ESL steering lock
#1
ESL steering lock
Good afternoon I made the exchange of the burned motor of the W204 as described in the previous posts however it did not work, after much research I saw that the circuit needs of the electronic plate after many faults stored in the memory it is in the status of lock, needing to do an unlock of it, does anyone have a clue how to do this?
#3
Junior Member
When changing out the ESL Motor, was the ESL in the unlocked position? If so, did you take off the negative cable to the battery prior to the procedure?
I exchanged mine and it worked successfully after completion.
I exchanged mine and it worked successfully after completion.
#4
I will now have to find a local locksmith with the electrickery to mate the NEC security chip of my "fixed" ELS with the ignition lock and key. One ES one claims they, not I, will repair the ESL for them giving me a one-year warranty and even sell me a "new" case as I had to drill out the four pins holding the ESL together, not knowing that Aliexpress will sell the tool to pull out the pins for re-use later.
#6
Good question! In my case the steering was locked and the car did not start. With a burnt-out US$4 motor, an emulator will not be able to drive the locking pin back into the ESL allowing the car to be driven. Some people are lucky and catch this fault in time, use MIKEYZ's video on Youtube to take out the ESL (unlocked) without taking out the column with a short 13mm socket and handle, change the motor and find car can be started again.
Sending the dead ESL/ ignition lock and key off to a locksmith will cost about AUS$400 and I do not have yet any costs from Australian experts with emulators. It also needs the sending off of the whole shebang.
Sending the dead ESL/ ignition lock and key off to a locksmith will cost about AUS$400 and I do not have yet any costs from Australian experts with emulators. It also needs the sending off of the whole shebang.
#7
Ok so I have the new motor in the esl and zip tied it to the column. New key fob batteries. Still receiving the remove key message. Dealer wants to replace eis as per some Mercedes letter... Feeling duped for owning this car at the moment need help finding a reflash!!!
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#8
Ok so I have the new motor in the esl and zip tied it to the column. New key fob batteries. Still receiving the remove key message. Dealer wants to replace eis as per some Mercedes letter... Feeling duped for owning this car at the moment need help finding a reflash!!!
#9
Junior Member
Did you press down on the Micro switches prior to putting everything back together?
the original DIY posted on here mentions that if your ESL was in the locked position prior to disassemble, you need to do that.
the original DIY posted on here mentions that if your ESL was in the locked position prior to disassemble, you need to do that.
#10
MIKEYZ on Youtube and others mention turning the wheel to get it unlocked and that is the position you may or may not putting it back into the column, else it will not go. In the unlocked position the two grey pins at the limit switches have to be pushed back at the two posts to allow the lid to fall back onto the motor. Tricky operation, as the two contacts of the motor have to go in at the same time as the two grey pins.
#11
Junior Member
This is my first post on the ESL problem which I experienced in October 2019 when the steering on my 2008 C350 would not unlock and the car would not start. I did get the car started 2-3 times. The third time the car started after the problem first occurred. I promptly moved the car into the garage to store it for the winter and get the problem fixed this spring or summer. I did try to start the car in the garage a few times over the winter but had no luck doing so. I assumed the ESL would need to be repaired or replaced before I could get the car started again.
On May 2, 2020, after storing the car for the past 6 months, I acted on a whim and tried again to start it. To my surprise, it started on the first attempt without any difficulty. I immediately moved the car out of the garage on to the driveway to get more room to work on the car to effect the repairs needed. Before doing so, however, I have decided to see if the car would continuing starting every day for the next 2 weeks to see if the ESL would continue to work problem free. Today is 9 days after that May 2 start and it has started first time every day since. I have even take it for a drive making sure I don't turn it off before I return home. Then yesterday I accidentally turned it off at the grocery store. When I realized what I just did, I started it gain successfully and headed home immediately.
The reason for this post is to ask the experts on this forum if it is possible that the ESL may be just fine and the original non-starting/steering not unlocking problem may not have been ESL related at all or whether my ESL may still be problematic.
Thanks.
On May 2, 2020, after storing the car for the past 6 months, I acted on a whim and tried again to start it. To my surprise, it started on the first attempt without any difficulty. I immediately moved the car out of the garage on to the driveway to get more room to work on the car to effect the repairs needed. Before doing so, however, I have decided to see if the car would continuing starting every day for the next 2 weeks to see if the ESL would continue to work problem free. Today is 9 days after that May 2 start and it has started first time every day since. I have even take it for a drive making sure I don't turn it off before I return home. Then yesterday I accidentally turned it off at the grocery store. When I realized what I just did, I started it gain successfully and headed home immediately.
The reason for this post is to ask the experts on this forum if it is possible that the ESL may be just fine and the original non-starting/steering not unlocking problem may not have been ESL related at all or whether my ESL may still be problematic.
Thanks.
Last edited by wentjr; 05-11-2020 at 01:39 PM.
#12
Sorry to disappoint you here. The web is full of ESL failures if the battery is still OK. Some are lucky and fix it in time before it leaves you with a locked ESL. I have laboriously taken off the column and cut the bolt the ESL was attached to and cut open the ESL motor. It is the carbon brushes of my German motor which failed after 130,000km or 12 years and I cannot see the Chinese US$4 motor to last another 12 years. I doubt it is possible to buy a German motor, in fact, you cannot even buy the ESL from stealerships as they are considered to be a "theft avoidance" product, which is bovine excrement as you can surely identify yourself as the owner of the vehicle, but US$1,300 or AUS$2,000 is a powerful incentive to not sell it directly.
Use MIKEYZ's Youtube video to remove the ESL without having to remove the steering column, but try to find the paragraph where a contributor correctly claims you do not have to take of the steering wheel, air bag, various panels, etc. Just take off the "foot plate" or fire wall, get a 12mm (?) socket with a short extension and a wheel to turn it and screw the ESL off. Then get a motor off Aliexpress plus the tool to open the pins on the lid of the ESL and the cylindrical tool to remove the ignition lock. If you make a mistake during the changing of the motor inside the ESL or during the installation (connect ESL with power last) like I did, then you will have to send the ESL, ignition lock plus key to an electronic locksmith like Australian ECU Repairs ($500).
If you keep on starting until the steering locks, you have to take the column out and make more mistakes like I did. But I saved myself AUS$1,500 so far.
Use MIKEYZ's Youtube video to remove the ESL without having to remove the steering column, but try to find the paragraph where a contributor correctly claims you do not have to take of the steering wheel, air bag, various panels, etc. Just take off the "foot plate" or fire wall, get a 12mm (?) socket with a short extension and a wheel to turn it and screw the ESL off. Then get a motor off Aliexpress plus the tool to open the pins on the lid of the ESL and the cylindrical tool to remove the ignition lock. If you make a mistake during the changing of the motor inside the ESL or during the installation (connect ESL with power last) like I did, then you will have to send the ESL, ignition lock plus key to an electronic locksmith like Australian ECU Repairs ($500).
If you keep on starting until the steering locks, you have to take the column out and make more mistakes like I did. But I saved myself AUS$1,500 so far.
#13
Senior Member
just fit one of these cheap emulators and program with your obd II
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Emulator...7401b077508339
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Emulator...7401b077508339
#14
Thanks for that, Joker. Are you sure a standard OBD II will do the flashing of the security information? I have a dearer iCarsoft MB2 diagnostic, but have not come across an option to flash the emulator. Tell us how you did it, please.
I asked one of those Chinese resellers of emulators a very simple technical question and never received an answer back.
I asked one of those Chinese resellers of emulators a very simple technical question and never received an answer back.
#15
Senior Member
I have never used one of these ESL emulators but have seen a few installed, I have been told by a tech that it can be done with the half decent scan tools that are around, plus in the listing they say it can be done
VVDI MB or MB Key OBD2 programmer to program it
#16
Junior Member
This is my first post on the ESL problem which I experienced in October 2019 when the steering on my 2008 C350 would not unlock and the car would not start. I did get the car started 2-3 times. The third time the car started after the problem first occurred. I promptly moved the car into the garage to store it for the winter and get the problem fixed this spring or summer. I did try to start the car in the garage a few times over the winter but had no luck doing so. I assumed the ESL would need to be repaired or replaced before I could get the car started again.
On May 2, 2020, after storing the car for the past 6 months, I acted on a whim and tried again to start it. To my surprise, it started on the first attempt without any difficulty. I immediately moved the car out of the garage on to the driveway to get more room to work on the car to effect the repairs needed. Before doing so, however, I have decided to see if the car would continuing starting every day for the next 2 weeks to see if the ESL would continue to work problem free. Today is 9 days after that May 2 start and it has started first time every day since. I have even take it for a drive making sure I don't turn it off before I return home. Then yesterday I accidentally turned it off at the grocery store. When I realized what I just did, I started it gain successfully and headed home immediately.
The reason for this post is to ask the experts on this forum if it is possible that the ESL may be just fine and the original non-starting/steering not unlocking problem may not have been ESL related at all or whether my ESL may still be problematic.
Thanks.
On May 2, 2020, after storing the car for the past 6 months, I acted on a whim and tried again to start it. To my surprise, it started on the first attempt without any difficulty. I immediately moved the car out of the garage on to the driveway to get more room to work on the car to effect the repairs needed. Before doing so, however, I have decided to see if the car would continuing starting every day for the next 2 weeks to see if the ESL would continue to work problem free. Today is 9 days after that May 2 start and it has started first time every day since. I have even take it for a drive making sure I don't turn it off before I return home. Then yesterday I accidentally turned it off at the grocery store. When I realized what I just did, I started it gain successfully and headed home immediately.
The reason for this post is to ask the experts on this forum if it is possible that the ESL may be just fine and the original non-starting/steering not unlocking problem may not have been ESL related at all or whether my ESL may still be problematic.
Thanks.
it is possible it the ESL can work sporadically after its first fail.
my experience happened out of no where in a mall parking lot. I banged on the steering column and was lucky enough to knock the ESL into working order. After this, whenever I would drive and needed to park, I would park at a distance and turn the car off but leave the key in so the ESL would engage. This was done on grocery type runs.
I myself was able to buy the ESL Motor off eBay and assemble it correctly by not going thru the airbag. The video Above helped as
a guide.
#17
Junior Member
Thanks for your response. I had a similar experience last fall shaking the steering wheel, turning it as far right or left as I could and banging the steering column to free up the ESL pin and start the car on the 3 occasions I got it started.
I was feeling somewhat optimistic the last ten days when the car suddenly started easily after being in storage for six months. But I am indeed fearful it will stop starting again without notice and leave me stranded if I inadvertently turn it off somewhere other than on my driveway.
I will heed your advice and repair the ESL after I acquire a replacement motor. Thanks again.
I was feeling somewhat optimistic the last ten days when the car suddenly started easily after being in storage for six months. But I am indeed fearful it will stop starting again without notice and leave me stranded if I inadvertently turn it off somewhere other than on my driveway.
I will heed your advice and repair the ESL after I acquire a replacement motor. Thanks again.
#18
MBWorld Fanatic!
I am curious ... how concerned are people about locking their steering column really? I mean there's plenty of anti-theft in the car already ... the door locks, the EIS to safeguard the engine starting, etc. etc.
Unless you leave your doors unlocked or live in some dangerous area, is it really all that vital to keep this kludgey contraption working? There was a time when you could start a car without the transmission being in park, without your foot on the brake, etc. etc.
Unless you leave your doors unlocked or live in some dangerous area, is it really all that vital to keep this kludgey contraption working? There was a time when you could start a car without the transmission being in park, without your foot on the brake, etc. etc.
#19
Junior Member
What brand of ESL motor did you get? Online, there are a lot of motors from China and a few from the USA That said, I suspect most of the USA units are sourced from China.
And to respond to a later post, I want to keep this feature in my car. If anyone wants to steal it, they will have to tow it away which a professional thief would most likely do. My car is mostly original spec except for a backup camera and front and rear bumper sensors.
And to respond to a later post, I want to keep this feature in my car. If anyone wants to steal it, they will have to tow it away which a professional thief would most likely do. My car is mostly original spec except for a backup camera and front and rear bumper sensors.
Last edited by wentjr; 05-18-2020 at 10:05 AM.
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VegasWhoa (05-12-2020)
#20
Junior Member
What brand of ESL motor did you get? Online, there are a lot of motors from China and a a few from the USA That said, I suspect most of the USA units are sourced from China.
And to respond to a later post, I want to keep this feature in my car. If anyone wants to steal it, they will have to tow it away which a professional thief would most likely do. My car is mostly original spec except for a backup camera and front and rear bumper sensors.
And to respond to a later post, I want to keep this feature in my car. If anyone wants to steal it, they will have to tow it away which a professional thief would most likely do. My car is mostly original spec except for a backup camera and front and rear bumper sensors.
#21
Junior Member
I am curious ... how concerned are people about locking their steering column really? I mean there's plenty of anti-theft in the car already ... the door locks, the EIS to safeguard the engine starting, etc. etc.
Unless you leave your doors unlocked or live in some dangerous area, is it really all that vital to keep this kludgey contraption working? There was a time when you could start a car without the transmission being in park, without your foot on the brake, etc. etc.
Unless you leave your doors unlocked or live in some dangerous area, is it really all that vital to keep this kludgey contraption working? There was a time when you could start a car without the transmission being in park, without your foot on the brake, etc. etc.
#22
Junior Member
I am curious ... how concerned are people about locking their steering column really? I mean there's plenty of anti-theft in the car already ... the door locks, the EIS to safeguard the engine starting, etc. etc.
Unless you leave your doors unlocked or live in some dangerous area, is it really all that vital to keep this kludgey contraption working? There was a time when you could start a car without the transmission being in park, without your foot on the brake, etc. etc.
Unless you leave your doors unlocked or live in some dangerous area, is it really all that vital to keep this kludgey contraption working? There was a time when you could start a car without the transmission being in park, without your foot on the brake, etc. etc.
#23
Junior Member
As best I know, no reprogramming is required if I replace the ESL motor with the lock opened. If i disconnect the battery etc when the engine is running and the ESL is open, I should just be able to just replace the defective ESL motor with a new one and re-assemble the steering column..
I am confident I can complete this project successfully.
I am confident I can complete this project successfully.
Last edited by wentjr; 05-18-2020 at 10:04 AM.
#24
MBWorld Fanatic!
Here's a company others have used to replace their ESL with emulation ... https://www.pressertech.com/mercedes...waAqqTEALw_wcB
I'll probably use their solution when I get fed up with mine and it's ready for the dumpster ..
I'll probably use their solution when I get fed up with mine and it's ready for the dumpster ..
#25
What brand of ESL motor did you get? Online, there are a lot of motors from China and a a few from the USA That said, I suspect most of the USA units are sourced from China.
And to respond to a later post, I want to keep this feature in my car. If anyone wants to steal it, they will have to tow it away which a professional thief would most likely do. My car is mostly original spec except for a backup camera and front and rear bumper sensors.
And to respond to a later post, I want to keep this feature in my car. If anyone wants to steal it, they will have to tow it away which a professional thief would most likely do. My car is mostly original spec except for a backup camera and front and rear bumper sensors.