Dystronic plus expert required

[BRP]

I wondered if there is a dystronic plus expert around. On my s class when using dystronic plus a warning shows after a few minutes (usually) "dystronic plus, currently unavailable, see owners handbook" The system has stopped working and usually this message is shown when no vehicle is picked up in the distance warning. The dealer found a crack in the plastic grille and has replaced that along with the black plastic panel behind the centre of the grille.
They declared that it was still showing the message and seem unsure as "it is a new system" but they think it may be receiving rougue radar signals. Obviously something had damaged the grille and it seems that another part has been damaged but no one seems to know what it is. It is quite un nerving when the system works perfectly then suddenly fails to locate a vehicle. The distance display also fails to locate a vehicle at the same time. Sorry this is a long saga but all help appreciated.

 

[television]

Whilst I know how it works,it will not help you, as your fault is intermitant, it does not have to be the sensor in the grill that is at fault. The signal from the sensor goes to the microprocessor thats decides what to do with the info from the grill sensor.

I do have the full working info,but it takes a little time to get through.

I will post back later. This is not something that could just happen to the + system,it could also happen to the older type, as the + is just one more function

Malcolm

 

[eric242340]

Dystronic plus

I wondered if there is a dystronic plus expert around. On my s class when using dystronic plus a warning shows after a few minutes (usually) "dystronic plus, currently unavailable, see owners handbook" The system has stopped working and usually this message is shown when no vehicle is picked up in the distance warning. The dealer found a crack in the plastic grille and has replaced that along with the black plastic panel behind the centre of the grille.
They declared that it was still showing the message and seem unsure as "it is a new system" but they think it may be receiving rougue radar signals. Obviously something had damaged the grille and it seems that another part has been damaged but no one seems to know what it is. It is quite un nerving when the system works perfectly then suddenly fails to locate a vehicle. The distance display also fails to locate a vehicle at the same time. Sorry this is a long saga but all help appreciated.

Im sure people will be interested in this thread, but this is a very new system and even with Star diagnostics it is going to take a good thinker to come up with the right answer. Its unlikely that anyone on this forum has a simple accurate answer, but maybe there might be some ideas out there

 

[television]

Im sure people will be interested in this thread, :

I found it hard to get through to folk here how nice it is to have. One thing for sure on this, a moter mechanic does not stand a hope in hell of finding this problem.

I had a problem with my comfort seats that just showed a leak in the drivers side on STAR. I took the pipe from the PSE pump off and blew them up, they stayed up for 4 days. I tested the PSE pump, that was perfect. MB in Exeter allowed me to take the car into the workshop, and with their best guy I could explain the system and hook it up to STAR. It was so simple it had not been activated as not all cars had the lumbar or comfort seats. the menu for that was hard to find, but we got there.

No one person can know all of these menus or indeed all of the functions, there are hundreds for each car, 20 different models x the changes over the years = more than 500 cars.

Going back to this thread, I know how the sytems works, no way does a motor mechanic, and they can only be guided by STAR. I have been doing electronics for 57 years and am still learning.

Malcolm

 

[BRP]

Thank you all for help I can't help thinking that it is some sort of impact damage as the grille was cracked and had an impact mark just under the star in the centre.
Thanks again

 

[eric242340]

Hi Malcolm, if you read my post correctly, you will see that I said even with star D it would take a good thinker to find the answer. Ive been in this job since 1967, and I totally agree with what you have said above. I was simply pointing out that even with the best tech its not going to be easy to answer this one. I hope you can come up with an answer for the man.

 

[television]

Thank you all for help I can't help thinking that it is some sort of impact damage as the grille was cracked and had an impact mark just under the star in the centre.
Thanks again

The sensors are not fixed to the grill,they are on a seperate plate behind it, you can take the grill off,and the sensor is in a seperate cup about 150mm back as said in the post 1

Like all things intermitant very hard to find, it would be quite easy to do a set up in with an object say 50 feei away, if an oscilloscope was kooked up to the resonator in the grill the signal cold be seen and confirmed by moving the object away and the wave forms observed. But then to find the intermitant bit, you have to give all of the items involved a hard knock to see if you can make the fault appear. I use both heating and freezing methods to find this type of fault.

Malcolm

 

[BRP]

Sorry I forgot to mention the dystronic + and the distance warning have worked perfectly from October 06 when the car was new up until this problem showed at about 8000 miles.

 

[television]

Sorry I forgot to mention the dystronic + and the distance warning have worked perfectly from October 06 when the car was new up until this problem showed at about 8000 miles.

I am thinking about this, am I right in saying that the + bit does not really come into it, and it is as you say, that just out of the blue fails to register a car in front, and the screen stays blank as though there was no car there.


Malcolm

 

[eric242340]

I am thinking about this, am I right in saying that the + bit does not really come into it, and it is as you say, that just out of the blue fails to register a car in front, and the screen stays blank as though there was no car there.


Malcolm

Im not an expert on this but the question is what effect the plus has on the system. Maybe if nothing is in view this system says not available? Malcolm what do you think?

 

[mioba]

interesting thread, Unfortunaletly with it being a new system on a new model car, these teething problems are inevitable.
Have the dealers in question contacted HQ in germany

 

[television]

Im not an expert on this but the question is what effect the plus has on the system. Maybe if nothing is in view this system says not available? Malcolm what do you think?

The plus is only a bit that takes the car to stadstill and starts it up again,so you can forget the plus bit. the fault will not be in the display. the first thing to change is the N63/1 module, this couples directly to the pick up sensor on the front.

http://www.mercedestechstore.com/pdfs/W211_advisor/219 HO DTR (GC_RP) 08-20-02.pdf


Malcolm

 

[television]

The basic thing that I would do on thinking about it would be to replace the pick up head, the coaial cable and the N63/1 module.

These are the 3 items in the basic set up.


malcolm

 

[BRP]

Hi Malcolm
If the distance display was not showing the + would just fail to pick up a vehicle and would not apply brakes. Having the distance display confirms this as no cars show even when close (excepting the one which represents my car) The dealer says that there is some log showing failure to detect but they had not seen the warning message, so I took a 'photo of the message and gave them a copy. The dealer fitted a new grille and plastic shield FOC which I view as generous as damage had taken plce. Hope this helps

 

[television]

One way to test is that you can have the distronic in the display on the dash, even if you are not using it,other cars and their distance is shown in the display all of the time as the distronic is active the whole time.

Use the distronic this way while just driving around, just observing that the other cars are shown to see if they drop out of the display. If they drop out even when the distronic is not activated,the items mentioned earlier will have to be changed.

I do add that the cover that has been replaced is only a dirt cover and nothing to do with the operation of distronic.

Malcolm

 

[BRP]

I have been using the distance display as an indicator of whether the distronic 'may' work. The car has been at the dealer all morning and there is no news other than that it is turning off the system. It is arranged for a 2 day visit (Wed & Thur) when they are going to make a concerted effort to find a cure, and may involve MB. The dealer principal lent me his new model CL600 for the morning. Lovely shape, much prefer to outgoing CL, and is only other model with night view system. Also the distronic + worked OK !! I am temted but as only petrol versions are available the tank range could be a problem on my numerous european jorneys.

 

[television]

Ok so using it the way you are, will isolate the problem down to the 3 basic modules, if it only happens when in use then that could be a long story.

Let me know the outcome.

Malcolm

 

[BRP]

Will let you know thank you for your input

 

[BRP]

Got the car back this morning. The dealer says they found a fault and have rectified the problem. They say that the voltage on the system was a 'bit low'. They charged it for a 'couple of hours' and updated the software. Their manager (who is used to dystronic plus) used the car overnight and says it is working perfectly. I have not had chance to test on a run as yet. Is the above a feasable reason for the malfunction?

 

[television]

Got the car back this morning. The dealer says they found a fault and have rectified the problem. They say that the voltage on the system was a 'bit low'. They charged it for a 'couple of hours' and updated the software. Their manager (who is used to dystronic plus) used the car overnight and says it is working perfectly. I have not had chance to test on a run as yet. Is the above a feasable reason for the malfunction?

Dont trust it yet, I do not think that they have solved it, low voltage ? I think other things would have stopped before the Distronic, thats my feeling on it.

Malcolm