W211 flickering lights and engine fan comes on full blast.
09-12-2015, 01:07 PM
#1
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2003 E Class 240
W211 flickering lights and engine fan comes on full blast.
Hi
This is my first post but I have used MBWorld extensively for advice since I got my W211.
Now I have a problem.
My car is a 2003 W211 E240 2.6 V6. 64000 miles on the clock.
Avantgarde spec.
Xenon headlights.
4 zone climatronic.
Audio system with in dash cd changer
My problem is one day I got into the car after having it oarked for 20 minutes or so and when I started the engine I notice the engine fan on what could only be full blast sounded like a jet engine. Engine was cool at this point so need for fan to come on.
As I drove home sitting in traffic I noticed my headlamps reflection in the car in front were flickering.
Problem now is.
When the car is started driver side headlamps come on weather rotary switch is on or off.
Headlamps will flicker on and off and passenger side will come on and off erratically.
9 out of 10 times the fan comes on full speed.
I cannot see the battery voltage in the display when I turn the key and press the on dash button 3 times. Nothing happens.
What I have done so far.
Took the car to my regular service guy he has no idea of the problem and no errors showing on diagnostics.
Took the car to a more specialist diagnostics garage no error logged on system and they don't know what wrong.
Obviously I am trying to avoid Mercedes on this one.
I am a self employed electronic tech (I service/repair slot machines) but Mercedes electronics is not my bag!
So understanding wiring and where power should and shouldn't be etc is no problem for me.
From my interest searches I have found these SAM units about the car. I have checked trough all fuses, connections, connections on Sam units etc but no joy.
My Bulbs are 6 months old and changed for exact Bosch lamps.
I have read a post online that the cd changer can cause a similar issue by drawing too much power. I have removed the fuse for cd changer and same problem
I hope I have done everything correct here.
Any help would be appreciated.
This is my first post but I have used MBWorld extensively for advice since I got my W211.
Now I have a problem.
My car is a 2003 W211 E240 2.6 V6. 64000 miles on the clock.
Avantgarde spec.
Xenon headlights.
4 zone climatronic.
Audio system with in dash cd changer
My problem is one day I got into the car after having it oarked for 20 minutes or so and when I started the engine I notice the engine fan on what could only be full blast sounded like a jet engine. Engine was cool at this point so need for fan to come on.
As I drove home sitting in traffic I noticed my headlamps reflection in the car in front were flickering.
Problem now is.
When the car is started driver side headlamps come on weather rotary switch is on or off.
Headlamps will flicker on and off and passenger side will come on and off erratically.
9 out of 10 times the fan comes on full speed.
I cannot see the battery voltage in the display when I turn the key and press the on dash button 3 times. Nothing happens.
What I have done so far.
Took the car to my regular service guy he has no idea of the problem and no errors showing on diagnostics.
Took the car to a more specialist diagnostics garage no error logged on system and they don't know what wrong.
Obviously I am trying to avoid Mercedes on this one.
I am a self employed electronic tech (I service/repair slot machines) but Mercedes electronics is not my bag!
So understanding wiring and where power should and shouldn't be etc is no problem for me.
From my interest searches I have found these SAM units about the car. I have checked trough all fuses, connections, connections on Sam units etc but no joy.
My Bulbs are 6 months old and changed for exact Bosch lamps.
I have read a post online that the cd changer can cause a similar issue by drawing too much power. I have removed the fuse for cd changer and same problem
I hope I have done everything correct here.
Any help would be appreciated.
09-13-2015, 01:43 AM
#2
SPONSOR/MBworld Guru
Welcome to MBWorld. You tried putting a meter to the lights and measure/log current levels during these events and while nominal?
09-13-2015, 07:55 AM
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2003 E Class 240
Hi Micheal
Thanks for your reply.
I havent checked current going to the lights as i would have to break the circuit going to the lights to put the meter inline to read the current, but i will check the voltage going to the light. They are Xenon so i presume i am looking for the voltage before the ballast. I will check and report back.
I have attached 2 pictures of my engine bay fuse box. Beside the array of fuses i have 2 boxes sitting parallel with the fuse box with connectors pushed into the top of them. I presumed these were SAM boxes but after reading more on here there is also a SAM located under the fuse box which i hope to get access to today after work.
Does anyone have details of what functions these SAM units carry out.
I am looking down the road of a same issue as my problems are as follows.
(my car is right hand drive)
Drivers side headlamp comes on with switch in off position and then flashes randomly.
Passenger headlamp flashes randomly also.
Engine cooling fan comes on full speed.
I have a warning on dash saying check brakes, brakes were checked at service 2 days ago again and they are fine. Error cleared but reappeared.
Today windscreen washer doesnt work, wipers do!
Thanks again for any advice.
Thanks for your reply.
I havent checked current going to the lights as i would have to break the circuit going to the lights to put the meter inline to read the current, but i will check the voltage going to the light. They are Xenon so i presume i am looking for the voltage before the ballast. I will check and report back.
I have attached 2 pictures of my engine bay fuse box. Beside the array of fuses i have 2 boxes sitting parallel with the fuse box with connectors pushed into the top of them. I presumed these were SAM boxes but after reading more on here there is also a SAM located under the fuse box which i hope to get access to today after work.
Does anyone have details of what functions these SAM units carry out.
I am looking down the road of a same issue as my problems are as follows.
(my car is right hand drive)
Drivers side headlamp comes on with switch in off position and then flashes randomly.
Passenger headlamp flashes randomly also.
Engine cooling fan comes on full speed.
I have a warning on dash saying check brakes, brakes were checked at service 2 days ago again and they are fine. Error cleared but reappeared.
Today windscreen washer doesnt work, wipers do!
Thanks again for any advice.
09-16-2015, 04:40 PM
#6
MBWorld Fanatic!
Seems to me that you have some aftermarket things attached to your SAM from the pictures you provided....
My advice, find someone that knows a thing or two about star wiring and testing Signal Accusation Modules (SAM).
I could guesstimate as to what the culprit is pertaining to your issues, but that's not typically something I do. I'll shotgun a part here and there but you have multiple issues going on and your vehicle isn't in my presence.
My advice: If you know someone with STAR or Xentry you could go to your local MB dealer, purchase a new front SAM, code it and see if that fixes it, or you actually should just be able to plug it in to be honest. SAM's are returnable too.
My advice, find someone that knows a thing or two about star wiring and testing Signal Accusation Modules (SAM).
I could guesstimate as to what the culprit is pertaining to your issues, but that's not typically something I do. I'll shotgun a part here and there but you have multiple issues going on and your vehicle isn't in my presence.
My advice: If you know someone with STAR or Xentry you could go to your local MB dealer, purchase a new front SAM, code it and see if that fixes it, or you actually should just be able to plug it in to be honest. SAM's are returnable too.
01-21-2023, 03:23 PM
#7
Seems to me that you have some aftermarket things attached to your SAM from the pictures you provided....
My advice, find someone that knows a thing or two about star wiring and testing Signal Accusation Modules (SAM).
I could guesstimate as to what the culprit is pertaining to your issues, but that's not typically something I do. I'll shotgun a part here and there but you have multiple issues going on and your vehicle isn't in my presence.
My advice: If you know someone with STAR or Xentry you could go to your local MB dealer, purchase a new front SAM, code it and see if that fixes it, or you actually should just be able to plug it in to be honest. SAM's are returnable too.
My advice, find someone that knows a thing or two about star wiring and testing Signal Accusation Modules (SAM).
I could guesstimate as to what the culprit is pertaining to your issues, but that's not typically something I do. I'll shotgun a part here and there but you have multiple issues going on and your vehicle isn't in my presence.
My advice: If you know someone with STAR or Xentry you could go to your local MB dealer, purchase a new front SAM, code it and see if that fixes it, or you actually should just be able to plug it in to be honest. SAM's are returnable too.
sorry, I meant to reply to a different message
Last edited by apr1; 01-21-2023 at 03:29 PM. Reason: I meant to reply to a different message
