My 05's First Tow Truck Ride
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Orange County, CA
05 C230k
My 05's First Tow Truck Ride
Ok...I'm trying to remain calm here but am having a difficult time. It would help to find out this is a problem with a simple fix...so if it's happened to you, feel free to chime in.
So I go into work for some OT yesterday around 6am. At 1pm, I get out to my car, ready to go home and relax with my son whom I haven't seen in a couple weeks because he's been at his dads house. I start her up and hear this beep, so I look at my instrument cluster.
"SRS System Restraint Malfunction. Drive to workshop"
Ooh, ok, that part about 'driving to the workshop' doesn't sound to promising. So I call the dealer and ask what it means. The service coordinator said it's very serious and I need to bring it in without an appointment under "emergency status" ASAP. Uhhhh, that really doesn't sound ok. The she proceeds to tell me that it's probably best I get it towed because the airbags could spotaneously go off without reason. Lovely.
So, the car was towed out of here yesterday afternoon and I still haven't heard from that today. Has anyone had this happened to them and what was the diagnosis and fix?
So I go into work for some OT yesterday around 6am. At 1pm, I get out to my car, ready to go home and relax with my son whom I haven't seen in a couple weeks because he's been at his dads house. I start her up and hear this beep, so I look at my instrument cluster.
"SRS System Restraint Malfunction. Drive to workshop"
Ooh, ok, that part about 'driving to the workshop' doesn't sound to promising. So I call the dealer and ask what it means. The service coordinator said it's very serious and I need to bring it in without an appointment under "emergency status" ASAP. Uhhhh, that really doesn't sound ok. The she proceeds to tell me that it's probably best I get it towed because the airbags could spotaneously go off without reason. Lovely.
So, the car was towed out of here yesterday afternoon and I still haven't heard from that today. Has anyone had this happened to them and what was the diagnosis and fix?
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Encino
2002 C230K
it's not so bad. it happens a lot, and it's a minor fix 90% of the time. just an electrical bug. and it's not so much that the airbag could go off spontaneously, as it just won't go off in accident. i see so many people come in for that at my dealership, everyone of them scared because somebody at the dealership said it was horrendously dangerous, and the tech comes out and says it's nothing.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 258
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From: Philadelphia, PA/Naples, FL
C320 Coupe
my brother had the same problem with his bmw 325i....the SRS light came on. it happened to him twice actually. he took it to the dealer both times, didn't seem like anything too major. one of the times it was just a faulty sensor, which it could be in your case as well.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: San Diego, Ca
2003 Citron Green C230KMT
i had that happen on mine after a new COMAND was installed. i went to leave the dealer and when i started it up the SRS warning came on. so i got back in my loaner car and left my car there an extra night.
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: NH-NJ
That's what happens when you **** off the people who make the cars!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3919135.stm
Hope everything turns out alright!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3919135.stm
Hope everything turns out alright!
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From: El Pueblo de la Reyna de los Angeles
The True OG Modded out W203
Yeah dont worry...the service guy wasnt over reacting because it CAN be a hazard but not really. I had the light go out on me lik 4 or so times, Once when I installed a Brabus steering wheel(2 weeks light was on), changed to another steering wheel(4 days), new stereo system(3 weeks) and when I took the damn fuse out myself(1 week).
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2003
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From: Houston, TX
2015 E250D
the advisor over reacted major time. Could be a loose plug of all things. It's not major at all and don't ever get your car towed for this reason again. There are many reasons this can happen, SRS connector in steering came off, under seat there are 2 yellow connectors, they may have come off, baby seat sensor defective, cable came off top row of switches. I have expierenced every single one of this. No biggie. ANd it's because I was toying with the car, not the manufacturer fault
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Super Member
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Oregon
C32AMG
I've seen that same alarm several times in the 35,000 miles I've put on my car.In all cases,turning the car off and re-starting it cleared the dash alarm.One more start would clear the stored alarm error on the dash display.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 146
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From: Central VA, USA
'01 ML430, '03 C320 Coupe MT, '14 GL450
The service advisor was probably just being cautious. Can you imagine taking Sunman's advice, and then getting in a serious accident where your airbags did not go off. Imagine the potential law suits!
We've had this happen to our ML in the past. Turned out to be a bad sensor (as others have said) in the passenger seat. So probably it is not a big deal, but my on the record advice will have to be to have it checked out. Personally, I would not worry too much, but will have it checked out at my earlest convenience.
We've had this happen to our ML in the past. Turned out to be a bad sensor (as others have said) in the passenger seat. So probably it is not a big deal, but my on the record advice will have to be to have it checked out. Personally, I would not worry too much, but will have it checked out at my earlest convenience.
Last edited by kokketiel; Jul 24, 2004 at 11:09 AM.
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 58
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From: Orange County, CA
05 C230k
Ok, finally got word from the service advisor. It's an easy fix, just an electrical connection in the steering column. Apparently it's something MB already knows about because they've got new, updated connections for when this happens. The only problem is, the new connectors are back-ordered from Germany. They said they're looking at late next week for an arrival time. And because it's a safety issue, they won't give me my car back. I've got a loaner...but still, it's not my baby. Patience is a virtue....ugh.
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A bucket on wheels
Originally Posted by dswildfire
it's not so bad. it happens a lot, and it's a minor fix 90% of the time. just an electrical bug. and it's not so much that the airbag could go off spontaneously, as it just won't go off in accident. i see so many people come in for that at my dealership, everyone of them scared because somebody at the dealership said it was horrendously dangerous, and the tech comes out and says it's nothing.
your service advisor made it seem ten times worst then it really is. At least you got a loaner. Hopefully its an mb loaner too.
