Reduced braking power start engine?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
2006 E350
Reduced braking power start engine?
Hi I have a 06 E350 with nearly 200k miles on it. Every now and then I would get this message "Reduced braking power start engine" and when I turn it on it would then say "Reduced braking power visit workshop." Upon restarting the car (sometimes it takes more than once) the message would go away and the car seems to drive fine. But when I drove with the message on it had the ABS error sign on and the brakes seemed a little off, and didnt feel like it was grabbing it. What might be the problem here?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,190
Likes: 1,550
From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
I thought the second message was the SBC error message. Probably the pump. Probably no longer under warranty as that's 10 years from the in service date unless the car was a left over that sat on the lot.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,133
Likes: 134
From: Down Unda
W204 C63 AMG, W212 E250 CGI, C207 E250 CGI
this is s warning that your SBC is gonna go anytime soon.
next thing ill see, you'll start a thread saying your car is a piece of junk coz you lost your brakes "without" any warning, then youll say youll never buy another Mercedes Benz and how you pay for so much money and it almost killed you.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,225
Likes: 1,798
From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,133
Likes: 134
From: Down Unda
W204 C63 AMG, W212 E250 CGI, C207 E250 CGI
Me learn something? Definitely a lot, but definitely not from you either. All you do is stay up all day all night and posts replies on anything and anybody with your 60's advices. Then start an argument if anybody opposes you.
Bet you my 63 its the SBC goin bad.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,749
Likes: 881
From: In the Shadow of the Tetons
2013 ML350 Bluetec
Says the guy who argues with everybody who doesnt agree with him. Lol
Me learn something? Definitely a lot, but definitely not from you either. All you do is stay up all day all night and posts replies on anything and anybody with your 60's advices. Then start an argument if anybody opposes you.
Bet you my 63 its the SBC goin bad.
Me learn something? Definitely a lot, but definitely not from you either. All you do is stay up all day all night and posts replies on anything and anybody with your 60's advices. Then start an argument if anybody opposes you.
Bet you my 63 its the SBC goin bad.
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,133
Likes: 134
From: Down Unda
W204 C63 AMG, W212 E250 CGI, C207 E250 CGI
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,225
Likes: 1,798
From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,133
Likes: 134
From: Down Unda
W204 C63 AMG, W212 E250 CGI, C207 E250 CGI
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
2006 E350
So I've ordered a new aux battery and will try to replace it once it arrives next week. Hopefully it indeed is just a battery problem and nothing more serious... I kinda don't want to spend 2k for a new SBC pump.
Last edited by jho9393; Nov 24, 2016 at 09:00 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,133
Likes: 134
From: Down Unda
W204 C63 AMG, W212 E250 CGI, C207 E250 CGI
lets hope thatll fix your problem. but if i were you, ill start saving for the SBC, lets face it, your car is not getting any younger.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,190
Likes: 1,550
From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
Instead of just guessing, take the car to an auto parts store like Advance Auto or Autozone and have them do a load test on the battery. They usually do it for free That will tell you if the battery is good or not and you won't waste money on something that might not be needed. How old is the battery?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,190
Likes: 1,550
From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
Well it won't hurt. But you should get it scanned for codes to tell you what's really going on. A regular scanner won't do, you'll need to either take it to an MB dealer or get a scanner that can read MB specific codes. I don't think the SBC is 2k anymore, the price of the reman units keep coming down, but you're probably still looking at something over 1k.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
2006 E350
Ok, I've installed the new battery and it seems it is ok.. for now. I usually get the warning message every other day or so, so we'll see if that fixed the problem or not in a couple days.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,133
Likes: 134
From: Down Unda
W204 C63 AMG, W212 E250 CGI, C207 E250 CGI
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
2006 E350
I forgot to update this thread so here's an update. Unfortunately replacing the auxiliary battery did not solve the problem and I had my mechanic put on a new sbc module. However after installing the pump he said he ran into some issues where the pump is not getting enough voltage (6 volts) for it to function. So he said it requires further diagnosis as to what the problem could be, so what could it be? Could it be the grounding of the sbc harness? Something as simple as fuse/relay? Or...?
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 371
Likes: 37
w211 03'
I have that messsage too, took it to a benz shop and they told me its the pressure accumulator upon hooiking up the star das, found it on ebay for 118.95 usd, also bought the brake light switch just in case.. Maybe its your brake light switch??
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
2006 E350
I doubt it's the brake switch. When it's the brake switch the message is in white not red and the braking is not affected. When I drive with the red message on I can definitely feel a decrease in braking power.
