When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have a 2004 E-500 and the trunk closing switch on the trunk lid has all of a sudden stopped working. The trunk itself works fine - opens and closes if I use the switch inside the vehicle. The button inside the trunk is out and will not close the trunk. I am hoping it is just a fuse or something else that I can fix easily myself. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
When using the interior switch the left door control module will transmit the signal to the RTL control unit via passenger compartment CAN bus. The trunk lid switch is direct. As Mark suggested the malfunction lies with either the trunk lid switch, the wiring to the control module, or the control module.
Service Campaign 2006010006 FEB06 replaces the control unit at no cost even if you out of warranty which may resolve your problem. In your case the applicable e500 (211/070) VIN range is A335887 to A470584. If you are within this range, have your dealer check VMI (Vehicle Master Inquiry) to see if this campaign was already completed - have your VIN handy.
MBUSA EPC (parts catalog) shows original control unit part 2118204526 replaced by 2118703026 $740 list/595 net (parts.com 455.40), trunk lid switch is 2208217251 36/29 (23.58), 2208211479 with keyless go 43.50/35 (25.88).
If you want a copy of the SC, either to present to the SA or get a better knowledge of part placement PM your email address. Include your VIN if you want a datacard listing equipment, codes, initial delivery date, etc. for your vehicle.
I have a 2004 E-500 and the trunk closing switch on the trunk lid has all of a sudden stopped working. The trunk itself works fine - opens and closes if I use the switch inside the vehicle. The button inside the trunk is out and will not close the trunk. I am hoping it is just a fuse or something else that I can fix easily myself. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
To add to this, when I got my E320 with 20k miles the trunk closer buttons in the trunk did not illuminate and were non-functional. I had to get this repaired under warranty and it involved having the wiring harness replaced going to the trunk. It was a fairly extensive process, but was covered under warranty. I noticed it before I purchased the car and knew the warranty would cover it.
Apparently it was a poor design of the harness and routing of the harness from the trunk lid to inside the car.
The interior trunk closer switched worked fine, as you stated.
I've got the same trouble with my 2003 E320. Trunk buttons no longer are red nor does it close the trunk. I thought the lock switch was working yesterday, but it's not today.
Is the best method (and least expensive) starting with the switch replacement....then the wiring....then the control module? Is there not a fuse to check first?
I've got the same trouble with my 2003 E320. Trunk buttons no longer are red nor does it close the trunk. I thought the lock switch was working yesterday, but it's not today.
Is the best method (and least expensive) starting with the switch replacement....then the wiring....then the control module? Is there not a fuse to check first?
The wiring goes from down the driver side trunk hinge. I would check there first. Pretty much guaranteed it's not the switch if both the light is out and it is non-functional.
Sorry to bump this super old thread but I am finding some useful info here thanks to konigstiger.
I am working on my mom's 03 E500 with automatic trunk closer but no keyless go. Recently verified wire harness is fully intact and functional and decided to swap some parts with my 05 E55 (with trunk closer and keyless go) to see if I could get the E500 automatic closer functional again.
In the process of removing the potentiometer from the E500, of course, I broke the plastic arm. The construction of this part is slightly different than the one from my E55 (2118201597) but nevertheless was able to install it and the trunk was still non-functional. Next, I pulled the control unit (2118703026) off of the E55 to replace the older model (2118204526) on the E500.
Now the push button trunk closer seems to work for the most part. It will open and close the trunk but when it opens, will only open part way! On this 2003 there are no convenience controls in the dash to change the open height of the trunk so I tried the technique of pressing and holding the trunk button for over five seconds but I could not get this to work. I tried this approach with the trunk release button on drivers door and multiple combinations with the key on, engine on, etc but still trunk will only open half way. Also took the car to my Mercedes indy guy who connected to his computer and he was also unable to change that setting.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Konigstiger, do you know for sure that those control unit part numbers you mentioned above are interchangeable?
Is part # 2118201597 the same throughout the entire 211 years? This is the part number from the 05 E55 that looks like a slightly different part on the 03 E500.
Thanks!!!
Now the push button trunk closer seems to work for the most part. It will open and close the trunk but when it opens, will only open part way! Is part # 2118201597 the same throughout the entire 211 years?
The position of the trunk lid is recognized and monitored by control module using angle recognition sensor (B24/16). See attachment. Try normalization using STAR: control units – seats & doors – TLC – actuations – denormalization of trunk lid – f2. In addition, erase all stored fault codes: control units – seats & doors – TLC – fault codes – f9.
Thanks so much for all that info konigstiger .
I took the car to my indy mechanic friend with STAR. We normalized and denormalized several times and cannot get the trunk to open all the way.
I have been experimenting with two different control modules:
Part 2118204526 is what was originally on the car and when I use that exact same replacement part number the trunk opens 3/4 of the way open every time and when it closes it does so with much more force and speed than usual.
Part 2118703026 causes the trunk to open only to the half way point and when it closes it performs like I think it should at the normal speed and force.
We tried the denormalization and normalization on both of these parts and went back and forth several times and could never get the trunk to perform any differently when each of the respective parts was swapped. My tech is absolutely baffled by this!
On a side note, I was looking more at the potentiometer... Are you sure 2118201597 will work on 2003 E500? I cannot find a part number printed anywhere on the old potentiometer that I broke.
The original one which I broke has a small black arm which attaches to a skinny white arm and where the end of that arm secures to the metal it actually has a protruding nipple that snaps into a hole in the metal. The new style has a short white arm and where the long skinny white arm attaches to the metal there is a nipple on the metal instead of built into the plastic arm. This is very difficult to explain but see pics.
Both should be compatible, part # attachments are from 03 e500. So far completed all the correct steps according to released bulletins. Try adjusting force.
Wow, thank you so much for posting these screenshots and attachments which confirm that all those parts should be compatible.
I can definitely try to adjust the spring tension to refine the force of the trunk closing.
However, is there any possible cause or issue with why the car will not take the adjustment of the trunk opening half way versus fully open? I have tried holding the red button for five seconds and also the switch on the driver door, every possible combination including using STAR but for both modules, we are unable to change this convenience feature of the trunk opening half way versus all the way. Any ideas? Would having my VIN help at all? Thanks again konigstiger!!!
I tried adjusting the springs on each side and it did slow the trunk down when it is closing however even with the added spring tension it does not fully open, still only about 3/4.
At this point, I have three working modules and I tried all of them on my E55 trunk, each worked exactly perfect as directed per the settings in the dash whether I changed it from half open to fully open and it actually will fully open.
Tried them all again on the E500 and the two with PN 2118703026 will only open the trunk halfway and the one older part, number 2118204526 will consistently open the trunk 3/4 of the way and always causes the motor to close with more force.
Also, I tried switching around the potentiometers again but absolutely no change.
There has to be something else to this! Any other ideas of what I can try?
I understand you have been swapping CU & potentiometer. Swap complete assembly with motor from e500 to e55 see if problem follows could be motor sliding clutch. If so, open/close lid manually overcoming resistance, no change consider replacing motor search 2118202042 used. Now then, if e500 assembly operates fine in e55 …time for a priest!
01-13-2009, 10:38 AM
Same Trouble with my 2003 E320
