This started happening on Tuesday.

After a turn, acceleration or braking the MFD starts displaying 2 malfunctions: "ESP off, BAS off. Visit workshop."
After shutting the engine off, and restarting the malfunctions go away. However they come back pretty soon while driving.

Has anyone had similar problems?

The car is in the shop.

 

Yeah, it's happened to me on my E class. It's just a faulty relay according to MB. Easy fix. You should be back up running by the end of today.

 

Thanks ryson. I'll hope it would be an easy fix for my car too

 

The service dept called. They say the car is fixed and ESP and BAS was shutting of because I had a dead battery two weeks ago and some codes were stored that were causing the ESP and BAS shut off.

This makes no sense to me

mbtech, does it make sense? please help

 

50 187 4/10/2001 170-203-202 42

INDICATOR LAMP ON AND FAULT CODE C1000-008 STORED: Gentlemen,
Please see Dealer Technical Bulletin #187 below. FYI

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ROUTE=ALL
TO: ALL SHOP FOREMEN
ALL SERVICE MANAGERS
ALL PARTS MANAGERS
ALL SERVICE ADVISORS
ALL WARRANTY ADMINISTRATORS

CC: MBUSA FIELD PERSONNEL
VPC / PDC MANAGERS


SUBJECT: DEALER TECHNICAL BULLETIN 26/01


***REPLACES MB-NET MESSAGE NO. 028 DATED JANUARY 24, 2001***


26/01-1 RECALLS AND SERVICE CAMPAIGNS: WHEN REPAIRING ANY VEHICLE, ALWAYS
CHECK THE VEHICLE MASTER INQUIRY FOR OPEN CAMPAIGNS


26/01-2 GROUP 42 - MODELS 170, 203 AND 202 WITH M111 ENGINE, ABS INDICATOR LAMP ON AND FAULT CODE C1000-008 STORED: Manufacturing tolerance's in the Teves ESP control module may cause the control module to switch off and store the fault code C1000-008 at high engine compartment temperatures. Once the control module has cooled down and the vehicle has
been restarted, the ESP system is fully operative again.

Repair procedure:
Install optimized ESP control module, identified by the Q status printed onto the control module.

New control modules:
202 545 49 32 - Q08 (202)
170 545 02 32 - Q06 (202)
203 545 17 32 - Q02 (203)
170 545 02 32 - Q06 (170)

Please use these part numbers and these Q values or greater. Please use Damage Code 43181 52, if necessary, and Operation Code 42-8236.

NOTE: The part number which can be seen on the control module refers to the assembly kit consisting of the control module AND the hydraulic unit, and is therefore different from the part number stated above. This is intentional.


Service Engineering
JLdg
4-10-01

 

58 205 4/12/2001 170,203,202 42
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON AND FAULT CODE C1000-016 OR C1000-128 IS STORED:

Gentlemen,Please see Dealer Technical Bulletin #205 below. FYI

-----------------------------------------------------------
ROUTE=ALL
To: ALL SHOP FOREMEN
ALL SERVICE MANAGERS
ALL PARTS MANAGERS
ALL SERVICE ADVISORS
ALL WARRANTY ADMINISTRATORS

CC: MBUSA FIELD PERSONNEL
VPC / PDC MANAGERS


SUBJECT: DEALER TECHNICAL BULLETIN 34/01


34/01-1 RECALLS AND SERVICE CAMPAIGNS: WHEN REPAIRING ANY VEHICLE,
ALWAYS CHECK THE VEHICLE MASTER INQUIRY FOR OPEN CAMPAIGNS


34/01-2 GROUP 42.45 - MODEL 170, 203 and 202 WITH M111, ABS/BAS/ESP MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON AND FAULT CODE C1000-016 OR C1000-128 IS STORED: If you encounter
complaints of the ABS/BAS/ESP malfunction indicator lamp illuminated and the ABS/BAS/ESP fault message appearing in the multi-function display while the vehicle is being driven or after the engine has been started, and at the same time, the fault code C1000-016 or C1000-128 is stored in the ESP control module, please check the power to the ESP control module. This complaint is generally caused by problems with the power supply. In such
cases, the control module must NOT be replaced.

To check the power supply, please consult the appropriate wiring diagram while observing the following instructions given below.

MODEL 170:
- Check the power supply at PIN 45 (2.5 sq. mm, sw) and PIN 47 (4.0 sq. mm, sw) of the ESP control module.
- Check fuse F31f3 (fuse 3 in the battery fuse box) for secure fit and continuity.
- Check Z4/3 (end sleeve of terminal 30)

MODEL 202:
- Check the power supply at PIN 45 (2.5 sq. mm, rt/rs) and PIN 47 (4.0 sq. mm, rt/ge) of the ESP control module.
- Check the fuses F23/1f8 and F23/1f9 (control modules box) for secure fit and continuity
- Check X12/3 (terminal block for terminal 30)

MODEL 203:
- Check the power supply at PIN 45 (2.5 sq. mm, rt) and PIN 47 (4.0 sq. mm, rt) of the ESP control module.


Service Engineering
JLdg
4-12-01

 

Where are you getting these service bulletins from?

 

Long time ago someone posted an excellent link, wich I happened to bookmark . Here you go Mike:

MB Service Records

 

Hi VoyagerDude,
I had a similar message which I think read as above if memory serves. The malfunction message (MM) did not reappear the next time I used the car. I think the MM is stored in memory when the engine is turned off after the first occurrence. I never saw the message again after the first time. I had the shop check it when I took the c coupe in for repairs to the fuel pump and gauge. The fix for the BAS/ESP was to replace the ESP relay. I have had no other malfunction messages. Good luck.
Deb

 

DtS, thanks very much. That link is a great resource.
Deb

 

After I picked up the car, I was told that after the dead battery incident the batter never fully recharged. The computer stored codes indicating that the low power was causing the ESP/BAS shutting off. They charged the battery in the shop for a few hours and I drove it all evening with no further malfunctions.

So sinse this problem is related to my fault dead battery, I like MB quality again

 

Ah ah ah, not so fast! MB also made that awful battery. Mercedes-Benz batteries are some of the worst original equipment batteries out there. If I bought a Benz, first thing I'd do is buy an aftermarket battery such as Die Hard or Interstate.

 

You're welcome Deb!

I must warn you all not to read all of the service records too closely (you might get depressed )

 

Thanks mbtech, that sux, but good to know. I'll keep monitoring the charge.

So, in your opiniion, does it make sense, that the low battery causes ESP/BAS shut off?

 

this is like the med student syndrome (or psychology major)... you read about all the diseases and you start thinking that some of the symptoms could... well, you get the idea.

 

Hey, DTS, do you think they update that Tech Bulletin website regularly? Or, have you periodically visited and seen that they've added bulletins from time to time? The last entry is Nov, 2001.

 

What goes wrong with the batteries? Isn't it true that the battery needs to be maintained even though the manual makes no mention of this?

 

It's not my opinion, its a fact. Mercedes are very finicky when it comes to battery voltage due to all the electricity consumers on board. A low battery voltage will cause multiple warning lights and who knows what else. A battery voltage that is too high will do the same thing, for example, make the radio cut in and out, make the engine idle surge up and down, stall.

 

The battery electrolyte level does need to be checked at every A and B service, and corrected as necessary. This will improve the battery life. But it doesn't change the fact that an MB battery isn't very good. It's like buying a Yugo and maintaining it properly. It's going to help it last longer, but it doesn't change the overall quality of the car, and chances are it's going to fail way before another car would.

 

It's been pretty much static. I do visit it periodically, but havn't been able to see any changes.