E-Class (W211) 2003-2009

SAM or ECU fail??? CDI help!

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Old Jul 25, 2015 | 10:09 AM
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SAM or ECU fail??? CDI help!

2005 e320 Cdi. So I was driving home on the highway yesterday and I was using cruise control. All was fine but after about an hour in my cruise kicked off and I had an ESP light promp show on the cluster. Kept driving manually since cruise had failed. About 30 minutes later all indicators came on. CEL, low coolant level indicator, ABS lit up lost boost and had only 20% power. Odometer, speedometer, tachometer stopped working. I kept driving fearing if I stopped something worse would happen. Never had an issue with the car before (155,000 miles). 5 hours later I pulled over for gas. Left the car running, left the station and the car would not get out of 2nd gear. Pulled over, cut the car off and it will not start. I am not at all happy and have no idea where to start. Checked all fuses which seem fine. I have a feeling it could be the SAM unit but where is it located? I know There is one under the back seat? Please help!!

Last edited by MProved; Jul 26, 2015 at 10:04 AM.
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Old Jul 25, 2015 | 10:54 AM
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'71 Pinto
Definitive diagnose have someone with MB DAS pull fault codes. Cost effective place to begin, replace brake light switch part # 0015454009 – no guarantee but common cause for what you are experiencing. Had to do some hunting 06 e350 4matic or e55? Update your info to make it easier to offer assistance.

Replacement: http://workshop-manuals.com/mercedes...ns/page_23336/
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Old Jul 26, 2015 | 10:03 AM
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2005 e320 Cdi
I had been getting errors on my OBC
-parking lights out (even though they worked)
-rear brake light (worked still)
-low battery conv. Functions unavailable

Last edited by MProved; Jul 26, 2015 at 11:15 AM.
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Old Jul 27, 2015 | 11:19 AM
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2005 E320
Two comments: Brake light switch can cause all that, Konigstiger? Wow! Could be a bad battery-check your battery voltage it should be 12.7V or so with engine off.
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Old Jul 27, 2015 | 01:42 PM
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Pulled the battery, checked all fuses,
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Old Jul 27, 2015 | 01:42 PM
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Pulled the battery, checked all fuses, cleaned SAM. Nothing. Checking brake light switch next.
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Old Jul 28, 2015 | 04:40 PM
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Replaced brake light switch. No dice. Towing to Mercedes 😡

Last edited by MProved; Jul 28, 2015 at 06:36 PM.
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Old Jul 28, 2015 | 07:31 PM
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From: Frederick
2000 ML320, 2005 E320 CDI
I am having the same symptoms. Not that bad yet. I narrowed it down to the battery, alternator or regulator. The Alt may need brushes and a slip ring to run and charge correctly. The regulator is a wear item as is the battery. I assume when you tested the battery, it was the small one since that is what you got messages about?
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Old Jul 28, 2015 | 11:25 PM
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My battery is fine.
My guess is it could be the EGR or crank shaft position sensor?

Last edited by MProved; Jul 29, 2015 at 12:01 AM.
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Old Jul 29, 2015 | 01:48 AM
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e320
i hope it is not the sam, bet that will be expensive

keeping my fingers crossed it will be something cheaper and simpler on your car

please keep us up to date on the solution
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Old Jul 29, 2015 | 10:35 AM
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From: Frederick
2000 ML320, 2005 E320 CDI
Originally Posted by MProved
My battery is fine.
My guess is it could be the EGR or crank shaft position sensor?
Again, which battery and how do you know it is fine? Did you check voltage or load test it?

How do you figure the EGR or CKPS? What would cause you to think that? Other suggestions have been given to you and you haven't acknowledged that you tried them or whether that is the issue.

I just ordered the brake light switch for my CDI. Seeing if that resolves my issues.
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Old Jul 29, 2015 | 07:12 PM
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Please read carefully. I checked the battery first. Replaced batter with my E55 battery. Didn't work.

Checked all fuses
Checked SAM
Replaced brake switch

None of these things worked

I can't run a star diagnosis on the car because I was at my house and don't have the computer. Towed the car to Mercedes. Thinking EGR because I actually searched the forum and READ.
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Old Jul 30, 2015 | 04:39 PM
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From: Frederick
2000 ML320, 2005 E320 CDI
I read, very carefully and there is no mention of you replacing the battery with your E55. Simply "pulled battery". Clearly I should assume that means swapped with another car I didn't know you owned because your CP isn't filled out. Secondly, You are not telling anyone HOW you are checking these things. Checking something to you may work one way and there may be a different way to do it. FWIW, you "cleaned" the SAM - you didn't check it in your comments. We cannot assume you are doing anything other than what you are telling us here. But alas, clearly you seem to have this handled and you are at the dealer so they should be able to help you. If you want help, kill the attitude and answer questions. No one helping you is here for your benefit - we are here to help each other. The more information you provide, the easier it is to get you information you actually need. Meaning if you provide all the information when responding you won't need the short responses. If you were searching the forums and reading as you pointed out, you'd see that common factor.

I wish you the best with your problems, as well as your car.
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Old Aug 3, 2015 | 09:05 AM
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Car is at Mercedes and so far the control module is not communicating so that's fried. Once that is replaced we will begin to know more. $2,700.

Last edited by MProved; Aug 3, 2015 at 11:16 AM.
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Old Aug 3, 2015 | 06:20 PM
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Which control module is this?
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Old Aug 3, 2015 | 10:34 PM
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Engine CM

Last edited by MProved; Aug 4, 2015 at 10:14 AM.
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Old Aug 4, 2015 | 12:02 PM
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hope that solves your issue and it is does not need anything else, 2700 sucks

keep us up to date
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Old Aug 10, 2015 | 07:01 PM
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Update: initially car ecu wasn't responding. Ordered a new EGR valve and new engine Control module under Mercedes advisement. Programmed Mbstar to think the car was an e350, communicated with vehicle & Car fired right up. Reset it back to an e320, all is well (weird).Once the EGR was hooked up the car runs and all is fine again. However, the control module ($1,700) is brand new still in the box and Mercedes says they cannot return it nor refund me because all orders are final (even though it was NEVER paired). Mercedes forced me to order that part because the ecu was un responsive, now they are taking me for a ride. I am grateful the car is running again but extremely disappointed and overall upset that they are sticking me for a $1,700 part that my car clearly doesn't need to operate. On the fence on whether or not to report dealership to Better Business Bureau along with calling local news.

Last edited by MProved; Aug 10, 2015 at 07:10 PM.
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Old Aug 11, 2015 | 01:40 PM
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Originally Posted by MProved
Update: initially car ecu wasn't responding. Ordered a new EGR valve and new engine Control module under Mercedes advisement. Programmed Mbstar to think the car was an e350, communicated with vehicle & Car fired right up. Reset it back to an e320, all is well (weird).Once the EGR was hooked up the car runs and all is fine again. However, the control module ($1,700) is brand new still in the box and Mercedes says they cannot return it nor refund me because all orders are final (even though it was NEVER paired). Mercedes forced me to order that part because the ecu was un responsive, now they are taking me for a ride. I am grateful the car is running again but extremely disappointed and overall upset that they are sticking me for a $1,700 part that my car clearly doesn't need to operate. On the fence on whether or not to report dealership to Better Business Bureau along with calling local news.
hahahahaha, Damn, they shafted you for real. Yeah, unfortunately the "Motor Electronics" or ME for the gasoline engines and the ECM for the diesel engines are VIN specific. Cannot be returned or used on another vehicle.

edit: my "hahahahaha" isn't at you having to pay out of pocket for that but the idiot that diagnosed it and put the last thing you ever put on.... a ME. One of the most if not the most expensive part of the car, the engine electronics. What a d!ckhead. Replacing the motor electronics is always the last thing on the diagnostic trouble tree.... Replace everything else before that for this exact reason here, non returnable or refundable.

That 1700$ part is paired to your exact vehicle. VIN specific, from GERMANY!

Question? How come they didn't install a EGR valve, and if that didn't fix it, then order a ME or try the next thing? To me that seems most logical and cost efficient. Not to mention the Service Adviser, or the lack there of, knew darn well how expensive that part is, ME, and also that it can't be returned.... ridiculous.
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Old Aug 13, 2015 | 04:50 AM
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i think you should report it, that just seems wrong

sorry that happened and hope the dealer steps up
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Old Aug 15, 2015 | 12:01 PM
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BBB here I come
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