dennish

I'm unclear if there are signs or indications that a failure is pending. Seems like from what I read, there are symptoms some of the time. I'm fearful of getting stranded and hopefuĺy be able to fix before disaster.

dol4er

Before it happened to me, I noticed that the sound of the unlocking mechanism became very slow. This was noticeable for 6-10 months before the failure occurred. When they changed the module, the sound was very nice and quick again.

Mgloznao

Do you mean from the key fob outside of the car or from the locking mechanism inside the car on the door?

Moto_Guzzi

I only noticed the ESL(Lock) was slower before, after it was replaced(Did not had a reference, did not know any better). I did noticed the new one faster immediately. If it get slowly slower, I doubt I recognise it next time before the "Sudden Death".

Mgloznao

Are you referring to how fast the car started? I’m confused as to what was slower?

Colin G

I noticed the sound of the little motor in the ESL unit getting more and more faint every time my key was put in before it finally failed. The motor would pull out the ESL bolt slower and more quietly till one day it gave up the ghost.

ItalianJoe1

The whirring noise you hear when you insert your key into the ignition. That's the motor in the ESL backing out the locking pin. It wears out over time, and when it fails, you're stuck. If you notice it struggling, change it before it locks up.

You can actually replace just the motor in the ESL as a DIY/aftermarket thing, but the dealer only sells the entire unit. If yours hasn't failed, and you replace the motor, it won't require any special programming. Once it fails, it sets theft relevant faults and must be cleared, you can't just put a motor in it then and have it start working again.

Moto_Guzzi

If you insert your key, that recognising sound/happening, was faster after they replaced the ESL, I recognised it immediately, no I did not mean how fast the car start in this case. I was just referring to the mechanical action of the ESL & Key inserted.

dennish

When I insert my key (2009 C350), I don't hear anything. Good sign? I hope so.

Moto_Guzzi

If your car is running, this reply does not make sense to me, or am I missing something-?

dennish

OK, the car is not running. I insert the key to start the car. Upon inserting the key is when the reported sound takes place.(the electric motor disengaging the pin). I don't hear that. What am I missing?

W204Motorsports

If you plan on keeping the car for a while then I would recommend getting an emulator and finiding someone locally that can program it.

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/New-W204-ESL...QAAOSwTuVZpvPt

I strongly recommend everyone with a w204 to get an emulator because those steering locks are **** to fail even new ones. If you live in cold climates that is another big advantage on getting an emulator since the steering locks seem to fail more often in cold weather.

If you know its never been done on you're car and you plan on keeping it or see any signs or strange noise or weaker motor sound from the steering lock, get it done asap because if the steering lock still works, you can remove it, if it fails in the locked posistion, you add about 3hours to the job, you will have to remove the hole steering column and use a grinder to get it off, so get it done before it fails and while it still unlocks.

And the motor fails about 1 out of 3 times, 2 out of the 3 times it a chip on the board inside the module so I wouldn't waste my time replacing the motor because even if its the motor and you replace it.

holger

All good info, thank you. From monitoring this issue on the forum, I have been unable to determine if the later models, especially FL models, are subject to the same rate of failure. Obviously they're newer so not as much data, but does anyone have any (anecdotal) data on MY 2013 or 2014 ESL failure? Do we later-model-year-owners need to be worried?

ItalianJoe1

It does appear to only affect the early cars, based on what comes into the dealership. Never seen a facelift car or late 207 do it, always early cars.

CJG

What constitutes “facelift”. And what changed?

dennish

"late 207" do you mean 2007

W204Motorsports

http://www.ogsmechanics.com/tutorial...-engine-start/

found this, looks like the face lift is better but we'll see with age.

Moto_Guzzi

Sorry, I meant if your car is"running" condition(You have no problems in this regard, is what I meant), the silence does not make sense for it to work.

Do your car has a different start/key setup-?