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How to fully disable traction for the W203
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: MORTON GROVE,IL
BLACK 2005 SLK55 AMG,02 SILVER C32(SOLD),02 ML320 SILVER(Sold),99 S320 BLUE, 03 E500 Sport Pewter
How to fully disable traction for the W203
How to fully disable traction for the W203
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Fully disabling ESP
I don't know if anybody outside of the dealer is aware of this, but the traction control can be completely disabled simply by use of the steering wheel buttons. Here's the low-down-
1. To start, the key must be removed from the ignition.
2. Insert the key and turn to position 1.
3. Immediately press and hold the trip odometer reset button until the instrument cluster beeps. There is no visual message, only an audio beep. Be patient, this takes around 40 seconds.
4. Press the lower menu button (it looks like two sheets of paper, the one with the writing in the background behind the blank one)
5. Press the up arrow button.
6. Press the "+" sign to disable the Traction System (turn "ON" test mode)
7. Start the engine, the traction system is now disabled.
To return to normal, remove the key and restart the engine. The traction control warning should no longer be in the cluster. If it is, shut the engine off and remove the key again. Then insert the key and turn to position 1. Note that the DYNO test screen is displayed immediately. Push the "-" button to enable the traction system (turn "OFF" test mode)
NOTE: When you first turn the key to position 1, ESP DYNO Test screen pops up, then after 1-2 seconds it may disappear while faults are displayed. If you weren't fast enough in pressing the "-" button before codes were displayed, just wait until all codes cycle by, then the ESP DYNO Test screen will reappear.
No, this doesn't work for any car but the 203, before you ask.
Enjoy, and I'm not buying you new tires!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fully disabling ESP
I don't know if anybody outside of the dealer is aware of this, but the traction control can be completely disabled simply by use of the steering wheel buttons. Here's the low-down-
1. To start, the key must be removed from the ignition.
2. Insert the key and turn to position 1.
3. Immediately press and hold the trip odometer reset button until the instrument cluster beeps. There is no visual message, only an audio beep. Be patient, this takes around 40 seconds.
4. Press the lower menu button (it looks like two sheets of paper, the one with the writing in the background behind the blank one)
5. Press the up arrow button.
6. Press the "+" sign to disable the Traction System (turn "ON" test mode)
7. Start the engine, the traction system is now disabled.
To return to normal, remove the key and restart the engine. The traction control warning should no longer be in the cluster. If it is, shut the engine off and remove the key again. Then insert the key and turn to position 1. Note that the DYNO test screen is displayed immediately. Push the "-" button to enable the traction system (turn "OFF" test mode)
NOTE: When you first turn the key to position 1, ESP DYNO Test screen pops up, then after 1-2 seconds it may disappear while faults are displayed. If you weren't fast enough in pressing the "-" button before codes were displayed, just wait until all codes cycle by, then the ESP DYNO Test screen will reappear.
No, this doesn't work for any car but the 203, before you ask.
Enjoy, and I'm not buying you new tires!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: MORTON GROVE,IL
BLACK 2005 SLK55 AMG,02 SILVER C32(SOLD),02 ML320 SILVER(Sold),99 S320 BLUE, 03 E500 Sport Pewter
i found this info on another forum and just though someone might be interested
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
Doesn't work on my 05'. This did.
1) Turn on the car to at least position 1 (one click clockwise)
(2) Change your instrument pod display until it shows the digital odometer
(3) Turn the car off
(4) Turn the car on to position 1 (one click clockwise)
(5) While the SRS light is on, press the trip odometer reset button three times (you must finish pressing the button three times before the srs light turns off and the odometer reset button is a black stalk on the left side of the instrument pod sticking out perpendicularly)
(6) If everything went well, then a voltage display should come up.
(7) Press the "up arrow" on the left side of the steering wheel twice.
(8) A menu will come up that shows esp dyno mode.
(9) To turn off the dyno mode, repeat the whole process if need be and select w/t 15 off.
(10) I haven't tried to turn it off yet, but I suspect it will take 15 minutes for the car to reset modes. w/t 15 off = wait time 15 minutes off (i am just guessing here)
1) Turn on the car to at least position 1 (one click clockwise)
(2) Change your instrument pod display until it shows the digital odometer
(3) Turn the car off
(4) Turn the car on to position 1 (one click clockwise)
(5) While the SRS light is on, press the trip odometer reset button three times (you must finish pressing the button three times before the srs light turns off and the odometer reset button is a black stalk on the left side of the instrument pod sticking out perpendicularly)
(6) If everything went well, then a voltage display should come up.
(7) Press the "up arrow" on the left side of the steering wheel twice.
(8) A menu will come up that shows esp dyno mode.
(9) To turn off the dyno mode, repeat the whole process if need be and select w/t 15 off.
(10) I haven't tried to turn it off yet, but I suspect it will take 15 minutes for the car to reset modes. w/t 15 off = wait time 15 minutes off (i am just guessing here)
Last edited by 05C55; Feb 19, 2005 at 07:24 AM.
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
2004 C32 AMG
Originally Posted by chitownc32
just trying to provide some helpful info i did not mean to offend anyone
Thanks for posting.
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