CLK 320 Sport Auto - Wierd Electrical Problems

[philos]

Hi guys!
I own a lovely 1997 CLK 320 Sport Auto - silver and with just 59600 miles. It drives like a dream, is the first Merc I have owned and is my pride and joy. Up until now I have only had one major issue where I was locked out of the boot and using this forum was shown a method to get back in. However, yesterday I was topping up the front tyre pressures and water when I got back in and drove off, the boot popped itself open. I got out with the drivers door open and shut it. As I drove off, it popped itself open again. This time when I got out, I shut the drivers door - closed the boot, opened the drivers door and the boot popped open immediately. Repeated this several times and could make it happen on both the drivers and passengers door. Got the car home and couldn't alarm it because the boot would open and alarm went off. Eventually I realised that the switch in the middle of the gearbox console was always on (red light lit) - this is telling the car to open the boot - it does and the alarm kicks in. So, I manually locked the boot and locked the car (no lights flashed to indicate locking) and this time the alarm didn't go off and the boot stayed closed and I was able to leave it over night. Today however, I have the same problem but now the indicators click really fast ( L & R) but when hazards are on, they operate at normal speed? I have checked all the fuses (engine / boot / drivers side dash) indicated in the manual and they are all OK as are all the bulbs. A mechanic friend said it was undoubtedly a relay in the engine compartment so I checked them with another Merc owner with the same and still got the problem. Would really appreciate any help / advice as I cannot afford to take this to a MB dealership just yet as finances won't allow.

 

[Hibbo]

This is far too modern for me, but I've heard of something called a SAM module causing strange lecky problems. Try searching the forum for 'SAM module'


I'm sure someone will be able to help you further.

 

[television]

I have made a note to look tomorrow,you could in the mean time put up the frist 6 numbers of the VIN208---

malcolm

 

[television]

This is far too modern for me, but I've heard of something called a SAM module causing strange lecky problems. Try searching the forum for 'SAM module'


I'm sure someone will be able to help you further.

The SAM is the Signal Áquasision Module, that controls the locking and the lights, can get water damage with the mod for the boot,as said will look it up later.

Malcolm

 

[philos]

According to my log book the VIN is WDB208365 - hope that is right!

 

[television]

According to my log book the VIN is WDB208365 - hope that is right!

thats fine, its too late to fire up computer 3 tonight.

Malcolm

 

[philos]

Thanks Malcolm for your help so far!
Reassuring - look forward to hearing from you tomorrow

~ PHILOS ~

 

[philos]

*** UPDATE ***
Don't know if this is relevant or related to my current issue with the boot / alarm / indicators but....today I started the car and all was the same as described above however 5 mins later a message appeared on the dash about ESP...followed a few mins later with BAS (?) and then an ABS warning. Turned off engine and restarted and all went away - but.....ta! da! 10 minutes later they all came back. Heart sank to bottom of shoes and came inside and bac kto this forum - anybody any ideas.........please?

 

[Blobcat]

*** UPDATE ***
Don't know if this is relevant or related to my current issue with the boot / alarm / indicators but....today I started the car and all was the same as described above however 5 mins later a message appeared on the dash about ESP...followed a few mins later with BAS (?) and then an ABS warning. Turned off engine and restarted and all went away - but.....ta! da! 10 minutes later they all came back. Heart sank to bottom of shoes and came inside and bac kto this forum - anybody any ideas.........please?

This is most likely to be your brake light switch at the top of the brake pedal. You need a new switch from MB which is not expensive and as long as you are flexible you can change it yourself.

 

[philos]

Thanks "Blobcat"!
Will this also cure the earlier problem of the boot / alarm etc?

~ PHILOS ~

 

[television]

You have to check for water damage in the boot on the rear SAM unit, there is a mod for the wiring harness water diverter..

Water in the SAM can feed back through via The OBD2 And the CAN BUS to other parts of the car. I think that first the rear SAM has to be removed and checked for water in the connectors.

I am still looking for info.

Malcolm

 

[philos]

Thanks for your help Malcolm - greatly appreciated!

I need to locate the rear SAM as I am not very mechanically minded - could you let me know exactly where it is? Sorry to be such a "newbie" but I guess every day is a school day eh?

regards,

~ PHILOS ~

 

[nismo786]

My CLK had tons of little electrical problems, so i took it to MB dealers and they spent about 1:30 hours and fixed everything, inc Engine fan, Electric Windows and BAS/ABS errors.

All this was done for free,

I might have been lucky on that day but you should go to MB and try your luck as well, just ask them to check your car, don't book it in, just ask for advise and you never know they might repair it for free.

I was very impressed by their service and am grateful to my local MB Dealer for sorting all problems out for me.

Good luck.

 

[philos]

Problem Resolved -> Well Kinda

Hi guys!
Many thanks for all those who gave of their knowledge and expertise to help me out over the last week. I thought I'd just update everyone on how the issues I was having got resolved.
ESP / BAS / ABS lights / Boot opening error -> This was resolved by two steps:

1: Changed the brake switch as suggested - did nothing for the error above until a mechanic friend suggested disconnecting the battery overnight. Tried it -worked!! It also got rid of the boot switch problem. Drove the car but still had the indicator problems.

2: Mechanic friend kept car overnight and disconnected the battery again - in the morning re-connected and indicators problem solved!

I live in SW London and for all those people in the know, car parking is a premium. I park my car off the B road I live on as there is a bus lane right out side my house. Earlier in the week I left the car parked onvernight with the car manually locked but I was woken by the local community police at 3am to sort out the alarm going off(!?). In the morning I was also greeted with hostile notes plastered all over the windscreen. Was nervous about leaving the car overnight on Friday (after fixied) as had convinced myself alarm was going to go off and residents would call in police etc, so I left it manually locked (alarm disabled) and sat for an hour in the cold to see if alarm triggered. Crawled into bed at 2am and awoke yesterday to superglued, plastic wallett on windscreen to say "Remove car...not a resident of road...blah!..reported to council..blah..." and the entire drivers side had been keyed from boot to bonnet! Checked with police and alarm did not go off Thursday night - so......electrical issues resolved BUT been hounded out of the street where I have been parking for the last 16yrs! Life eh?!

Now....anyone know why the windows won't operate properly - go down OK but go up in 2mm steps! Also, on drivers side door handle where the key is placed there used to be a cap "hiding" the keyhole - this has been removed and a large splodge of superglue placed there - have managed to remove that but would like a replacement cap - any ideas what it's official MB name is and where I might acquire one?

Once again - thanks guys! Excellent forum and I'm really glad I joined!

 

[television]

With the key turned to 2 lower the windows right down and hold for 10 secs, then put window up with the door closed, hold the switch for 10 secs.
that should re set them.

Malcolm

 

[philos]

Malcolm

Many thanks for that - will give it a try tomorrow morning before hitting the wonderful route to work - M25 -> M4...aaaahh! Delightful! ;-)