W203 ESP error fault

Stucoupe

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hi, new to the forum today. hope to add as much as possible in the future, coming from extensive forum input on previous VW car.

I've a C200k 54 W203 Coupe. Today the ESP error came up on the dash and tells me to get to a garage. Pressing the ESP button has no affect. Inducing an enthusiastic start/pull-away does not induce the warning triangle to appear on dash, but do notice a loss of power as per normal when too much pedal applied; so indicates traction control is on somewhat; just Im not into testing to see if ESP works by means of driving, hmm.

Before I go and waste £100 on a Merc diagnostic; is there a cheap way I can check whats gone wrong?

I only hesitate, because on my previous VW car there was often a simple solution, before coughing up the VW £80 fee. And last time I went to merc (in previous 04 W203) and paid out £100 to plug into the computer, they were unable to diagnose the problem. However, the mechanic guessed it was the entire A/C matrix packing up; so they replaced for £500, which fixed it - no thanks to the computer diag'.

So, this ESP - can I try replacing fuses, or management chips, etc? Or best to go to Merc?

Many thanks, Stu
 
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television

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Welcome to the forum,, I think that you will have to get the codes read out as the are several things that could do this,,

Why not go to an indie where the cost of a read out will be around £25 then with the fault code we should be able to guide you through the rest.

Where are you in the UK
 
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Stucoupe

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Thanks Malcolm, yes thats what I did with my VW in past years, took it to a local VW specialist, who plugged it into his PDA.

Im near Coventry. Any ideas where to go?
 

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Thanks Malcolm, yes thats what I did with my VW in past years, took it to a local VW specialist, who plugged it into his PDA.

Im near Coventry. Any ideas where to go?

If Nuneaton is not out of the way then pop in to here

http://www.mercland.com/ ask for Jay and tell him that we sent you, and you will have somewhere to go for for these odd faults
 
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Bamboozled by electronics

Brilliant, as long as they charge much less than £100 to plug in. Oddly enough it was Nuneaton I went for the VW specialist.

Quick question Malcolm, from searching for cheap servicing for the Merc, I found all specialists only about £30 cheaper than main Merc dealer. [1] Will this place be the same? I only ask, because I fond an ex vw-mechanic, who owns mercs him self and services mine for half the price of the specialists. Im just sure he does not have the Computer.

Someone on Benzworld said unplugging and plugging items will mess up the car. [2] I'd expect a simply way of resetting the system - no? And he went on to say the ESP could be any of the following: wheel speed sensor or the ABS pump or the steering angle reader or a wiring issue where you either have an open or high impedance in the circuit.

[3] Sound about right?

Thanks

ps - as for the computer plugin, its £45 a go. Just called.
 
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television

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Brilliant, as long as they charge much less than £100 to plug in. Oddly enough it was Nuneaton I went for the VW specialist.

Quick question Malcolm, from searching for cheap servicing for the Merc, I found all specialists only about £30 cheaper than main Merc dealer. [1] Will this place be the same? I only ask, because I fond an ex vw-mechanic, who owns mercs him self and services mine for half the price of the specialists. Im just sure he does not have the Computer.

Someone on Benzworld said unplugging and plugging items will mess up the car. [2] I'd expect a simply way of resetting the system - no? And he went on to say the ESP could be any of the following: wheel speed sensor or the ABS pump or the steering angle reader or a wiring issue where you either have an open or high impedance in the circuit.

[3] Sound about right?

Thanks

ps - as for the computer plugin, its £45 a go. Just called.

The difference in prices (not London) is roughly under ½ of the MB main dealer,,, Jay will charge you about £25 to read out the codes,,and no more than that
 
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Stucoupe

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I take it you know Jay?

I was quoted £45 over the phone. So upon arrival I presume I say I've come via word of Malcolm?
:)
 

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I take it you know Jay?

I was quoted £45 over the phone. So upon arrival I presume I say I've come via word of Malcolm?
:)

Please do that :D:D:D
 
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Stucoupe

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Hi.
Very pushed for time, so went to local garage who could do me a favourand pulled up some fault codes. However, he doesn't have the following codes in his book; can anyone tell me what these codes are pointing to? (sensors, etc). Each code is prefixed C:

1038
1027
1022
1173
1036
1172

The latter codes seem to be pointing at the steering sensor (maybe), but no sure if the codes are saying the sensor is fooked, or just in need of adjustment/screwing-in?
(also had the engine light on the dash for a couple days (called ignition in the handbook) but then its gone out - odd)

Please Help !!
 

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ESP messages

Hi Stu,

I had ESP fault messages after I had the tracking adjusted. They had left the steering wheel very slightly off centre, causing the ESP sensor at the steering wheel to think I was turning slightly. The esp knows I am not turning so sees conflicting signals, hence the fault code. readjusting the track rods to centre the steering wheel and resetting (turn steering from full lock to full lock) and the codes disappeared. Is your wheel straight?

Peter
 

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I cannot work out those codes if all C the 1022 is CAN to engine
 
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Stucoupe

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I cannot work out those codes if all C the 1022 is CAN to engine

Hi Malcom, eh? "CAN" ... funny you mention that. What is CAN to Engine?

The actual print out reads:
Codes 6#
C1038 Engine Control (Stored), module not identified
C1027 Fault in CAN (stored), communication with control unit N15/3 (ETC).
C1022 CAN (fault), communication with engine faulty
C1173 N49 (steering angle sensor) (fault lamp on) Plausibility error.
C1036 Fault in CAN comm' with unit N80 (steering)
C1172 N49 (steer angle sensor)

My mechanic was bemused. Before you point me to the guys in Nuneaton, can you help decipher the codes? I'd much rather be replacing a small sensor, than replace an ECU. And if it is the ecu, I'd rather get a 2nd hand one or something. I know working with VAG's that the ecu was duff if some of the sensors were sending it duff info, yet after a new sensor the ecu was fine again.
 

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I went through all of the DAS codes in simulated DAS but I could not get any of those up
 
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Stucoupe

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Bummer. Im told they are true Merc codes.

If the diagnostic tells us nothing, is there a good order of things to do? For instance, worth checking the steering sensor is in correctly? Any way of checking it is working? What about the otehr guy posting here, is it worth checking steering wheel alignment? I've never clipped a kerb, but maybe a pothole, so tracking, track rod etc worth checking?

Its annoying how the ESP traction control is not working. It will work when you turn the car on for about 2 minutes, then another fail message comes up and then the Traction Control stops working totally. Somewhat tricky in these conditions. Was seriously considering getting some winter steel wheels.
 

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My problem is that I just cannot find those codes anywhere,,maybe I am doing something wrong and maybe a techie could step in here
 
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Stucoupe

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Presume there will be little techie input on here? Might go find a specialist then. Again, appreciate efforts M
:(
 

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Presume there will be little techie input on here? Might go find a specialist then. Again, appreciate efforts M
:(

If no one else joins in,,post again tonight to bring it to the top of the pile
 

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you have can faults with engine, gearbox and steering column module - these are the main modules that esp needs to communicate with. it may be worth checking the can connector block in the o/s sill wiring compartment - at the base of the 'a' pillar by the driver's ankle. any corrosion in here will do it. N80 scm (steering column module) is used to relay the steering angle sensor data btw. your code report seems to be saying the angle sensor fault is the one putting the light on. i would really want to be looking at live data, especially for the angle sensor.
 

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Thank you Alex i went as far as I could,,its a new line for me
 

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