ASR Light and no power!

[JamesP]

Hello,

I am very new to this, so hopefully i have done everything right..I have a late 1995 S500 Coupe. On cold starts I get 20meters down the road and the ASR light comes up on the dash and i lose ALL power. Switching the engine off and on again re sets it for another 20meters. Repeat up to 8 times and she is fine, and will be ok for the rest of the day, until the next cold start.

Mercedes replaced the air mass sensor (£500) but its still doing it. Any ideas, very much appreciated!!

James

 

[jberks]

The first thing I would do is get my £500 back from the dealer. The air mass meter won't put the ASR light on and they've no business charging so much anyway, especially as a simple test would have proven that this wasn't the cause. As they didn't, they were negligent and I can't see how a MAS replacement comes to that much anyway. A specialist once replaced my throttle housing (£500+). He called me later and said "We've put the old one back as it didn't solve it". Dealers don't bother, they just bill you.

Sure the MAS would trigger safe mode, but so would a lot of other things. How new is the battery. Low voltage has been known to cause such issues and it would be down a bit after a cold start until the alternator caught back up again.

 

[JamesP]

That is a good point thanks, perhaps the battery is draining overnight, it would explain it being fine after a run or "warm" as i put it. Starting is fine though and windows etc are lively enough. Mercedes apparantly ran a full diagnostic, i would hope a faulty battery would show up..

 

[C220GJS]

Possibly OVP relay,usually puts on abs light and causes stalling until engine is fully warmed up. Check your's ,if it's made by Seimens it is probably at fault , 1995 is in the period when the faulty ones were fitted. It does not show up on diagnostic tests.
Let us know the outcome .
Geo.

 

[Blobcat]

Mercedes apparantly ran a full diagnostic, i would hope a faulty battery would show up..

Translation: They plugged it in and couldn't see any error codes.

 

[JamesP]

Eeek, it sounds like it could be so many things. The ABS light does not show up, its only the ASR light. Its actually with Mercedes right now, they seem to want it all Easter weekend so i am a little scared of the bill!

 

[C220GJS]

A bit late now, but I wouldn't use MB for a 1995 car, in future try to find a local independent specialist. Re. the abs asr lights ,they both work from the same control unit ,so I still feel it could be the OVP relay.
Geo.

 

[JamesP]

Perhaps i should give Mercedes a call and suggest the relay. As for the specialist, i have only just moved the car to Edinburgh so not really had time to find a trustworthy one. The dealer also wanted around £150 to replace the wiper blades!

 

[C220GJS]

If they want £150 to replace the wiper blades,I would suggest you get it back before they touch it and contact these people; Deutschmarque, The Wisp, Edinburgh. Tel:0131 657 1999.
Geo.

 

[jberks]

Allegedly there are a few decent indies around Edinburgh - Don't know them myself but I'm sure someone will tell you who they are. I'd certainly ring the dealer and get a rough quote and possibly set them a limit. At the moment they think they have a blank cheque. Also, remind them that they are supposed to offer a discount for cars over 6 years.

They don't see many '95 cars so probably have less experience than anyone else. Chances are, an indie will go straight to it.

 

[jibcl500]

James
I had the same problem with my 1995 S500 coupe, some days it would start with the ASR light on and the throttle did nothing to increase the revs, problem was I was only doing a mile to work and a mile home again, through the cold spell the battery was taking a hammering. Took it for a good hard thrash and everything has been fine since. Get your battery checked, if there is low voltage running through some on the ECU's then they will cause problems like this.

jib

 

[jibcl500]

James
Also take a look at this sight, http://pages.prodigy.net/jforgione/MB_S500.html

jib

 

[JamesP]

Hi, thanks for that. I did drive it 450 miles to Edinburgh on Sunday and it failed on me on the Monday morning though, perhaps the battery is just not holding its charge?

 

[jibcl500]

hows olds the battery?, or have you changed it recently. Ive had Range rovers for many years and the the battery can sometimes be the answer to a lot of problems.

jib

 

[jibcl500]

James

Im just about to start breaking a w140 S500 saloon, so if you need parts mail me jib@carrera2.co.uk

jib

 

[JamesP]

Hi, thanks for the link. It all sounds a bit of a nightmare. Not sure about the battery, i have only had the car for two weeks! Surely Mercedes would check that though wouldnt they? Its still in their shop...

 

[jibcl500]

Problem is most dealers are only fitters, they are governed by technical CD's and costs. most dont have the raw knowledge like some of the chaps on this site, how some of these lads know what the know is incredible.
Was this fault on the car when you bought it, did the seller mention the fault.
jib

 

[JamesP]

The fault appeared within 50 miles of picking it up...

 

[JamesP]

Well, no news from Mercedes and this is the third day they have had it....

 

[jibcl500]

didnt you go back to the seller about the fault? how much did you pay for the Coupe?
Tell merc to put another battery on it and see if the problem happens again.
jib