lueyyou

Hi everyone, I own a W204 C200 Kompressor with 155k KM on the clock so I'm thinking this is probably the main priority to sort out as it seems to be a ticking time bomb.

Apart from getting someone to program the emulator, is there any other way to permanently disable the ESL so that I don't have the steering lock function but the rest of the car starts and works as normal? Is there a mechanical way to disable it once I take the ESL module out of the steering column?

Z71Man

I don't believe so. As I understand it, the steering lock module has 2 functions, one is to actually lock the steering column, the other is to validate one of the security steps the car goes through during a start attempt. This is done by a mechanical switch that physically makes electrical contact when the lock motor completes its motion. The emulators mimic this function.

I have purchased an emulator and believe it to be the best course of action for these vehicles. And it is a heck of a lot easier to intall it before you have the failure, at least if it is going to fail in the locked position as it did for my car.

st0

This is really a good idea! Thanks!

cvx5832

Not really. If the motor fails again, the internal mechanism still doesn’t reach its intended position and you’re back to the same no-start scenario. If you really want to avoid it, the emulator seems to be the best bet.