SL500 2003 problem

[sltim500]

Recently the car will start, but not go into gear when i put it into drive or reverse. Just stays in neutral. I turn off the car and then it will not start. Lights all come up, but will not turn over engine. I remove key and lock doors a few times. It then starts and goes into gear and away i go. Any ideas?

With thanks, Tim.

 

[television]

I would think something on the interlock around the gear shift, STAR should be able to say what is wrong, never had this fault up before, the gearshift is common to all these things, but odd never the less.

 

[Mic]

Hello and welcome......as Television

Mic

 

[DB autos]

As above would say gear control modul still have it checked first with star as the last one was about £450 and it will need programing

 

[sltim500]

Thank you Television and Mic. This only seems to happen if the car has been standing for a while. The utilities battery needs charging and did the last time, so not sure if that is part of it. Will charge and see if i still get the problem and get it on STAR if so. Many thanks for your kind help. Tim.

 

[television]

The SL 230 main battery does often need a good charge once a month, depending on how often the car is used, but it will not solve what you have now

 

[sltim500]

Thanks again. Living in hope on that one! For me to get it to my local dealer it will be in working order. Once its started and goes into gear i can stop and start and all ok. Its only if its been left to stand. Will STAR still pick up the problem if it is ok when i take it in?
Sorry for the additional questions and i appreciate your time!
Tim.

 

[television]

It will have hopefully left behind a fault code, a sticking switch is what comes to mind, unless a CAN fault that is very possible on a 230

 

[sltim500]

Amazing! Will get it in and see what comes up! Thanks again to you, Mic and DB autos for your kind help. Love this car!

Kind regards,
Tim.

 

[Alex Crow]

I will have a guess.

Water ingress into a front SAM unit has compromised crucial contacts (sometimes just between fuse and holder), and a circuit 87 power supply is thus unreliable.

 

[television]

I will have a guess.

Water ingress into a front SAM unit has compromised crucial contacts (sometimes just between fuse and holder), and a circuit 87 power supply is thus unreliable.

I realized this last nigh Alex, if you wash an SL with a high pressure washer on a hot day, or you drive through a bad storm, some moisture goes in via the vent on the left wing, up through the SBC duct wiring and into the SAM that gets quite hot, its a bit of a pig lifting that SAM, you have to remove the starter battery and not easy getting the battery wire off the SAM but with long nose plies it helps, if you have any green deposits on the pins, then that is the trouble, left too long it can blow the drivers side SAM as well

 

[sltim500]

Just tried it again and normal started, but wont go into gear. Stop engine and then it wont turn over. keep trying untill it does start and then goes into gear and away!
Do you have to disconnect the main engine starter battery, before getting to the SAM and where is it? I am an ex motorcycle mechanic of 10 plus years so could see if there is corrosion on the connector! Will it all need resetting by Mercedes if i did this? There is mention of the fuse and holder. Do you know where this is? Sorry to keep pushing you on this, but its quite interesting being an ex mechanic of sorts! Thanks again. Tim.

 

[television]

You have to disconnect the rear battery before the small one up front.

I could write it all out but it will be easier to print off the instruction and send them to you later tonight

Give me a reminder and jog the thread this evening

 

[sltim500]

That would be great! Thank you.

 

[television]

I need an Email address please, you can edit it out soon

 

[sltim500]

Many thanks!

 

[television]

OK and sent, please note it is the passenger side

 

[sltim500]

Thank you!

 

[sltim500]

Hi Guys. I have lifted the SAM as per your info thank you Television. There was some corrosion on the top socket as hopefully picture attached and the blue transformer part. I took of the back part as shown in the picture kindly attached above and this part was spot on and no sign at all of anything.

The only other thing i could see was the blue transformer thing as again hopefully attached only has 3 pins and it looks like it should have a 4th although i couldnt see this in the unit anywhere. I lifter the top and no sign of it there in where it pushes in. Maybe it only has 3 plugs in which case i am lost.

There is a click as i turn the key. Sounds like it is coming from under the engine on the drivers side. Starter solinoid at a guess. Its not a proper click and the lights dim and batteries fully charged.

Any ideas?

 

[television]

That is only the fuse section that sits on top of the SAM, the relay is OK I think, the complete SAM must be lifted up to see the connectors