Help!! W220 has heavy steering, ABS, ESP, and Pre-Save Warnings even after replacing all 4 Wheel Speed Sensors & Clearing codes…

[Yung Xa]

Okay, so I’m new here… I have a 2004 s430 that has 239k miles, which I know is ridiculously high mileage but I love the car…

When I bought the car in 2020 it had ABS, ESP, Pre-Save Inactive lights on and heavy steering…

I read on one of these threads a long time ago it could be a brake light switch so I replaced that. No luck. I saw another thread w similar problems and I saw it could be Wheel Speed Sensors…

Since they are pretty cheap I bought all 4 and replaced them all! After replacing them I cleared the codes restarted the car and went for a drive… after about a 5 minute drive and getting back home, I restarted the car again and the ABS, ESP, Pre-Save lights all came back on…

Nothing is seeming to fix this problem… I’m starting to question my transmissions conductor plate because of the speed sensors located there… plus here recently the trans will slip when the cars cold… so I bought a transmission service kit from fcp euro and plan on installing it soon… but, I don’t want to install it if my conductor plate is bad because it would just be a waste of this god expensive pentosin…

 

[mioba]

Ahhhh guessing is the best way to throw away money.

Did you use genuine MB speed sensors. Did you check the reluctor rings.

I had similar on my W220 years ago. Diags said a speed sensor, replaced, issue remained. MB put in a ticket to MB Germany. Solution was ABS module, new one fitted and needs coding to the car (not cheap).

a weak battery also throws up the codes.

Dont guess, get the codes read by a competent garage, much less heartache on the wallet in the long run.

 

[alexanderfoti]

What codes do you have in the various modules?

 

[Yung Xa]

What codes do you have in the various modules?

There is 2 Codes that pop up with obdII, P0500 Vehicle Speed Sensor and an “Incorrect Gear Ratio” Code. I need a better diagnostic tool truly, mines not very specific…

 

[Yung Xa]

Ahhhh guessing is the best way to throw away money.

Did you use genuine MB speed sensors. Did you check the reluctor rings.

I had similar on my W220 years ago. Diags said a speed sensor, replaced, issue remained. MB put in a ticket to MB Germany. Solution was ABS module, new one fitted and needs coding to the car (not cheap).

a weak battery also throws up the codes.

Dont guess, get the codes read by a competent garage, much less heartache on the wallet in the long run.

Reluctor rings?? A weak battery could potentially be my problem… I had to put a new radiator in the car about 3 weeks ago cause it was cracked in the spot that they always crack lol. Anyways, it was sitting while the parts came in and was dead when I started working on it…

When replacing the sensors in the rear I did notice the connectors were corroding (green crud) but my neighbor tested them and they seemed fine…

 

[Yung Xa]

Ahhhh guessing is the best way to throw away money.

Did you use genuine MB speed sensors. Did you check the reluctor rings.

I had similar on my W220 years ago. Diags said a speed sensor, replaced, issue remained. MB put in a ticket to MB Germany. Solution was ABS module, new one fitted and needs coding to the car (not cheap).

a weak battery also throws up the codes.

Dont guess, get the codes read by a competent garage, much less heartache on the wallet in the long run.

I still haven’t found a garage around me that will be able to… probably would have to take it to MB and I think they charge around $300 just to diagnose it