saalblade

Hey guys.

The SRS light on my '00 C280 popped on and I took it to my local indie to have the code read. It returned the code B12417 Y21. They're saying the Airbag Sensor needs to be replaced to the tune of $1550 ($1200 for the sensor alone!). Can anyone tell me what the code means? Many thanks.

BenzManNow

Saal...

When you say "they" are you referring to your local dealer or do you have an independent mechanic that you use?
Also, assuming what they're telling you is true, then you've answered your own question - or, I should say, they have. But it sounds like you're trying to verify what "they" told you - which is always a good idea especially when the repair is particularly expensive.

I can't tell you what that code means but,again, if in fact "they" are correct, you can probably get a used sensor on ebay for a lot cheaper. And if you or a friend are mechanically inclined, I'm sure there's info somewhere on the web with instructions on how to go about changing this sensor. Just remember this - if you attempt to do this repair yourself, disconnect the negative cable from the battery before attempting to work on the airbag system. This ALWAYS recommended. And whatever you do, do reconnect the battery and/or start the car without having the system put back together. I was foolish enough to disconnect one of the SRS components and then drive around for a few days until I could complete the repair - and now it seems that in so doing I may have fried my SRS control module.

Best of luck
Mark

saalblade

Mark,

Thanks for the reply 6 months later. That's dedication! The 'they' was definitely a local Benz indie who had given me pause with another issue I ended up fixing myself (wiper motor replacement). That's why I was looking for the code.

The story does have a good ending. Sort of. I found another indie who specializes in Benz who ran the diagnostics and confirmed the fried module (sucky). However, the next bit he told me that nearly made me cry tears of joy, in PA, a failed SRS module passes inspection. I've grown to kind of like the red light and without the guarantee of my airbags deploying, just plan to be accident free

I also learned that you can swap out a used module without any stored incidents, but you will need STAR diagnostics to marry the module to your particular vehicle by VIN. Otherwise, it'll trip again and store the incident. Once it's stored, it's done.

Cheers.

John

BenzManNow

John,

Thanks for the info. I came upon your thread (albeit 6 months after the fact) because I recently acquired my 2000 C230 Kompressor. The only problem the car had/has is that I have the dreaded and seemingly ubiquitous problem of the SRS light being on. Fortunately for me, the paperwork from the previous owner indicated that it was diagnosed by a M-B dealership as the common passenger seat occupancy sensor. My local indie confirmed this for me upon my bringing the car to him after I purchased it.

In an effort to save some $ I told my mechanic that I would perform the repair myself (I'm very mechanical). So I took the car over to my folks' home and started the repair. Unfortunately, I had run out of sunlight and wound up driving the car around (for over a week) until I returned to finish the job - which I did just last Sunday. Not surprisingly, the SRS light still remained on. I then took the car to my mechanic (also a M-B specialist of many years) to have the SRS module cleared of the fault code. What happened next is the real puzzlement: When he connected his scanner, the system now indicated 3 or 4 more SRS codes, in addition to the one and only one previous code for the occupancy sensor. But what's even stranger is that although he could read the codes from the control module, whenever he attempted to clear them he kept getting an error message that said "unable to communicate with control module". That was yesterday. He still has my car as I write this and he's working with the company (in the U.K.) that manufactures the scanner he uses and publishes the software that it runs. I hope to have the answer by tomorrow but I fear that, from what I've read on other forums, I may have permanently damaged the SRS control module by driving the car without a passenger seat occupancy sensor connected.

What I find surprising about your comment is the part where you say that replacing the SRS control module (from one purchased on eBay, for example) would not, in and of itself, resolve the problem (if, in fact, the problem now is my control module). My mechanic had suggested my possibly doing just that - purchase a unit on eBay but making sure I match up the #'s on my control unit with the one that I purchase. He didn't mention anything to me about having to then have it connected to the STAR system to match it up with my VIN. I also read on another forum that one of the members there had performed the control module swap (he made sure to match up the #'s on his defunct unit with the used replacement he purchased on ebay). And he claimed that his repair was successful - and never mentioned anything about having to take it to a dealership to have the VIN matched to the module.

Are you sure about this?

Thanks in advance.

Mark

saalblade

I had also read the thread you're referring to about successfully swapping the sensor, but after being told by my new indie about the need for marrying the module, left it alone. So to answer your question, no, I'm not totally sure that it's the case. I will say that there's a bunch of threads both here and the other big Benz site with differing commentary on the repair.

Good luck and sorry I can't be of more help.

BenzManNow

If the problem with my car winds up being a fried module, then I'll be trying the swap myself. And if I wind up doing so - I'll post my outcome (good or bad) for your and anyone else's edification.

Damn - I hate this shyte.

BenzManNow

Hey John,

I thought I'd share with you (and anyone else reading this) the final resolution to my SRS problem. A brief recap - SRS light was on - one fault code - child occupancy seat sensor. Purchased the part and replaced it myself - brought the car back to my mechanic to have SRS system reset. Now more SRS codes - in addition to the original one. My mechanic was able to communicate with the control module to read the codes, but whenever he tried to clear them he'd get an error message on his scanner that said "Unable to communicate with control module). Hmmmmm.... one minute the module's talking, the next - not.

Anyway - my mechanic contacted the company that markets his scanner and the software it runs and they had him send to them a log of some sort. With that information they were able to prescribe the necessary procedure to "reprogram" my module - effectively resetting it.

So, $420 dollars (all in, part included), several weeks and lots of later, the problem is finally resolved. All in all, $420 was not bad in my opinion - as far as SRS repairs go, that is. But the seven weeks of head banging? I'll let you know about that if/when the headache ever goes away.

But perhaps most important to me is that this also meant that I was finally able to go and have my long-overdue state safety inspection done (which I did earlier today) and that I now have the peace of mind knowing that my SRS system will function properly in the event of a serious accident (which, after having been in one very serious accident, was my greatest concern).

I'm not sure if this helps you at all but if not, then hopefully it will help someone else.

Best,
Mark

cm60k

Glad you got it Mark.,

Thankss for sharing...

ZAYED,,

BenzManNow

Welcome Zayed...

Glad to share what I know and learn - as the saying goes "Knowledge is only good when it's shared".

I hope this helps someone else.

Mark