Richard / E320

I was pulling into a steep-than-normal driveway entrance into a business this morning that had a huge pothole in front of it. I entered the driveway v-e-r-y slowly and at an exaggerated angle so I wouldn't scrape the chin-spoiler. Half way through entering the driveway, it seemed that I lost power to the drivetrain, I heard a weird 'mechanical' noise that seemed to come from under the hood and the warning light flashed on and off. I backed up a few feet, and there was a repeat of the problem. Backed up again and was able to enter the driveway, again hearing the mechanical sound, though not as loud.

Any idea what happened? Can traction control make this sound, along with activating while crawling at an angle into a driveway? There was no tire spin, though one side of the rear axle could have been loading up. (The picture was taken after the fact, not while the warning light was flashing.)

-Richard

renault12ts

So, to be clear, the yellow triangle was flashing as this was happening?

If yes, then one of your rear wheels (or I suppose one of the fronts) may have been "disengaged" from the road thus letting the car believe traction to that wheel was lost...and so traction control was engaged.

Was the sound like ABS?

Richard / E320

Yes, the light was flashing on both two attempts to enter the driveway at a slow speed (barely moving is more like it!) and exaggerated angle to avoid the pothole and not scrape due to the lower pavement height and higher concrete driveway height. I think you are correct that the traction control thought that traction was lost, likely due to the exaggerated suspension loading. I know that no tire actually spun. I know that ABS can make a noise (in my other cars, anyway) and the brake pedal can pulsate. I've never heard this noise on this vehicle before, but drive very conservately. Hope I never hear it again.

MBfinatic

You only have 8k miles!

Richard / E320

8,565. Oops! I must be close to another oil change!