E-Class (W212) 2010 - 2016: E 350, E 550
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

Coolingfan issues

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Nov 20, 2023 | 05:13 AM
  #1  
tmelbye's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 3
2011 E220 CDI BlueTec
Coolingfan issues

Hello world,

I’m having an issue with cooling fan on my W212 2011 Diesel Avantgard.

When turning of the car the cooling fan start blowing full force and will not stop until the battery is dead.
The car has been sitting idle for a while now because I got tired of it.

Now I started going again and I think I’m getting closer.

I checked earth, fuse MR4 and fuse 22, all checks out.

I probe the plug connected to the fan and get the following signal:

1 BRN Earth – OK

2 RED from fuse MR4 – OK 12v

3 BLK/RED from front SAM – OK 12v

4 GRN/BLU from ME-SFI (have no idea what that is) – Nothing…

I suspect there is an issue with the last cable as it has no signal.
Not even sure if its supposed to have any. (that’s why Im asking)

As I’m unsure of where the ME plug is I haven’t been able to check for continuity.
If I can find the correct cable and get a signal, I could replace that single cable instead of replacing the whole harness.



I have Macgyvered a temporary solution that is easy to restore to original.

From MR4 I run 12v to a 100a relay. This relay gets signal from the fusebox so it cuts power to the fan as the ignition is turned off. No cables cut so its easy to revert.



Any ideas?


Reply
Old Nov 20, 2023 | 10:24 AM
  #2  
S-Prihadi's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 6,547
From: Jakarta-Indonesia
2014 - W212.065 - E400 ( M276.820, 3 liter Turbo) RWD not Hybrid
If your engine model and variant is the same as this link, use the wiring diagram : https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ml#post8879691
Avoid using NON MB wiring diagram. Most aftermarket wiring diag for MB is not good.


OP wrote :
4 GRN/BLU from ME-SFI (have no idea what that is) – Nothing…

I suspect there is an issue with the last cable as it has no signal.
Not even sure if its supposed to have any. (that’s why Im asking)


That no 4 is a LUES label at ECM wiring, it is a PWM ( use Duty cycle in your DMM ) signal for fan controller to perform the speed required.
10% Duty cycle PWM means FAN IS OFF
90% means fan is to run MAXIMUM
No duty cycle at all is an ERROR state and the fan will do maximum speed. So if #4 wire got broken, engine does not overheat as fan will go maximum.
100% duty cycle also an ERROR state because that is non PWM signal, it is just complete contact, so FAN would do maximum speed too.


There are cases the Engine Computer is the bad dude, missing that LUES signal.
I hope yours is not the ECM being the bad dude.

Reply
Old Nov 20, 2023 | 12:01 PM
  #3  
tmelbye's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 3
2011 E220 CDI BlueTec
Thanks for your answer.

Do you know which connector I need to check to find that cable?
if I can measure continuity I would be able to determine if the fault is in the cable or the ecu.

Reply
Old Nov 20, 2023 | 05:56 PM
  #4  
CaliBenzDriver's Avatar
Out Of Control!!
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,923
Likes: 6,776
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
Case of RESTLESS FAN....

Allow me to suggest you scan this intelligent car...
You don't want to ignore what sensor the ECU maybe trying to act on.
​​​​​​
Reply
Old Nov 21, 2023 | 01:11 AM
  #5  
S-Prihadi's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 6,547
From: Jakarta-Indonesia
2014 - W212.065 - E400 ( M276.820, 3 liter Turbo) RWD not Hybrid
Originally Posted by tmelbye
Thanks for your answer.

Do you know which connector I need to check to find that cable?
if I can measure continuity I would be able to determine if the fault is in the cable or the ecu.
Use MB vin code decoder, get a data card. With that we get your engine and tranny actual model number and the 3 last digit variant....and also super important the options
the engine has, which is required to use the wiring diagram because MB packs the wiring diagram with so much options, thus you need to "clean" the wiring diagram to suit
your engine.

I don't even know your engine model+variant, how can I answer your question ? I am totally not familiar with MB diesel engine too,

If you have faith that the current 3rd party wiring diagram you are using is correct, the answer is there already.



Your engine footnote 1 and 2 in that small circle.
If your engine is a 1, that means the pin at the ECM is to be #43 .
if your engine is a 2, that means the pin at the ECM is to be #44 .

But I then asked, which connector is this diagram referring to ? F or M ?
ECM has two connectors, one is called M and the other is called F. One is up to 58 pins and the other is up to 96 pins.
But I see the letter M above the circled 1 and 2, so M is the connector ID

There is a label at the connector plastic body to tell which is M and F.
But again..... I do not know your engine model and variant to verify if the 3rd party diagram you are using is CORRECT or not, compared to MB original wiring diagram.


Reply
Old Nov 21, 2023 | 02:57 PM
  #6  
tmelbye's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 3
2011 E220 CDI BlueTec
Here is what I found about the carWDD2120021A398xxx

E 220 CDI / D

R4-DIESEL ENGINE M651

DISPLACEMENT 2.2 LITER

I was checking today and thought about what you said about 10% on standby.
got a better multimeter and found that the pin had 1.2 volt with ignition on (2nd)

was reading error codes and got P0480 after running the car without fan connected.
after erasing code, plugged in fan, running car for 5 minutes it came out clean.

Bypassed my McGyver fix so the fan had constant 12v as original.
Was testing and everything was looking normal
Even when I turned of the ignition and removed the key.
Suspecting it could be a bad connection that fixed itself when I was tinkering around I planned to keep it connected for a while to see.

All good.
Until I removed the OBD reader….
The fan started going for full.

What the fugg……

Begining to suspect faulty ECU/ME or fan controller.
Reply
Old Nov 22, 2023 | 01:58 AM
  #7  
S-Prihadi's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 6,547
From: Jakarta-Indonesia
2014 - W212.065 - E400 ( M276.820, 3 liter Turbo) RWD not Hybrid
well in theory but not always true.......... a regular DMM not able to read duty cycle in %, and when is using VOLT selection to read a 10% PWM signal,
could show 1.2 volt or 10% of 12V.

Reply
Old Nov 23, 2023 | 05:10 AM
  #8  
tmelbye's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 3
2011 E220 CDI BlueTec
Found a video on YT showing how to check the fan and the PWM signal is possible to read with a standard multimeter as % of 12v.

Unfortunately I only have Delphi software, so I don’t have all the options to run different functions like cooling fan.

But its kind of interesting that the fan started running full the second I pulled the OBD2 device.

​​​​​​​I’m getting more and more confused.

Guess I should find someone with xentry that could do a deep dive.
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

 Verdad Gallardo

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:50 PM.

story-0
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-1
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-4
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-6
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Slideshow: From bulletproof sedans to surprisingly tough SUVs, these Mercedes models proved that the three-pointed star can go the distance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-08 09:55:49


VIEW MORE