Ghost in the Machine (C220 W203)

[psmart]

Any ideas?

For a while now, the C-Class has started misbehaving electrically, not terminal so not a high priority. The symptoms:-

1. Hiccup on tickover, occasionally whilst accelerating. The computer/dash flickers at the same time as the hiccup (as though power to the whole car was disrupted for 200msec).
2. Rear light cluster warning messages and its not the contacts/bulbs. Thanks to TV/Colechelle I know where to look when summer comes to fix it.
3. A couple of days ago, I got into the car and the seat was at wrong position, so was the steering wheel and the on-board computer was on Audio (normally left on Mpg).
4. Last night I got into the car in a dark car park, put key in ignition slot, didnt turn it and then started noticing brief flashes from the Bi-Xenon lights. It seemed as though it was linked to my movement in the car. Light switch was in Auto position.

I've plugged in CarSoft and no messages are logged. My first prognosis would be a dodgy earthing strap, but perhaps someone already knows about this problem, hence asking?

 

[Cole@MBS]

No hard and fast fix coming to mind there!

It sound like you are having CAN communication faults between the SAMs!

A plug into star would be a first choice,

You no about the wiring mod for the rear lights, as for the seat moving on its own!

Again, i star test i think first!

 

[television]

Its a SAM going down I think, I will take a look at the diagram to see what is common to the faults

 

[television]

Flashing of headlamps and instrument cluster = replace front SAM

I always have problems here as the left hand and right hand are not always reversed for LHD and RHD but it is the box near the windscreen motor.

I have printed off the work sheets for you while I was at it

 

[psmart]

Thank-you both very much, at one point I thought I was going mad! The car is now 6 years old, 40K and has had a mainly sheltered life, parked in a garage for months on end! Its now having to tolerate sub-zero temperatures, so this probably only exarcerbates problems.

Will scan ebay.de tonight for new SAMs, if I have no luck then will ask for them to be changed out next service (4000 miles, or 1 months time!).

 

[television]

Thank-you both very much, at one point I thought I was going mad! The car is now 6 years old, 40K and has had a mainly sheltered life, parked in a garage for months on end! Its now having to tolerate sub-zero temperatures, so this probably only exarcerbates problems.

Will scan ebay.de tonight for new SAMs, if I have no luck then will ask for them to be changed out next service (4000 miles, or 1 months time!).

Only the one to replace, I can send you the worksheet and it dead easy to replace though it will need to be coded once fitted, PM me your Email address