ESP/BAS & ABS lights wont turn off - C1140-016 - Steering angle sensor

[flip909]

HI All,

Am really stuck and would love some help to avoid overspending on this issue.

Mercedes A Class
A160
W168 ( so i'm told )
2002
Error code : C1140-016 Steering angle sensor (N49)
Car in LIMP Mode (30Mph Max)

Background,

Dont know when the lights came on but Battery went flat & car hit a curb.
Battery replaced.
Tried a simple re-set of steering angle sensor (turn wheel to right left etc.) No Joy.

Merc Specialist checked the Star computer readout and came up with the code (C1140-016)

He said to check electricity is getting to sensor, if it is, then to replace it.

Since the car hit a curb, I am concerned that if the sensor is replaced the lights wont go out and limp mode may remain.

Is there a chance that just getting the wheels aligned (tracking done) could fix this issue and I wont need to replace/clean the steering angle sensor?

Have searched High and low regarding the ESP/BAS & ABS lights (including this error code) and cant see much regarding a curb collision.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks for your time.
Phil.

 

[television]

Sounds like a wheel sensor but if the car hit the kerb this could have damaged the steering shaft, and the pre load gone, does the steering feel as the there is a little more play than it was, this will bring op code 1140 and consistent with hitting the kerb.

 

[Uncle Benz]

Where does the steering wheel sit when you are driving on a straight road? If the steering wheel is "pi55ed" the steering angle sensor will record a fault. By all means have the tracking done. Just avoid anywhere that thinks removing the steering wheel and moving it a few splines to get it straight is acceptable.

 

[flip909]

Hi,

Thanks for fast replies!

television:
Ill check the play when I get home from work. It wasn't a big hit, but probably enough to throw something out. that's why i'm reluctant to spend out on a Steering Angle Sensor at £199 + VAT + labor when I hear that many things could be at fault and throw up this error.

Uncle Benz:
Ill have a look at the steering wheel to check its aligned. I drove to the garage for the STAR report and didn't notice anything (except the 30Mph!)

I was wondering if a hit to the curb could cause the Steering angle sensor to be thrown out (if I was holding the steering wheel tight when the NSF wheel jarred)

It doesn't help that I had a battery failure (New battery installed) and a hit to the curb both so close together. I can't remember for the life of me if the lights were on already after battery change but before the curbing..

Really appreciate your help folks My First Mercedes and its lovely (other than this fault)

All the best Phil.

 

[television]

You could go down to MBS in Southampton where Colin is good with these cars.

I must admit that I did not know this fault, its in WIS that if the pre tension goes.

The actual fault is "insufficient clamping force on the upper screwed knuckle joint in the jacket tube resulting in loss of pre tension in steering shaft bearing.

It does say noticeable play in steering column

 

[flip909]

Didn't notice you were in Dorset too! Lovely part of the world.

Took the car to Star-Tech in Poole. He was pretty sure that it was the sensor after the Star Readout. its just a lot of money.. also at £84.40 per hour... they said it would be 1 hour to check if electric was getting there before they ordered part & changed it. scary prices..

Saw people online who have cleaned the SAS and put them back on. was considering this after checking a few cheaper fixes first. Just didn't know if a curbing would affect the SAS or not.

Thanks again for help.

 

[television]

All I can say is what i have said fits the bill for what happened.


Do check the steering wheel for excessive free play.

MBS are £60 per hour.

 

[flip909]

Checked for free play in the steering wheel, almost nothing at all. Can hardly feel it.

I'm going to drive and check the steering wheel is straight in the morning.

Should I check the wheel sensor hasn't been jarred loose or disconnected? Is this easy to locate?

Thanks
Phil.

 

[television]

OK so not that fault, the sensor is under the steering column

 

[jj1975]

Checked for free play in the steering wheel, almost nothing at all. Can hardly feel it.

I'm going to drive and check the steering wheel is straight in the morning.

Should I check the wheel sensor hasn't been jarred loose or disconnected? Is this easy to locate?

Thanks
Phil.

If you hit a curb it may have bend or disturbed any of suspension arms and it doesn't take much for SAS sensor to get wrong signal

 

[flip909]

I had the tracking done (was out by 3 Degrees)
Tried resetting using the right lock and left lock etc. No Joy.

How accurate is the Star machine with fault finding? I mean the MB guy at our specialists in town said He would check electric to the steering angle sensor (SAS) and if it was getting power OK, then change that.

My mechanic should be about today and I'm not really sure what to do. I was going to ask him to check the electric to SAS then either get to sensor and clean it if dirty (seen a few posts from people who have cleaned them then put back and all is ok) or replace the SAS (kinda expensive)

Should I be checking any other things before barking up this tree?

I would hate to replace to SAS and still have same fault.

Is there a way to tell if suspension arms are bent or disturbed?

Thanks for everyone's help on this. making the wrong choice can be costly!

Phil

 

[flip909]

Solved - Replaced Steering Angle Sensor (N49)

Hi All,

Wanted to come back to let you know this has been solved.

Replaced the steering angle sensor and reset it, with right lock, left lock then straight with engine running.

Part is listed for 199 + VAT
After a few calls back and forth to Euro Car Parts and GSF, got it for 170+VAT Delivered.

Easy to replace yourself if you check a few forums, Youtube and www.aclassinfo.co.uk/
(Great little site! Thanks Lofty!)

Dash lights now off and car out of LIMP mode. Result!

Also Any Electrical problems with ESP/BAS, its worth checking the connector on the ESP unit, under the washer bottle. its position allows it to get wet and damaged easily. Mine was fine but have heard about lots of issues which throw up fault codes.

Thanks for everyone's help.
All the best,
Phil.