I was about 35 miles into a 55 mile work commute home last weekend w/ CC (cruise control) set to 69 mph as usual when suddenly instrument cluster lit up all dash lights & began beeping for a couple seconds followed by cruise control turning off & 'ESP inoperative - Visit Workshop' message in IC. Throttle position sensor (gas pedal) still worked so I drove home rest of way w/o CC or ESP & IC had 2 more flash episodes for a total of 3 in about 20 minutes during that time. DAS set codes in instrument cluster, CDI control unit, transmission control unit, & CGW (central gateway) - all reporting CAN interruption as a "stored" condition Next drive cycle, everything back to working as normal including ESP & CC so very puzzling & peculiar.. 2 factors not previously mentioned that made this commute a little different & unusual from previous ones was that I had AAC (automatic air conditioning) unit set to 'Defrost' mode due to 24 F condition outside (a severe cold front had just begun moving through) when typically AAC is otherwise off as average temperature along this commute most days of year is around 65 or 70 F so I'm thinking maybe voltage demand spiked & exceeded capacity for a second just enough to cascade into events described. Just prior to ESP failure (maybe 2-3 minutes), I had used windshield washer a few times (many insects along this particular commute route) so I'm wondering if that is a factor to be considered (I don't think so). Damn these computer controlled vehicles when they throw their little temper tantrums like this! Now what keeps me chewing off my fingernails about this mess is that I'm reading reports that even dealerships now are unable to get replacement parts for components such as an ESP control unit due to SCI (supply chain issues). This vehicle is otherwise well maintained, all services done on time & all fluids, filters changed on time as well so notion that a quirky canbus control unit could potentially 'brick' it drives me crazy! I have seen ppl swap out things like rear SAM w/o needing to code it to car, so wondering are ESP control units universally plug & play? I see a couple used ones on ebay but my caveman understanding is it would need to be reflashed via vediamo or monaco to be able to work w/ my car. Thanks in advance for any/all advice, thoughts, opinions, &/or replies. I love this car & was hoping for HIGH mileage & LONG ownership but this incident leaves me thinking I need a back-up solution.

 

If this was a low battery issue due to the voltage regulator being worn out, this issue would continue to occur. If it does, then replace voltage regulator.

Or it could be your main battery is unable to maintain a high charge, try running as many electrons as possible: heater, AC, all the lights, all the windows, radio, move seats, power tailgate, etc. Or have the battery load tested for free at an auto parts sparts
keep us posted.

 

You need to get a scanner that can read MB specific codes. Lots of reasons why it can be set and once that happens, cruise control is one item that always gets disabled. Could be steering angle sensor, one of the 4 speed sensor or the magnetic ring, brake light switch, yaw sensor, etc. Only way to know which one it is is to get it scanned. You can buy cheap scanners on Amazon that can scan all subsystems, the basic scanners that you have at the auto parts store won't be able to scan MB specific subsystems. Lots of them out there, Autel AP200, Launch Thinkcar Pro, iCarsoft, Foxwell, etc.

 

Scanned & thoroughly interrogated ALL control units indicating any variant of "F" or "i" in DAS today & there would appear to be no shortage of DTCs this time so after carefully documenting each I erased them all to see what would come back.

This scan took alot longer (approximately 15 minutes) than it would have if canbus in car was working properly imho & based on what it came up with in the end, would seem to have timed-out w/o establishing comms w/ anything which I found to be very interesting but confusing.

Current CAN configuration in L column but "actual values' in R column. It's reporting everything as 'NOT PRESENT' but all accessories are functioning properly so very peculiar & unsure what really can be done here. Does anything need to be done? Could this situation be causing ESP & other control units to crash suddenly? That's what I really want to try & find out so can restore some faith in this car's reliability to safely commute 330 miles per week.

...More control units being reported as "NOT PRESENT' (sorry about flash glare! Sun was moving around behind me.)

The vehicle starts right up & runs smooth without hesitation or errors. Individually, I'm able to interrogate each control unit so CANBUS is working to some degree & all accessories are functioning flawlessly as well. I'm unsure how to really tackle what is being displayed. I will pull & check all fuses & relays next to see if any are cracked or blown.
DTCs are as follows:
9135 Sensor 2 for fuel level sensor is jammed marked as 'stored' in instrument cluster control unit Fault memory
9114 Fault in CAN communication with control unit RCP roof control panel marked as 'stored' in instrument cluster control unit Event memory
9126 Fault in CAN communication with control unit Audio Gateway marked as 'CURRENT & Stored' in instrument cluster control unit Event memory
930E Synchronization of the DTC memory cannot be ensured marked as "current & stored in System Diagnosis control unit Fault memory
9031 The connection between N72/1 (Upper control panel control unit) and component M8 (UCP carrier open and close motor) is interrupted marked as 'Current & stored' in UCP control unit Fault memory
9023 Fault in CAN communication with control unit N70 (overhead control panel control unit) marked as 'stored' in UCP event memory
2138-004 Glow plug cylinder 6 check lines between cylinder 6 and N14/2 (glow output stage) marked as "current and stored' in CDI3_UP control unit Fault memory
2201-001 No or incorrect CAN message from control unit N73 (EIS[EZS] control unit) Timeout of chip with ID (ID111) or (ID240) marked as "stored' in CDI3_UP control unit Fault memory
2243-001 No or incorrect CAN message from control unit N93 (central gateway control unit) Timeout (ID410) marked as 'event stored' in CDI3_UP control unit Fault memory
2244-001 No or incorrect CAN message from control unit A1 (instrument cluster) Timeout (ID408) marked as 'event stored' in CDI3_UP control unit fault memory
2213-001 No or incorrect CAN message from control unit N80 (steering column module) Timeout (ID238) marked as 'event stored' in CDI3_UP control unit fault memory
P2314 One or more messages from control unit N93 (central gateway control unit) are not available on the CAN bus (CAN timeout fault) marked as 'event stored' in ETC control unit event memory
P2316 One or messages from control unit N19 (air conditioning control unit) are not available on the CAN bus (CAN timeout fault) marked as 'event stored' in ETC control unit event memory
P2315 One or more messages from control unit A1 (instrument cluster) are not available on the CAN bus (CAN timeout fault) marked as 'event stored' in ETC control unit event memory
P2001 The signal sent by control unit N93 (central gateway control unit) for the stop lamp status is not available on the CAN bus marked as 'event stored' in ESM control unit event memory
C125C This fault can be ignored and erased marked as 'stored in ESP control unit Fault memory
9003 Component E1e2 (left low beam) is faulty or the lead has open circuit marked as 'stored' in Dr-siide SAM control unit fault memory
9040 Component N10/1kO (fan relay module) is defective or not installed marked as 'stored' in Dr-side SAM control unit fault memory
9090 Fault in CAM communication with control unit OCP marked as 'event stored' in Dr-side SAM control unit event memory
9022 The actual value Terminal 15 supplied by control unit N73 (EIS[EZS] control unit) over the CAN is implausible marked as 'stored' in Rear SAM control unit fault memory <---- I believe this was trigger event which led to cascade across ECM, TCM, IC, into ESP turning itself off while in use... but unfortunately control unit's memory doesn't record exact timestamps of events when exactly each DTC was set so it's like performing autopsy on a bug splatter across windshield, best guess scenarios.
9054 Component E3e4 (Left stop lamp) is faulty or the line to the component has a short circuit or open circuit marked as 'stored' in Rear SAM control unit fault memory
9078 Communication with component H3 (alarm signal horn) is interrupted marked as 'current & stored' in rear sam control unit fault memory
90D0 Output 'Terminal 58d' is overloaded marked as 'stored' in OCP control unit fault memory
9068 SR is not normalized. If fault code occurs with no complaint reported and no malfunctions, erase fault memory and perform a function check marked as 'stored' in OCP control unit fault memory
90A1 Communication error in serial communication interface to rear lamps and interior motion sensor; No response from component E11/1e1 (left rear reading lamp) marked as 'stored' in OCP fault memory
9091 Communication fault with component B38/2 (Rain/light sensor) No response from component B38/2 (rain/light sensor) marked as 'stored' in OCP control unit fault memory
9046 Component S93/3s2 (towing sensor switch) is defective. marked as 'stored' in OCP control unit fault memory
9001 The supply voltage of the control unit is too low (undervoltage) marked as 'stored' in OCP control unit event memory <---- would be very interesting to know when this code set & if it occurred prior to everything else.

 

My report is that I am the second owner of a 2007 W211 E350 wagon and had to replace the ECU at about 110,000 miles throwing ESP and inoperative.

 

Was your ESP inoperative a constant (current & stored) condition & did ECU replacement resolve it? After erasing all codes, I'm down to just a few that actually come back as 'current & stored' but ESP isn't one of them so far, it is back to behaving properly & appropriately. I still intend to pull & inspect every fuse onboard this vehicle, including those hiding under passenger side floor boards by TCM that look like it'll be a pain in the neck to get to & inspect all grounding points for corrosion as well. My suspicious culprits are narrowed down to EIS[EZS] (electronic ignition switch) & CDI3_UP (engine control unit) or possibly a voltage surge that blew a fuse I haven't tracked down yet. BTW, does anyone know where is the "System Diagnosis' control unit? Is it a chipset of CGW or it's own standalone module? I can't seem to find it in Star Finder.

 

The car became disabled 2 - 3 times and at that time, I did not have a computer or savvy to address it. My service advisor was confident after multiple tests that the problem was the ecu We replaced it (at a shocking price at the time) and the problem never returned.