Rock72

i just had a scary situation happen to me today in my car. i was driving and the brakes failed on me...i was pressing the brakes but the car wouldn't stop. i used the emergency brake to stop the car. i was on my way to go on the freeway...if this would have happened on the freeway, i would have been in an accident for sure.

here's the long story...

car is a 2003 E320. it was actually a replacement car for the infamous pre-order COMAND fiasco that happened when the W211 first came out.

i have keyless go so whenever you leave the car, i hear the beep that reminds me to take my keys. so i've learned to ignore any beeping noises. i went out to a restaurant last week and the valet who brought my car back set the lights to "on" instead of "auto". as a result, the battery was dead the next day.

i jump started the car with my other car and drove to work. i was hoping the battery would recharge by the time i get the work but i only work 8 miles from home (even though it's a 30-40 min commute in southern california with a few good stretches mixed in there) so the car still wouldn't start when i wanted to come home. i got the car jump started again with a co-worker to drive home. i used another car the rest of the week to go to work.

today, i went to go visit a friend 30 miles away. i figured i would drive the benz and let the car recharge. i jump started the car and drove 30 miles. when i got there, i wanted to try out the car to see if it would start and it didn't.

when i got set to come home, i jump started the car again. it gave a red warning light (different from the times before) saying that there is a battery problem. i was planning to drive home and take the car to the dealership tomorrow. as i was driving, i notice the brakes acting a little strange. it would act like it was jerking a bit like the ABS wasn't working right, etc. i pulled over and tested out the brakes and they seemed ok so i drove back onto the road. i was cautious and made a mental note of the emergency brake "just in case".

as i was driving up to the light that makes the turn into the freeway, the brakes failed. luckily the car in front of me was far away (because i had this weird sense of foreboding). i used the emergency brakes.

problem now is that i'm stuck on a lane on a road with no shoulder and nothing electrical works. so i can't turn on the hazard lights, i can't open windows, etc. i opened the trunk and stood outside and called a friend who lives in the area. luckily he was home and he brought his big truck out to help me out. i called MBZ roadside assistance and they put me on the recorded message saying that they are busy assisting other customers...10 minutes later, my friend showed up. we decided that the first priority is to move the car to a safer location.

so we jump started the car again but this time the car died as soon as we pulled out the jumper cables. we tried again and it worked but i was scared for the brakes again. he drove behind me with his hazards on and i drove really slowly to get the car off the road.

car is now parked in a parking lot that is hopefully going to be safe tonight. i need to call mercedes tomorrow to get a tow truck out there and tow the car over to my local dealership.

thank God i wasn't on the freeway. this actually makes me want to sell the car...or if i look on the bright side maybe this can be my excuse to trade up to a CLS500...

RVD.

AndrewAZ

when i got set to come home, i jump started the car again. it gave a red warning light (different from the times before) saying that there is a battery problem. i was planning to drive home and take the car to the dealership tomorrow. as i was driving, i notice the brakes acting a little strange. it would act like it was jerking a bit like the ABS wasn't working right, etc. i pulled over and tested out the brakes and they seemed ok so i drove back onto the road. i was cautious and made a mental note of the emergency brake "just in case".

ABS usually does not do anything unless you are braking really really hard.. And with SBC you will not feel ABS like in normal cars because of the drive by wire...

The E class has 2 batteries. I find it odd that hazards would not work or anything like that because it has its own battery for that and will shut down all unneeded equipment such as all accessories. You must have something very seriously wrong with your car or you messed something up when you did the jump starts.

Also SBC has a back up system and unless you car never had a recall done that fixed the a problem with the backup system sometimes failing then I have no clue why it would not work....

But has anyone heard that MB is giving all E class owners with SBC a lifetime warranty on SBC? I have seen this rumor a few times but have yet to find anything official about it or get a letter from MB stating this.

Rock72

i wasn't aware that there are 2 batteries. when i was driving earlier today (when it seemed to work), i had a warning message that convenience features were disabled. some things didn't work (like the passenger seat controls, a/c was on and off, etc.). the nav system map was all off and the clock was off but i figured that was b/c of the battery saver mode. car seems to act like all batteries are dead and they aren't recharging. but i think the problem is more than that at this point.

when the car was totally hosed, nothing was working. i didn't try the hazard lights when the car seemed to work ok but when i tried turning them on when i was stuck on the side of the road, it didn't work.

the jump starts were fairly standard but yeah maybe those did something. i never jump started this car before this incident but never had a problem in the past.

i used the key to open the trunk.

Rock.

BudC

Here are two Service Campaigns affecting the electrical system. Do you know if they've been performed on your car? Both of them applied to my 3/04 build E320.

(2) Service Campaign # 2005060008
Model Year 2003-2005 – Models 211 & 219 (2006)
Programming battery control module
(152949 vehicles affected)

Implausible or illogical messages can appear in the instrument cluster which will result in certain electrical consumers being shut down. This is caused by the battery control unit erroneously evaluating the battery charge level as good when the actual charge level may be insufficient.

211:
A086421 to A601974, A200763 to A749546, A200763 to A749546, A178744 to A756955, A273079, A679184, A708977 to A756979, A056822, A461620, A014562 to A418838, A042945 to A756973, A400339 to A607461, A136286 to A756990, X108074 to X180280, X108399 to X181693, X177825 to X181700, A465748 to A577987
A606738, A702004 to A720233, A427785, A710773 to A756916, A407369 to A450439, A307691 to A732056 A307815 to A387669, A715663 to A756602, X108182 to X178465, X108624 to X181673, X174229 to X181683

(3) Service Campaign # 2005070017
Model Year 2002-2005 – Models 211 & 230
Inspect alternator, replace regulator if necessary
(14923 vehicles affected)

The alternator regulator may fail to prevent voltage values ranging beyond the specified tolerance limits. As a result, the battery may be insufficiently recharged and the convenience systems may be shut off due to a resulting under voltage condition. The voltage drop is accompanied by a corresponding message display at the instrument cluster.

211:
A461620, A457431 to A511132, A457447 to A511135, A457425 to A510794, X119124 to X123272, X119111 to X123267, A457426 to A510952, X119113 to X123268, X119110 to X123264

Rock72

that bulletin sounds a lot like what happened. i'm not sure if it has been applied or not. i did take it into the dealership about 6 months ago and the guy said that they performed all of the recalls and bulletins but the guy was a liar so it's hard to say what he actually did.

long story there too but i basically took the car in to have them look at my brakes. they never called with an estimate (even though i told them to clear everything with me before doing any work) and just fixed the car without my permission and stuck me with the bill. luckily the bill wasn't too crazy ($400) but that's still a lot for changing a few brake pads. paperwork was full of lies like "2/8/2006 called customer. customer gave approval for work", etc.

Rock.

BudC

Check your paperwork from the dealer. It should show up on there because they charge Mercedes for it.

jangy

The brakes should NEVER fail, even with no battery. You should have had the backup system, which just menas you mash the pedal to the floor and it works. Not saying anything about your case, as each is different. But, the old habit of jumping a car and taking off needs to stop, as todays cars are WAAAY more electricity dependent. If your battery goes dead (teach you to use valet), you should charge it FULLY AND reset the ECU before you drive it again. That is the safe way to be.
Again, the brakes will not fail. NEVER have. the normal function has dropped on some people, but the cars have always been able to stop (although with little feel or control). If that is what happenned to you, never fear as the computer keeps the code and MB will step up (or be forced to).

jangy

Very true (am I agreeing with you?)

I have not heard of any added SBC warranty. In the past, even when MB did continue to service features (like old S class air rides), they didn't really send out an acknowledgement. they simply said that they were doing it out of courtesy to those that have a PERCEPTION of an issue. Maybe they will do the same here? I'd be interested in anything written, as I do have the SBc, but I love it so i am not a good xample of issues with it.

I am sure that my tone would change when and if I have a similar experience. i rely on my brakes a bunch, especially when i drive aggressively. All i need is to slam on them to slow for a turn and have NOTHING!! RIP A. Senna.

cyclerider

Good point! I hope no one has to have that experience. I am glad I won't have that possibility in the back of my mind while I'm driving my loved ones in my '07.

vettdvr

The owners manual states for electrical failure pedal pressure will be higher. Also if your battery is internally shorted jumping might or might not start the car, the battery could explode. I have had 1 actually explode with no injuries and only minor damage, but not in a mercedes. If you have to jump off replace the battery. I will jump just once to get off the road or nurse it home but when I jump I turn off ALL electrical accessories possible then when getting home or shop I replace battery. USE CAUTION on batteries you could be injured. Best of luck. Jim

BudC

I can't point to a URL offhand but I believe the SBC system now has a 10year, unlimited mileage warranty.

vettdvr

Bud I think you are correct. But as you I don't remember either where. Perhaps NTSB bulletin.

BudC

I think I saw it on this forum but I'm too lazy to search for it. It was probably a post by Konigstiger.

BudC

It's in this thread.

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...t=sbc+warranty

konigstiger

Extended Limited Warranty on SBC Hydraulic Units to 10 Years / No mileage limitation:
211 - 2003-2006
219 - 2006
230 - All

Post #12 in the before mentioned thread

Actually you should have received a letter from MBUSA nevertheless request a copy from your dealer. If they cannot produce a copy forward your email address by PM.

Just got back from San Diego, cannot imagine having my brakes fail in approach of a freeway. What a nightmare! Anyway, please let us know what they find and if you’re satisfied with the resolve

konigstiger

http://www.mistodark.com/Wise.wav

stevenW211

Yes, I am so curious abt how MB will settle this FATAL brake failure problem??!!

Rock72

well, i got the car towed to the dealership on saturday and they called me later that afternoon telling me that the car is fixed. the guy just said that the battery died and was faulty so they replaced the battery. they gave me a loaner car.

i'm supposed to go pick up the car today. hopefully this won't happen again.

the brakes didn't work. i'm not sure what happened to the backup battery. how does the backup battery stay charged? if it's dependent on the main battery, then that would explain it. if it's dependent on the alternator, then if the alternator goes bad, what would happen?

i pressed the brakes hard and the car wasn't stopping. it was only when i pressed the emergency brake that the car actually stopped.

i got the red warning light so i made sure i had plenty of space from the car in front of me.

Rock.

ATS

Which battery did you keep boosting?

Rock72

the one in the trunk. open the trunk, pull up the bottom, and it's on the right.

konigstiger

I cannot answer as to why the SBC failed, however I can enlighten you as to how the dual battery system operates:

Systems Battery (trunk) is the primary source for all vehicle electrical systems. An auxiliary battery (engine compartment below air intake of HVAC) supplies electrical energy for a limited time if the systems battery voltage is low. The Battery Control Module (BCM - rear of the spare tire well) monitors battery voltages, alternator voltage, controls auxiliary battery relay, controls consumer prioritization function, optimizes charging of the auxiliary battery, notes emergency operation and sets fault codes.

hotwiredbenz

why is the sbc brakes only a problem in the E Class? I thought sbc was in the SL & CLS too?

vettdvr

What's the black box on the aux battery? We own the E500 and are watching brakes closely. Jim

konigstiger

Battery Control Module (BCM) - function(s) explained above