it appears to be working OK now. I didn't realize that you can get intermittent faults on these type of sensors especially when I was getting what appeared to be similar readings on all 4 wheels, so thanks for that comment LostKiwi.

Blobcat, as my car has 237,000 miles on it (and I have recently noticed traces of sludge in my coolant reservoir which I am now cleaning out from around the rim and cap every week) I decided to go for an cheaper aftermarket WSS, rather than a MB one, as I think it is finally time to change my vehicle after having owned it for over 10 years. I plan to sell it in a few months.

It still drives really nice but I am a bit concerned with selling it to someone, knowing that after so many brake press iterations the SBC light might suddenly come on when they are driving and with the possibility that if they panic, something bad could potentially happen. It's a 2006 E320CDi.

The fact that my insurance has doubled this year and the tax is nearly £400 per year is another reason why I think it's time to sell!
I would like to get something as nice as this car (possibly another Mercedes) , but with lower insurance, tax and better fuel efficiency (although I have been consistently getting an average of 44mpg which isn't bad for a 3litre). I was considering a BMW, but there seems to be a lot of people out there who seem to have animosity against BWM drivers - but it's still German engineering so they must be pretty good cars too!

Thanks for your comments.

 

[Blobcat]

I bought a new wheel speed sensor and it appears to be working OK now. I didn't realize that you can get intermittent faults on these type of sensors especially when I was getting what appeared to be similar readings on all 4 wheels, so thanks for that comment LostKiwi.

Blobcat, as my car has 237,000 miles on it (and I have recently noticed traces of sludge in my coolant reservoir which I am now cleaning out from around the rim and cap every week) I decided to go for an cheaper aftermarket WSS, rather than a MB one, as I think it is finally time to change my vehicle after having owned it for over 10 years. I plan to sell it in a few months.

It still drives really nice but I am a bit concerned with selling it to someone, knowing that after so many brake press iterations the SBC light might suddenly come on when they are driving and with the possibility that if they panic, something bad could potentially happen. It's a 2006 E320CDi.

The fact that my insurance has doubled this year and the tax is nearly £400 per year is another reason why I think it's time to sell!
I would like to get something as nice as this car (possibly another Mercedes) , but with lower insurance, tax and better fuel efficiency (although I have been consistently getting an average of 44mpg which isn't bad for a 3litre). I was considering a BMW, but there seems to be a lot of people out there who seem to have animosity against BWM drivers - but it's still German engineering so they must be pretty good cars too!

Thanks for your comments.

Does yours actually have SBC? I had a late ‘06 (2007 model) W211 and that (being a facelift) had the replacement OBD braking - all the benefits and none of the hassle of SBC

 

[SA1]

Does yours actually have SBC? I had a late ‘06 (2007 model) W211 and that (being a facelift) had the replacement OBD braking - all the benefits and none of the hassle of SBC

Yes, it has the SBC, as it is an early 2006 model. One advantage is that the braking is really smooth, and my diagnostic has proved useful for depressurizing the braking system when I work on the brakes - you probably don't have to do that with the normal hydraulic facelift model ?

I had heard that after so many presses of the brake, the car would show a fault indicating that the SBC system would need replacing as a safety measure. I wonder if anyone knows if my icarSoft would show the number of brake presses - I haven't found anything on the menus, so probably not?

 

[Blobcat]

Yes, it has the SBC, as it is an early 2006 model. One advantage is that the braking is really smooth, and my diagnostic has proved useful for depressurizing the braking system when I work on the brakes - you probably don't have to do that with the normal hydraulic facelift model ?

I had heard that after so many presses of the brake, the car would show a fault indicating that the SBC system would need replacing as a safety measure. I wonder if anyone knows if my icarSoft would show the number of brake presses - I haven't found anything on the menus, so probably not?

@LostKiwi can probably advise on SBC

 

[LostKiwi]

Yes, it has the SBC, as it is an early 2006 model. One advantage is that the braking is really smooth, and my diagnostic has proved useful for depressurizing the braking system when I work on the brakes - you probably don't have to do that with the normal hydraulic facelift model ?

I had heard that after so many presses of the brake, the car would show a fault indicating that the SBC system would need replacing as a safety measure. I wonder if anyone knows if my icarSoft would show the number of brake presses - I haven't found anything on the menus, so probably not?

There is a counter which is visible in Star. Not sure if it's visible in iCarsoft (and even if it is it's not plain English to read). It's kept in the live data area of Star.
Generally the counter will be reached at around the 100k miles mark depending on your driving profile. Motorway driving will see it come up later compared to cars used in urban profiles.