withbag

Let me describe my symptom as clear as possible.

I left my car under direct sunlight for about 6 hours and I started moved backwards about 20 ft zigzag and I parked again still under the Sun. After one hour, I started and I found a message "ESP Malfunction visit a workshop" along with Check engine light on.

I turned off the engine and waited about 5 minutes just in case it could solve it by itself. But it did not happen.

I started driving because I have to come back home anyway. Gasing does not move the car as usual. I see that it takes about few second until **** engaged to right shift. Accelerating after slowing down speed was same as start. Car did not seem to get shifted properly. Anytime, I came back after 20 minutes driving about 8 miles.

I browsed online and I found some of answers
1. Steering Angle Sensor
2. SAM(I forgot what it stands for)
3. ESP Module
4. Crank Position Sensor
5. Replace ECU
6. Use another Key


The easiest way to try at the moment was to use another Key. And I did it. Suddenly, the ESP message has gone while check engine light is still on. So stopped the car and used the original Key and it was same as 2nd Key; no ESP message but check engine light on. Driving is same as before but I do not feel good due to the check engine light.

What could be my action in order to get this thing fixed?

Any advice would be welcome !!

Eric from Paramus, NJ

jimbo1763

Sometimes you can recalibrate the steering angle sensor by turning the steering wheel hard over left and hard over right. Then turn off the engine and restart.

I have replaced my steering angle sensor. I also note that sometime after that I got the same ESP message, so I thought that the dealer had installed a defective sensor. It turned out (the second time) to be the stop light switch, which is an easy DIY and a pretty cheap part. See this link. That particular part breaking is common, and it can manifest itself in places you would not think it would.

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...-easy-diy.html

All else failing, get the code read and report. Places like Auto Zone will read the code for you for free.

Plutoe

Have the car scanned for faults(why check engine light is on) and post!

withbag

Update.

Next morning(06/09), I found the engine light on has gone. And it drives just like new.

06/11 Parked a car in the morning around 7 am and started in the afternoon about 6 pm. ESP malfunction light is back. So I pulled over, turned off the car, turn back on, do recalibrate steering, the ESP light gone.

06/11 last evening. I turned on the car and ESP light is back. Recalibrate steering again and the ESP light gone.

06/12 morning. Turn on. No ESP light is back.

Question; Do I have to replace Steering Angle Sensor along with a brake switch? Indy shop asks me $350 for SAS and $80 for Brake Switch. DIY is doable for this?

Plutoe

Absolutely a DIY, however to even save more money, I would think that turning the steering wheel every time you start the car can't be added your sons or daughters weekly allowance to do list!!

jimbo1763

As a DIY, the stop light switch is a no brainer.

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...-easy-diy.html

Suggest that you do the stop light switch first. It may be that it is all you need.

The steering angle sensor may be more complicated. Use the search feature here-there have been posts from folks as a DIY project. It sounded too complicated for me at my skill level, so I chose to have it done rather than doing it myself.

withbag

Update

06/13: parked the car for about 11 hours on a street. Turn on and ESP light back and Re-calibrate steering wheel and came home safe. On the way home engine light on.

06/13 at 10 pm: turned on. ESP light is gone but engine light still on.

06/14 morning: turned on. Engine light also gone.

06/14 DIY: Brake Switch.
I hope this would take care of everything.

withbag

It has been 10 hours since the brake switch was replaced, I do not get ESP light yet. I hope it fixes all as you advised. Thanks!

jimbo1763

It's been about a day now since the last report. Anything?

withbag

So far so good~! Let me update if things bothers me again; one thing I pray not to happen^^. Your advice worked !!! Thanks a million !!

withbag

Update:

06/17: 3 days since Brake Switch replaced. No ESP lights yet. Getting bigger smile on the face. It could have been more than 1K but defensed with $20.06 and 9 minutes.

withbag

Update:

06/19: No ESP light at all. It seems it has been solved.

withbag

Update:

07/10: No lights on at all. Now I am sure replacing a brake switch is good enough to solve ESP malfunction light on.

withbag

Update:

07/20: Turned on cruise control on a highway. CC off in sudden and ESP Malfunction Light is back. Pulled over at a service area. Re-align steering wheel. Turn on with No ESP Light.

Now I have question. Do I have to replace Steering Angle Sensor at this stage? or I have to wait a little bit. How is ESP related to Cruise Control?

Thanks.

Tomabram

The ESP light can mean MANY different things. Turning off the ignition resets it. Does NOT fix it. It will happen again. Instead of playing around with it bring it in and get the car scanned to see what's causing the fault. Mine was a manifold harness.

withbag

Update: 09/11.

ESP light kept on and off averagely once biweekly after last update 07/20. It usually came on at a second start after shutting down first 20~30 min driving. It seems to me that ESP comes back when temperature gets hot.

09/09 6 pm: after driving 30 city driving I stopped the car and re-started and ESP is on. As always, turned it off and on again, this time ESP is on with Engine Light on. I did turn off and on again, Engine light stayed on and ESP came back in about 10 seconds. I drove about 30 mins and parked.

09/10 Next morning(after 9 hours parking), Engine Light stays on, and ESP came back after 15 min driving. Parked the car and started after 4 hours. Engine Light stays on, ESP came back in about 10 min driving. I had driven all day with ESP's on. Parked the car at 3 pm.

09/11. Next morning, 6 am. Started the car with engine light on and ESP came back in about 5 mins driving. Parked the car.

My opinion; ESP malfunction is now so serious because it had not been on constantly like this time.

Do I have to bring to a dealer? or indy shop with STAR?

executive13

You need to bring it in to the dealer. I had the same problem. It can be a ton of things that it can be. It will not fix itself.

JohnNMiami

ESP Malfunction light is on, and in the rain, this thing slips and slides like I was running on bald tires (They are in very good shape)!
Go over a bump/something in the road, and it jumps.
Is this related in any way to pre-safe?
Thanks in advance!

Plutoe

Could be loads of things---speed sensor---ESP module---BAS module----how do you determine-----see post #3---the alternative, park the car, bury something upside down in the back yard, wait a week---has the problem disapeared!!

JohnNMiami

I'm thinking about the alternative, as it may be cheaper, and even if the system does NOT work, it DOES solve other issues.
That is assuming the "something" is my Mother-in-Law
Thanks

Plutoe

great choice---that I'll fix it!!

N_Jay

. . . .

withbag

This is what I got from Autozone.

Plutoe

Back in July you advised that the ESP light came back----is that issue resolved because the OBD scan tool you purchased does not have the capabilities to read the MB body and chassis codes(ESP type faults)

Can you elaborate on your new issues!!

withbag

Update 09/19

I had ESP ON and Engine On on 9th. I waited it had gone but it stayed there for next days so I drove to a dealer with both lights are on on Saturday(13th). I was advised to come back on Wednesday. So I parked the car for 2 entire days. On Monday morning, both lights are gone and I did not show up until Wednesday appointment time. The adviser told me I might be charged $320, diagnosis charge if there are no codes in the system. I drove out and waited for the lights. However, luckily or unluckily, I see no lights ever since.

What can I say now....?