W210 E300TD electrically controlled modules dying one by one

[candyman1980]

Morning all,

I've got a 1997 E300 TD with a strange issue. When I bought the car, everything worked, then over the following weeks electrical parts stopped responding. First was the passenger's side window...then a few days later the driver's side window and seat/steering wheel controls started to not respond. Then the central locking became unreliable on one side of the car. I performed a search on the forums and found something referring to the CAN bus which apparently gets confused and stops communicating to the control modules on the vehicle. The suggestion on that thread was to disconnect and reconnect the battery....this I did and everything was fine - for a few days! Then it started happening again.

I can't find the thread I mentioned but I was wondering if anybody knows a permanent cure to this problem...is there a main communications module that I need to replace??

It's really beginning to wind me up! Any help would be most appreciated.....

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
I think you,ll have to put it on STAR to get a more definitive answer but i suspect that it will be one of the door control modules, they can get damp causing problems.

 

[candyman1980]

Thanks for the reply.....STAR? is that some kind of diagnostics machine?

 

[television]

STAR is a diagnostic test set used for MB cars, the chances are that you just have one door controller faulty, and it is contaminating the rest

 

[luders79]

Hello,

its more than likely a rear door control module as televison has already said! If you are able to you can check them by disconnecting them one at a time a see if it cures your fault. I have done this with a few customers. when the fault comes again disconnect one see if it then returns to normal if no change reconnect and try the next one! note door control modules (DCM'S) in there rear doors are part of window motor. Fronts have separate modules in doors behind trim and are not part of window motor!

Hope this is of some help

Good Luck

 

[robs-mbz]

I might be barking up the wrong tree, but I just had similair problems with my E300td, in particular the drivers side window would not always open and the ABS/BAS warning kept appearing. The battery was also on its way out, failing to start the car if it had been standing for three or four days. I replaced the battery and to be honest, I forgot about the other faults because they have not appeared since, its only reading this thread thats reminded me. Could a low battery voltage be responsible? Its got to be worth getting your battery checked out.

 

[luders79]

As just stated is the battery o.k very good point!

 

[television]

I might be barking up the wrong tree, but I just had similair problems with my E300td, in particular the drivers side window would not always open and the ABS/BAS warning kept appearing. The battery was also on its way out, failing to start the car if it had been standing for three or four days. I replaced the battery and to be honest, I forgot about the other faults because they have not appeared since, its only reading this thread thats reminded me. Could a low battery voltage be responsible? Its got to be worth getting your battery checked out.

Yes the state of the battery at the time of parking up does come into play here, as sometimes if the voltage is too low then systems cannot shut down, but the OP has said that the battery is new, I would charge it fully and see what happens

 

[robs-mbz]

I would be interested in the outcome!

 

[candyman1980]

Well thanks for the resposnse guys.... To be honest, I was hoping the new battery would solve the problem hence the post.

The battery is a brand new 98Ah which I charged before fitting - it replaced the old 48Ah one which clearly wasn't man enough for the job. I thought that may have cleared things up but no joy.

I'll go with luders79's suggestions for now and see if that solves it...You still think a rear door module is likely to be the culprit even if it's the passenger's side front window that constantly plays up first??

Thanks again

 

[candyman1980]

Just one thing before I go disconencting....do I need to remove the door trim to get inside or is there a plug connecting the car to the door that I can disconnect?? I haven't had a chance to look at it yet....

 

[television]

Just want to point out that you have controllers in both front and rear doors as of 01-03-97

 

[luders79]

Sorry for late reply, you dont have to take the door trim off there is connectors in the trunking that runs along the inner sill under carpet! would do what ever you feell is easier! Also yes there is a very good chance that a rear door control module can stop the n/s/f window working! i've had it a few times on both 210's and 202's.

Hope you get to the bottom of your fault!

 

[candyman1980]

Nice one luders, I'll check it out this weekend...cheers