2002 C230k electrical disaster - Front & rear SAM designation - Pin Outs - d2b & MOST
My high beam indicator will start flashing and as soon as this happens a load of other errors begin to pop up. Sometimes it will say low brake fluid, it's not low. Once when this happened it said battery/alternator, but that only happened once out of a dozen or so times so far. My turn signals stop working, the door locks stop working, my parking brake lamp illuminates, the windows stop working, windshield wipers stop working for the most part sometimes they will work just no control in speed variation, the radio will cut on and off, the lighting for my instrument cluster cuts off if i have my headlights on but the led screen stays lit reading my trip meter but not the odometer and the high beam indicator srs and other lights stay on, gas gauge may or may not work during this, tail lights will occasionally turn off and substitute lamps turn on, reverse lights stop working, but the car performs just fine during all of this.
I do feel as if I may be leaving out a few errors but I think the point is clear, someone told me it could possibly a rear SAM, but before I jump into replacing that I was hoping someone else could shed some light on this issue. My baby isn't under warranty and I'm really a DIY kinda guy but I have no clue when it comes to electrical stuff like this. Someone else said it could be bad relays but I have no fuse diagrams except the one I found on here but that tells me nothing about relays or there locations. Somebody please help lol.
Last edited by phister; Aug 13, 2012 at 09:45 AM.

Relay Cavity
I Fanfare Horn System Relay
K Terminal 87 relay, Chassis
L Wiper speed 1 and 2 relay
M Terminal 15R relay
N SEQ {ASG} pump control relay (w/code 424
Sequentronic automated manual trans. (asg))
O Air pump relay (engines 112, 113, 271 only)
P Terminal 15 relay
Q Wiper on/off relay
R Terminal 87 relay, engine
S Starter relay
For the rear SAM:
Relay Cavity
A Fuel Pump Relay
B Relay 2 Terminal 15R
C Reserve Relay 2
D Reserve Relay 1
E Rear Window Defroster
F Relay 1 Terminal 15R
G Filler Cap Relay Polarity Reverser 1
H Filler Cap Relay Polarity Reverser 2
Front SAM

Rear SAM


Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Aug 13, 2012 at 09:52 AM.
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And I agree that I do need to get her hooked up to Star. Money is kinda tight at the moment and I have been looking for a shop or individual who has a sds who isn't going to kill me on price. Stealership over here wanted $280
The Best of Mercedes & AMG

Also see Audio10.com
So for the most recent update. I put fuse 64 back into place a couple of minutes ago, and almost immediately the issues reoccurred. This time they didnt not seem to be popping up with as much ferocity as the other day but after a couple restarts the issue was clearly evident to me. While these errors were popping up either my radio would cut off or dim like it wanted to cut off, so i removed the fuse while this was happening and like magic they were gone instantaneously. I have had my battery and alternator tested and all seems to be well. So I'm gonna go with the radio first, as opposed to replacing sam units since it is far far easier and less expensive.
If I were to install an aftermarket head unit myself is there any other parts I would need besides the head itself? I do not have the Bose system so I do not think fiber optics are involved but please correct me if i am wrong. To me it seems like a simple plug and play type situation but with Mercedes ya never know if it is going to be overly complicated.
Thanks again to you all!!!

You will need an interface module to keep the d2b ring whole which is available & to maintain your steering wheel controls & cluster display.
Your unit is all hard wired apart from the d2b ring so you should have no difficulties. These should be your present Pin-Outs.




I bought another one, same result, not seen by the system.
Put the radio from Audio 10 back to stock, still nothing... gave up on CD changer, but still have one sitting around.
What else screws up canbus comm?
I bought another one, same result, not seen by the system.
Put the radio from Audio 10 back to stock, still nothing... gave up on CD changer, but still have one sitting around.
What else screws up canbus comm?
You will need an interface module to keep the d2b ring whole which is available & to maintain your steering wheel controls & cluster display.
Your unit is all hard wired apart from the d2b ring so you should have no difficulties. These should be your present Pin-Outs.



We can help on the DIY. Most if not all the steps are on the forum but worse case scenario a Skype session could be set up.

Dealer or places like RMeuropean.






