Trackone

Hi, New to owning a 2003 CLK 500 Cabriolet. Full history with receipts. I will be the third owner but previous owner a good friend so I know the car was always serviced correctly and the original first owner was a friend of his. Without this known history I probably wouldn't touch a car like this. I will do as much of the mechanical repair work as I can but not electronics. My first request for advice on this Forum is this:
Just replaced the worn indicator stalk (wouldn't stay on) with an OEM item. All good, everything working but the Stability Control warning has appeared. I have read that turning the wheel lock to lock a few times will re set this. Sitting at work so can't try this yet. When I got the car the SRS warning is on. The owner said his MB mechanic said it wasn't a problem and something to do with the seatbelt? New to MB but learning fast! Someone on this forum mentioned WD40 in the seatbelt buckle. I'm sure this must have been covered before but a search didn't find anything. What are the most common causes of the SRS warning message?
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HETPE3B

How about to read some codes with a good scanner? I bet they may give a ray of light where to start to dig.

Trackone

The SRS warning has now disappeared which is good. I now have to figure out how to solve the EPS warning. As this was not a problem prior to changing the indicator stalk I think it is highly likely it has something to do with the steering sensor (clock spring?) which I know is an important part of the EPS. Of course I can take it to the specialist MB mechanic to sort out but I was hoping this forum might throw up some suggestions other than take it to a Mercedes mechanic.
This same scenario will have happened to someone else guaranteed. I just hope that person reads this thread. If the clock spring unravelled slightly when removed could this cause an issue? i did read someone who said they found the middle point by winding it fully in both directions and counting the turns. When buying the new indicator stalk they don't supply the little red plastic locking pin which is a shame.

Rudeney

Yes, I believe this is your problem. Check this doc, step 4 for hoe to reset it:

http://benzbits.com/w203/Clockspring.pdf

Trackone

Hi Rodney, thank you for your response. Can you or anyone else explain the purpose of the little viewing hole that seems to show a yellow disc with lettering or numbers printed on it that turns when the centre of the clock spring turns? I'm guessing that has something to do with setting the CS in the correct position and it seems to click at a certain point. Without opening up the CS it's hard to visualise what's happening inside. I bought the online manual which to me seems worse than useless. The written instructions to do anything are non existent and very poor English (gibberish). Such a pity Haynes don't do a manual for these cars. They would have had a step by step guide how to set the clock spring with decent photographs.

Rudeney

If you look at the doc I posted (that's from WIS, the official MBZ show manual), it says to rotate it fully clockwise to the lock, then rotate 2.5 turns until the screw heads are visible in the "windows". There are three viewing holes to look for those screws.

Trackone

Thanks Rodney. I did find a youtube where someone had opened up the MB turn sensor (not the clock spring unit). It shows a large copper disc turning which in turn clicks over another device (cog). It appears when you can see yellow through the little round viewing hole this means the sensor is in the straight ahead position (steering centralized). One full turn of the bigger inner copper disc turns the smaller device or wheel one click. (its a hard to describe shape but basically circular) There are 5 or 6 clicks in total to go from yellow back to yellow. It seems the important thing is to see yellow in the little round hole to ensure the turn sensor is in the correct straight ahead position and make the ESP function correctly. I shall be removing the steering wheel again to hopefully fix the ESP problem. I will report back on success or failure.

Rudeney

Sounds good - please come back and post your findings, either way!