ESP - BAS - ABS Locked in Park

[Lozzar]

My CL500 2002 Model is locked in Park with ESP, BAS, & ABS warnings and the Brake Lights are on as soon as the ignition is on. The Engine starts but the gearbox is locked in Park (luckily on my drive). After watching Numerous YouTube videos the common fault is the Brake Switch. I purchased a cheap switch from Amazon and it didn't resolve, I purchased a second from Europarts and no resolve, I purchased a third from Mercedes Stratstone, Leeds and no resolve.
I then purchased a used tested Ebay ESP Module Bosch 031 545 09 32 Q02 and swapped it with the active module and no resolve. Removing the Module switched off the Brake Lights.
I am now waiting for delivery of two front ABS Sensors.
Has anyone had this issue and resolved it?

 

[mioba]

Easy way to burn money there mate.
Get a merc indy to come out and read the codes, only way.
An esp module needs coding to the car regardless.
May not be the abs sensors, could be reluctor rings.
whatever you do buy genuine.

 

[Lozzar]

Thank you for your comments. I purchased an iCarsoft MB1.0v (£100) specifically programmed for MB to diagnose this issue and it said Brake Switch. I first borrowed an expensive diagnostic tool from an old friend, one that covers all cars and that too only called out the Brake Switch? using the term "Plausibility" (attached image) a Term to me that isn't specific enough and doesn't fill me with confidence. So I thought I'd do all the cheap remedies first?? The car owes me nothing. I've had it three years completely trouble free and I love the car it performs superb and until this fault everything worked as it should. I saw somewhere different tyre pressures can cause this. On the morning this happened I did need to top up the nearside front tyre. But it started at the garage and got me home. It's a second car, it's not like I need it so I'm determined to fix it but there's no urgency. I feel lucky it failed on my drive. Regards.

 

[onefortheroad]

I had it on my 17 reg e350 . It was a can bus fault caused by a bad earth at the abs pump.

 

[Lozzar]

While I'm waiting for my ABS Sensors I thought I'd do some thorough connectivity tests. Their is a voltage to the Brake Switch but I had to put the meter on 200mA setting to detect it and it then read 1.5. I need to check if that enough, it is just a switch voltage after all. During this activity I noticed the Battery isn't great. The test voltage was less than 12 Volts (about 11.6) Can this cause the ESP, BAS, ESP to illuminate and freeze out the drive locking the gearbox in Park? The engine started, only just and the alternators charging ok. I literally haven't spent any money on this car for over 3 years ownership and I don't use it as an every day car but the journeys I do are good for the battery but it could need replacing, I've no idea how old it actually is. I did put it on charge in December. I usually put it on charge at least once over Winter. I'm wondering if a Battery with a static output less than 12 Volts is contributing?? Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

 

[mattkh]

I had it on my 17 reg e350 . It was a can bus fault caused by a bad earth at the abs pump.

Please elaborate on how the bad earth at the ABS pump was corrected.

 

[onefortheroad]

While I'm waiting for my ABS Sensors I thought I'd do some thorough connectivity tests. Their is a voltage to the Brake Switch but I had to put the meter on 200mA setting to detect it and it then read 1.5. I need to check if that enough, it is just a switch voltage after all. During this activity I noticed the Battery isn't great. The test voltage was less than 12 Volts (about 11.6) Can this cause the ESP, BAS, ESP to illuminate and freeze out the drive locking the gearbox in Park? The engine started, only just and the alternators charging ok. I literally haven't spent any money on this car for over 3 years ownership and I don't use it as an every day car but the journeys I do are good for the battery but it could need replacing, I've no idea how old it actually is. I did put it on charge in December. I usually put it on charge at least once over Winter. I'm wondering if a Battery with a static output less than 12 Volts is contributing?? Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

It certainly won't help m8. Best get it charged up to around 12.4v at least.

 

[mattkh]

............. On the morning this happened I did need to top up the nearside front tyre. But it started at the garage and got me home. Regards.

So when the warning light came ON, you put air in the tyre, the car started, the gearbox selected the gear and you drove home.
This shows that your problem now is NOT connected to the brake switch. It is something else.

 

[onefortheroad]

Please elaborate on how the bad earth at the ABS pump was corrected.

I tightened up the nut securing it. It was either left loose or worked itself loose.

 

[Lozzar]

So when the warning light came ON, you put air in the tyre, the car started, the gearbox selected the gear and you drove home.
This shows that your problem now is NOT connected to the brake switch. It is something else.

No, warning lights much later, when I put air in the tyre there were no warning lights. I knew the tyre was low and simply inflated it. No warning lights, started the car and drove to a store that sold wild bird seed. Set off from there with no warning lights and pulled up at home in front of the garage. Had a break and a drink. Saw a weather forecast and decided to put the car away in the garage. Started the car, couldn't get it out of Park, couldn't move it and then the signs, ESP BAS ABS were on along with permanent rear brake lights illuminated. Been stuck on the drive ever since.
When you go to start the car again, turning the key to the pre-ignition position the dashboard screen says no malfunctions but the brake lights are on.. Then once you start the engine and touch the brake pedal the warning signs illuminate. Actually I think they illuminate after a short while if you don't touch the pedal. Tried the sharp tap on top of the gear stick to free it from Park but it didnt move and maybe I wasn't positive enough. My motive to getting it out of park was so I could take it to a professional. Stuck in Park it will be a very difficult task to manoeuvre the car onto a trailer backwards.

 

[mattkh]

Have you been able to charge the battery.?

 

[Lozzar]

I have but it took over 20 hours to change the charge light to green. I'm leaving it on charge again overnight and do some more tests tomorrow. It is my intention to purchase a new battery.

 

[mattkh]

What is the voltage now .?

 

[Lozzar]

Just checked. 13.3 at the Battery and 22.98 at the ESP BAS Module in the Fuse box. Disappointing thing is the Brake Light still comes on with ignition. Left it off charge and I'll re-check again in the morning?

 

[Lozzar]

12.98 typo

 

[Lozzar]

Still waiting for the two front ABS sensors. Checked the front left for Resistance. There is resistance but I dont know what the value should be. My setup wasn't good enough to check the AC output. I'm better prepared to do an AC check now. They were cheap enough to order without doing full connectivity checks. I'll do some better connectivity checks and AC output checks on the ABS sensors tomorrow if its warmer!. If the rear sensors show poor values compared to the front numbers I'll order the rear sensors as well.

 

[mattkh]

Thanks.
Don't charge the battery tonight, the voltage is fine now.

 

[Lozzar]

Thank you for your virtual support. Also did the steering wheel sensor thing, full lock left n right, no difference. On YouTube the guys submitting videos seem to have had the easy solutions? One guy even claimed the 7.5 amp fuse to the glove box light was the issue? Most just change the Brake switch and hey presto? This car has some magnificent electrical features and I've enjoyed nearly 4 years where everything has worked as it should. If it's not the ABS wheel sensors I guess the ABS pump is next on the list? Lucky I dont actually need the car but I've had access to two motors for many years because I had a long commute when I worked for a living and felt i needed the reassurance of a second car. I keep two other cars on the road for my daughters, an Astra and a Rav4, again no problems so I've been blessed. Having the spare car means they can borrow one while theirs is having the annual MOT, or when they've flattened a battery! Mostly I use the CL500 for long distant comfortable one off journeys in decent weather, getting 24mpg the 5 litre V8. Again, thanks for your interest.

 

[onefortheroad]

My virtual theory is a canbus fault . ;-)

 

[Lozzar]

Ok, thanks for that. I need to do some research on that. I read the post where you said you had a bad earth on the canbus. I need to check what the "canbus" is and where it is. Cheers.