no idea what to do anymore :(
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Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 62
Likes: 1
E500
no idea what to do anymore :( UPDATE: FIXED!
really have no idea what to do now. the SBC won't activate, won't deactivate, can't bleed the brakes. the reservoir is showing 140 bar in it, so I can't even remove the SBC. not sure if I should just sell the car for a loss, or have it towed to MB for a repair that I'll never be able to make the money back on 
Last edited by scott099; Apr 9, 2018 at 01:32 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 577
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From: PA
W223 S500 LWB 4-Matic, W222 S450 LWB 4-Matic, A238 E400 Cabriolet 4-Matic
Are you using a code reader device to try and deactivate the SBC and if so which one? Did it set a code? Most independent service centers (Indy's) are less per hour than the MB dealer. Somehow I never set foot on and have been able to stay off the MB dealer lot for over a year. There is an inexpensive device on eBay that resets the counter on the SBC. Most of the time it is the brake switch that causes an issue.
This code reader can deactivate and activate the SBC for far less than a Xentry or STAR device:
http://www.mercedesmedic.com/icarsoft-scanner-review/
This code reader can deactivate and activate the SBC for far less than a Xentry or STAR device:
http://www.mercedesmedic.com/icarsoft-scanner-review/
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From: Richmond, CA
2001 E320 Wagon, 2006 LBZ Silverado, 2007 E63 (sold), 2001 E55 (sold)
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From: Republic of Texas
'99 and '05 E55 AMG
really have no idea what to do now. the SBC won't activate, won't deactivate, can't bleed the brakes. the reservoir is showing 140 bar in it, so I can't even remove the SBC. not sure if I should just sell the car for a loss, or have it towed to MB for a repair that I'll never be able to make the money back on
Potential courses of action:
-unseat the SBC connector, clean contacts, reseat the connector, verify ground strap on the SBC unit.
-If no change, (I'm theorizing here), open a caliper bleeder valve to bleed off pressure from the system.
-Locate someone with a STAR system and see if that can communicate with the SBC.
-Remove SBC, return to the company that rebuilt it, and have them open it up and check for broken wires/pins on the connector interior-side.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
MB servicing is not that easy in US.
Per my observation, in California you can have 3 European shops on 1 mile drive. There good number of MB in NY and FL, some in Chicago and some in Texas.
Than in Nebraska you can drive 5000 miles before you will see MB with state registration. I think they have 2 MB dealers for huge state.
Per my observation, in California you can have 3 European shops on 1 mile drive. There good number of MB in NY and FL, some in Chicago and some in Texas.
Than in Nebraska you can drive 5000 miles before you will see MB with state registration. I think they have 2 MB dealers for huge state.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2018
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E500
well, long story short, I've seen no shortage of people saying you need star for this and that, but I hadn't really seen may people commenting that they even *tried* MBII or Fowell NT624 to replace the SBC, notice how I said replace, not just general servicing - which they *can* do.
So to summarize: you DO need star to replace the SBC! I had to go into the function "initial startup after repair" and everything was smooth sailing after that
MBII - Can deactivate the SBC no problem, and you can remove it without any issue, but to *reinstall a rebuilt/new SBC" it will NOT work! you can activate the SBC with it if you are just replacing the pads/rotors.
Foxwell NT624 - can activate/deactivate the same SBC, can bleed the brakes
Star - well, can do it all
there you go, hope that helps someone if you decide to tackle fixing the SBC yourself, but couldn't find any real info on what the alternative scanners can and can't do.
So to summarize: you DO need star to replace the SBC! I had to go into the function "initial startup after repair" and everything was smooth sailing after that
MBII - Can deactivate the SBC no problem, and you can remove it without any issue, but to *reinstall a rebuilt/new SBC" it will NOT work! you can activate the SBC with it if you are just replacing the pads/rotors.
Foxwell NT624 - can activate/deactivate the same SBC, can bleed the brakes
Star - well, can do it all
there you go, hope that helps someone if you decide to tackle fixing the SBC yourself, but couldn't find any real info on what the alternative scanners can and can't do.
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From: In the Shadow of the Tetons
2013 ML350 Bluetec
Thanks for the update! I was wondering how you were going to get the rebuilt SBC unit running without STAR, and it turns out you ... weren't.
The good news is you're still ahead of what a dealer would've charged you, AND you can now look at every system on the car. Just don't turn the SAM modules into bricks in playing with them.
The good news is you're still ahead of what a dealer would've charged you, AND you can now look at every system on the car. Just don't turn the SAM modules into bricks in playing with them.
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From: New Zealand
Glad you got it fixed. So I presume the MBII is still fine for deactivating for bleeding only?
The counter reset doesn't do a thing except make the system think it doesn't need to be refreshed which means failure gets more and more likely by the day. Not really a solution.
The counter reset doesn't do a thing except make the system think it doesn't need to be refreshed which means failure gets more and more likely by the day. Not really a solution.
