Hey everyone,

I've been dealing with an issue on my 2001 CLK 230 for a while now. ABS, ESP, and BAS warning lights are on, along with a message on the center display.

Mercedes quoted me close to the car's actual value to replace the ESP module — basically not worth it.

I took it to an auto electrician, but he didn't find much aside from a few bad solder joints. Unfortunately the warning messages are still there after his work.

Here's the thing — I honestly don't care about driving without those driver aids, but I'd really like to get rid of the warning messages. Does anyone know if there's a way to "spoof" the CAN bus so it stops displaying those faults?

Just to be clear, there's nothing shady going on here. This is my mother-in-law's car and she refuses to get rid of it — she's had it for over 20 years and it's sentimental to her. 😄

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, leads, or help you can offer!

 

My brother left behind a 2000 CLK 320 when he passed March 20, 2025. It was his project car and I have
been working on it to get it on the road, and it just passed PA inspection. All of those lights were on when I
took over care of the car. I learned that this happens if the battery dies or is replaced. There was a comment
online, possibly on this forum that worked for me. Start the car turn the steering wheel both ways lock to lock.
Upon shutoff and restart the lights were off, everything is working and passed inspection. Hope this helps.

 

Hi there - I just had ABS and ESP light - this was because of LED's I had installed that while apparently had the modulator for 55w - and my battery wasn't doing great. Also the

So battery replaced, and the stupid LED's turn it on, and once the car is shut off it stops. Also replacing a genuine Mercedes Benz brake stop light switch can help with ABS light.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/275522201533

I saw a post from another member -

Things from me to check are:
• You MUST buy original stop switch, OEM is not going to be reliable, I know this as I have bought 3 that all failed after a few weeks.
• Check you ABS connections on the looms
• Correctly perform the reset.

Below are all my reset I know:

Preparation Steps:
1. Make sure your steering wheel is straight.
2. Make sure your windows are all the way up
3. Make sure your sunroof is completely closed (if you have one)
4. Make sure your parking brake is released.
6. Turn off your stereo and make sure you have your stereo's Anti-theft code.
7. Turn off your heat/AC blower
8. Turn off your lights
9. Make sure your doors are UNLOCKED.

Now, disconnect battery 30 secs and then reconnect.
Get in car close the door and turn the key to position 2 (Just before you start the engine but do not start it)

1. Resetting your windows: Bring down both windows at the same time by holding the switches just before the click that brings them down automatically. Once both windows are all the way down make both switches click by pressing them all the way down and hold them for 3 secs (This lets the ECU learn that that is the end of the window track and it records it in memory). Do the same for closing the windows by holding both switches and making them click once the windows are all the way up.
2. Turn on your blower and make both sides go to 72 deg (if you have this typr of heater control) by pressing both up and down buttons at the same time. This will calibrate the ECU
3. Turn on your stereo and enter you stereo code.
4. Pull the sun roof all the way back and all the way forward then up and then done.
6. Turn all you lights on and off, including your fog lights.
7. Turn the key back to position 0.
8. Turn on your engine. You will get 2 malfunctions, your ABS and ESP lights will be on and must be calibrated.
9. Calibrate your ABS and ESP systems by turning the steering wheel all the way to your RIGHT and then all the way to your LEFT, then bring it back to the middle. Notice the two yellow lights disappear from you dashboard.
10. Let your car run in idle for about 5 minutes and then take it for a spin. Remember your ECU is still getting all the readings from all the sensors on your car so drive slowly first then faster... and so on.. you are basically teaching your ECU how to handle your car.


Throttle Reset
1. Get in and shut the door
2. Turn key to position 2 (just before you start the engine).
3. Press the gas pedal to the floor... past the kick down point...
4. Hold the pedal there for 15 seconds
5. After 15 seconds while foot still planted, turn the key off but do not remove it.
6. Release gas pedal and wait 3 mins. Do nothing, you should here a click near key at 3 mins.
7. After the 3 minutes start the car and drive off normally... you should notice a difference in the shift pattern and smoothness.


Service Reset
Turn the car on to the 2nd key position, all the way ON, but do not start it.
- Then scroll through and find the A/B Service notification. Hold the "R" or reset button on the dash. After a few seconds a message will display on screen asking you if you would like to resetthe service notification. Once this happens let off of the "R" button.
- Press and hold the "R" button one more time until the reset is complete.

Valve Reset:
(move valve with finger off 90degrees, turn key to 2nd position, let valve close and open, wait for "click", turn off key, turn back on for 45 secs during which time the valve will close and open again, key off (Not been able to make this work)Trunk Release:Remove drivers fuse panel, pull 4 fuses on left 7.5A and 5A, wait few secs and replace then try door unlock switch to see if it works, this will tell you if alarm is deactivated. If not try other fuses.Passenger Mirror auto-dip reset:1- Turn key to position 2
2- Select reverse, adjust mirror down so you can see kerb for reversing etc.
3- Press Green store button on drivers door control next to the seat adjustment for a couple of seconds, then within 3 secs press the mirror control again just once in any direction, mirror is now stored. Return to Gear shift to Park.
4- Wait 17 secs mirror will return to normal position.
5- Select reverse and test to make sure it dips ! DONE.