Reduced Braking Effect Start Engine & Brake Fluid loss
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 35
Likes: 1
From: Canada
2004 E320 4Matic
Reduced Braking Effect Start Engine & Brake Fluid loss
Hello,
I am intermittently getting the "Reduced Braking Effect Start Engine" code along with "brake malfunction stop vehicle" .
I noticed the second error was a result of brake fluid in the reservoir is depleted, once, I topped it off, it went away - which leads me to be even more concerned if there is a leak. I removed all my tires and check to see if there are any leaks at the caliper or issues with the brakes I installed in the summer. And no indication of any leak. Checked the reservoir and nothing leaking from there or around it.
I've also recently changed the stop light switch to try and see if that's a cause of the "brake visit workshop" warning i"ve had for almost a year.
The car has 145,000km ( 91,000 miles ), i've changed the rotors, brakes, bled lines in the summer.
the ""Reduced Braking Effect Start Engine"" just starting happening last week while I was driving. I am able to brake but feels off. I am in Toronto Canada, so weather has been pretty nasty and notice that the message comes up when I've run the car for about 10-15min. Once, I restart car the message goes away until somedays, the next day.
I just got an iCarstart MB II diagnostic scanner to check on the codes, which I will be doing soon.
I've read alot on the internet about this, and there is so many probabilities. Where can I start? How can I narrow issue down ? and what are some of your recommendations?
Thanks in advance for all the help from the community
I am intermittently getting the "Reduced Braking Effect Start Engine" code along with "brake malfunction stop vehicle" .
I noticed the second error was a result of brake fluid in the reservoir is depleted, once, I topped it off, it went away - which leads me to be even more concerned if there is a leak. I removed all my tires and check to see if there are any leaks at the caliper or issues with the brakes I installed in the summer. And no indication of any leak. Checked the reservoir and nothing leaking from there or around it.
I've also recently changed the stop light switch to try and see if that's a cause of the "brake visit workshop" warning i"ve had for almost a year.
The car has 145,000km ( 91,000 miles ), i've changed the rotors, brakes, bled lines in the summer.
the ""Reduced Braking Effect Start Engine"" just starting happening last week while I was driving. I am able to brake but feels off. I am in Toronto Canada, so weather has been pretty nasty and notice that the message comes up when I've run the car for about 10-15min. Once, I restart car the message goes away until somedays, the next day.
I just got an iCarstart MB II diagnostic scanner to check on the codes, which I will be doing soon.
I've read alot on the internet about this, and there is so many probabilities. Where can I start? How can I narrow issue down ? and what are some of your recommendations?
Thanks in advance for all the help from the community
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 35
Likes: 1
From: Canada
2004 E320 4Matic
Hi Plutoe,
So I ran the a diagnostic on the vehicle and here is what was there initially.
SBC-----
C249F : Service threshold reached
C233D: Hydraulics fault: Pressure regulator, left rear wheel
C25D9: Inspect wheel brakes for mechnical faults
C225B: ABS Control
ESP-----
C14BE: System faults: Check control unit A7/3n1(SBC Control unit)
9022: Component N56(Radiator shutter control module) is defective
(5 faults)
9051: Consumer shutoff, stage1
9092: component G1(Aux battery) is defective or not installed
9091: The contact of component k57/2(aux batt relay) does not close or the fuse upstream of the contact is defective
9050: consumer shutoff, stage 2
9090: The contact of component k57/2(aux batt relay) does not open
930C: Knowledge base config incomplete
So after clearing codes and going for a drive I read the fault codes again and this is what I had (only driven once afterwards)
9050: Consumer shutoff, stage 2
9051: Consumer shutoff, stage 1
9022: Component N56(Radiator shutter control module) is defective
90B0: b10/4(in car temp sensor)
This morning the "Brake Service visit workshop " came back. I've had that message for a while (2years) now and I've never seen these codes before until I've had the 3 instances of the dreaded red alerts which go away after restarting car.
I was thinking after driving today, I would reread fault again and see if there are more.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
So I ran the a diagnostic on the vehicle and here is what was there initially.
SBC-----
C249F : Service threshold reached
C233D: Hydraulics fault: Pressure regulator, left rear wheel
C25D9: Inspect wheel brakes for mechnical faults
C225B: ABS Control
ESP-----
C14BE: System faults: Check control unit A7/3n1(SBC Control unit)
9022: Component N56(Radiator shutter control module) is defective
(5 faults)
9051: Consumer shutoff, stage1
9092: component G1(Aux battery) is defective or not installed
9091: The contact of component k57/2(aux batt relay) does not close or the fuse upstream of the contact is defective
9050: consumer shutoff, stage 2
9090: The contact of component k57/2(aux batt relay) does not open
930C: Knowledge base config incomplete
So after clearing codes and going for a drive I read the fault codes again and this is what I had (only driven once afterwards)
9050: Consumer shutoff, stage 2
9051: Consumer shutoff, stage 1
9022: Component N56(Radiator shutter control module) is defective
90B0: b10/4(in car temp sensor)
This morning the "Brake Service visit workshop " came back. I've had that message for a while (2years) now and I've never seen these codes before until I've had the 3 instances of the dreaded red alerts which go away after restarting car.
I was thinking after driving today, I would reread fault again and see if there are more.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Last edited by dungey; Mar 6, 2019 at 09:18 AM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 35
Likes: 1
From: Canada
2004 E320 4Matic
Thanks for the feedback cetialpha5, unfortunately for Canadians, this is not the case yet.
Also I did delete the codes because I replaced the Aux battery to see if this was the problem. The services brakes, visit workshop message came up again. I will check what that is again.
I called the dealer yesterday to inquire about the campaign in Canada, and the indicated they are not covering the SBC in an extension. Which is disappointing and makes no sense to me.
If anyone knows or can guide the Canadians with the SBC warranty extension, please let us know. Would love to fix this issue without paying out of our ears : )
Also I did delete the codes because I replaced the Aux battery to see if this was the problem. The services brakes, visit workshop message came up again. I will check what that is again.
I called the dealer yesterday to inquire about the campaign in Canada, and the indicated they are not covering the SBC in an extension. Which is disappointing and makes no sense to me.
If anyone knows or can guide the Canadians with the SBC warranty extension, please let us know. Would love to fix this issue without paying out of our ears : )
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,190
Likes: 1,550
From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
Sorry, I guess you're SOL then, warranty extension was only in the US, pretty much everyone else anywhere else is SOL. You didn't have a location listed and many here are in the US.
