ESP Control Module Failure
I first thought it was my alignment that was going bad, that might had triggered the steering angle sensor to tick off. (since I've dumped the car).
I raised the car back up to Tein Specs - 1/4" lower
Had alignment done, dealer reseted everything, it was okay for a day or two, then the error message popped back up.The dealer then replaced the steering angle sensor, error message went away, but came back up a few days later.
The car has been in and out of the dealers, for the past month, and now, they said it's the ESP Module failure, which will cost roughly in the 4 digit zone for replacement. They also said that there's a problem with the steering column, this, and that, oh gosh...
I've noticed that the car fishtails a lot, even at low speeds, when turning left and right, etc, then I've noticed that there are "empty spots" when I'm steering....annoying eh!?
I'm not sure I've read anything about this issue. Just sharing my info with my fellow 203ers
I first thought it was my alignment that was going bad, that might had triggered the steering angle sensor to tick off. (since I've dumped the car).
I raised the car back up to Tein Specs - 1/4" lower
Had alignment done, dealer reseted everything, it was okay for a day or two, then the error message popped back up.The dealer then replaced the steering angle sensor, error message went away, but came back up a few days later.
The car has been in and out of the dealers, for the past month, and now, they said it's the ESP Module failure, which will cost roughly in the 4 digit zone for replacement. They also said that there's a problem with the steering column, this, and that, oh gosh...
I've noticed that the car fishtails a lot, even at low speeds, when turning left and right, etc, then I've noticed that there are "empty spots" when I'm steering....annoying eh!?
I'm not sure I've read anything about this issue. Just sharing my info with my fellow 203ers

The fact that your car fishtails alot is nothing unusual since your traction control does not work right now. Mine did that too because I permanently have ESP/BAS disabled. Good tires and LSD helps keep the car from fishtailing now.

Don't drive your coupe in the snow or the rain right now til you get it fixed.
Last edited by pshek; Oct 17, 2008 at 03:32 AM.
Changing oil then will help, or do i need to disable the esp system ?
many thanks
Any help with that issue?
Many thanks to all of you.



Changing oil then will help, or do i need to disable the esp system ?
many thanks
Disconnecting the battery is not a good idea. When you do, a number of systems need to be "resync'd" including but not limited to the sunroof, the mirrors, the windows, and the ESP system. There is also a possibility that one of the CAN bus modules might be destroyed if the battery is disconnected incorrectly.
Please take your car to a properly equipped shop and have your problem diagnosed using the factory Star system. All dealers, and many independent shops have this.
I would not disable the ESP on my car, the safety it provides is worth the price of admission. Changing the oil will have no effect for your issue.

I first thought it was my alignment that was going bad, that might had triggered the steering angle sensor to tick off. (since I've dumped the car).
I raised the car back up to Tein Specs - 1/4" lower
Had alignment done, dealer reseted everything, it was okay for a day or two, then the error message popped back up.The dealer then replaced the steering angle sensor, error message went away, but came back up a few days later.
The car has been in and out of the dealers, for the past month, and now, they said it's the ESP Module failure, which will cost roughly in the 4 digit zone for replacement. They also said that there's a problem with the steering column, this, and that, oh gosh...
I've noticed that the car fishtails a lot, even at low speeds, when turning left and right, etc, then I've noticed that there are "empty spots" when I'm steering....annoying eh!?
I'm not sure I've read anything about this issue. Just sharing my info with my fellow 203ers

I think I had a similar situation some time back. My issue was in the front. The tires had worn to a weird angle. On left hand turns the ESP would cut in dramatically.
I cured it by just getting new tires.
Gross oversimplification, but it worked all the same.
E
Keep us posted. Sounds like something more than one person has experienced.
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Without ESP, I had to learn how to drive the car all over again to make it controllable and drive in a safe manner. I don't let anybody else drive my coupe, not without forwarning them of being excessively throttle happy.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Last edited by mleskovar; Oct 18, 2008 at 12:22 AM.
I had to have the ABS/DSC module rebuilt in my E39 BMW. $1200 at the dealer for a new one. $300 for BBA to reman. Took 10 minutes to remove in the Bimmer. I suspect it is similar for our benzes. Either way, good luck on it.
I'll go with these advices to the mechanic and try to see if any of these ideas might work.
1- Seat control module
2- BBA remanfacturing or module masters ?? what is that by the way ?
3- steering angle sensor ?
4-Lock to Lock which might recaliberate ESP (while key before ignition position)
Mr. Movia, I've been to TWO BIG NAME OF dealerships here in California, and paid a good amount of money there (you know how much these people charge), changed the battery, changed the alternator, and still the same.
I've to dislodge battery every time I leave the car until I foind a solution to this problem ?
THE LAST TIME IN MY WHOLE LIFE TO BUY A USED CAR. i'D DRIVE A NEW CRABY BRAND, BUT NEVER MERCEDES USED FOR 6 MONTHS BY ANYBODY OTHER THAN MYSELF.
Thank you so much guys,
Hany
I'll go with these advices to the mechanic and try to see if any of these ideas might work.
1- Seat control module
2- BBA remanfacturing or module masters ?? what is that by the way ?
3- steering angle sensor ?
4-Lock to Lock which might recaliberate ESP (while key before ignition position)
Mr. Movia, I've been to TWO BIG NAME OF dealerships here in California, and paid a good amount of money there (you know how much these people charge), changed the battery, changed the alternator, and still the same.
I've to dislodge battery every time I leave the car until I foind a solution to this problem ?
THE LAST TIME IN MY WHOLE LIFE TO BUY A USED CAR. i'D DRIVE A NEW CRABY BRAND, BUT NEVER MERCEDES USED FOR 6 MONTHS BY ANYBODY OTHER THAN MYSELF.
Thank you so much guys,
Hany
Hi Shrink, I believe your problem is unrelated to Advans. Yours sounds like a parasitic drain on the battery and could defintely be the seat module. It is a common problem on our cars. Sounds like the dealer is not figuring it out. Find a good independent shop and they should be able to chase down what is draining your battery.
Advans is having issues with his electronic stability control which is a complex system that reads wheel data, etc from sensors and the ABS module and prevents traction slippage and a myriad of other things. I was telling him that if is indeed the main module that controls the ESP/traction and abs functions, then it can be rebuilt for significantly less than a new module.
Good luck on chasing down your issue and let us know the result.
Turns out to be the steering rack, steering angle sensor, 4 steering bushings, steering column, the turn signal switch.
The ESP was NOT replaced, its still the old one I had.
JUST got the car back today, gonna leave the e60 home to do some intense driving on the coupe, already swapped back into the AMGs for testing.
Hope the light doesnt go off.
Turns out to be the steering rack, steering angle sensor, 4 steering bushings, steering column, the turn signal switch.
The ESP was NOT replaced, its still the old one I had.
JUST got the car back today, gonna leave the e60 home to do some intense driving on the coupe, already swapped back into the AMGs for testing.
Hope the light doesnt go off.
That's a lot of parts. $960 seems low to replace all of that, they must have felt guilty.
I hope your problem is solved and you can get back to enjoying your car. BTW....how much was the turn signal switch (mine is sticky, thinking of replacing it)?
Any comments ?
Mr. glocati, thank you for your help, but a question here, Why Seat module would be the problem, and not anything else ?
Many thanks
Turns out to be the steering rack, steering angle sensor, 4 steering bushings, steering column, the turn signal switch.
The ESP was NOT replaced, its still the old one I had.
JUST got the car back today, gonna leave the e60 home to do some intense driving on the coupe, already swapped back into the AMGs for testing.
Hope the light doesnt go off.
It has been some time since you posted this and I was wondering if the dealer's work solved your problem. I have been experiencing the same problem for several months now going back and forth to the dealer's mechanic. They cannot seem to solve the problem. I have had the car aligned, YAW sensor checked and the ESP sensor replaced.




I'd like to disable mine, completely!
I get constant errors, been in the shop a jillion times for it under
warranty, it only stays fixed for a short time.
I was happy to find that Carsoft allows me to read the data related to the
ESP, and steering angle sensor, however, unforuntately I have not yet detemined what the meaning of the error codes are or what to do with the data, what to repair or how to interpret the output of the angle sensor.
I have one error that won't clear,
C1162. If you want to read about Carsoft, check in my post history back a month or so,
don't post here. But yeh, there is stuff on the Service DVD about replacing
pins in the connectors. You need new pins and a crimper...
unfortunately it doesn't provide info relating to errors codes I have and had.
I suppose I could buy one day on the MB service site and try to find the info but at $20+ a day,
I don't have time to stay glued to my computer for 24 hours, ha.
It would be nice if Alldata had the info...but I'd like to know before subscribing.
Haynes is coming out with a manual...I wonder if anything is in there?
What is needed is a complete list of error codes for the modules
for the W203. Codes that begin with "C" are Canbus codes,
but relate to many parts of the car.
I seem to be having issues with canbus communicating at all,
but everything seems to be working fine despite the error, so I don't worry about it.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Apr 9, 2009 at 03:33 PM.
Oh, and for the record, my car is completely stock, stock suspension, stock wheels, stock everything. I recently got new tires for the car too, I was getting these errors before and after the new tires.
Last edited by PA_Pete; Apr 9, 2009 at 06:17 PM.
The ABS uses the wheel sensors. I can see how ESP module, steering angle system, and yaw sensor doesn't cause ABS to shut down but a speed sensor?





