The Official GLK Problems with Aging Thread
Thank you! Appreciate the help.
Ok fearing I may of had two bad (new) sensors and they were the cheap ones from Rockauto I went to NAPA and bout the expensive ones. Installed them and still same issue. I then took the time to measure the resistance of the new expensive ones and compared that to the new cheap ones and it was exactly the same. I then connected my muitmeter to the plug in for the sensor as in where the sensor harness plugs into the car to see if there was any power there and I get 11 volts on both sides so I am now assuming there is no issue there. I then connected the multimeter to the sensor plug with it installing in the hole for the sensor and then spun the wheel but I get no signal or voltage from either wheel. So now I am wondering my next step...… Please guys anyone has some help here it would be greatly appreciated
Not knowing exactly what brand of sensors you got, it IS possible the control module may not recognize the signal or not like the signal it's getting. I'd hate to tell you to buy new wheel speed sensors yet again, this time from your dealership or an OEM parts place, but that MAY be a necessity if the control module itself checks out.
Are these the sensors you replaced?
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
these which are the cheap ones
But I also tried these ones this morning and as it was the same result I returned them for a refund
these
Do you really think that may be the issue as in the signal from both brands being the issue?? I am leaning towards a wheel bearing issue as it appears that this can cause the same issue or so I am reading but honestly I am at a loss as to what to do next. I am not convinced that the voltage is correct coming from the car as in when tested from the plug that the sensor connects to leading up to the abs control module. I am thinking of taking the hub apart but certainly its a big undertaking really love any and all advise from anyone who has been here. I know I am getting no signal from the wheel speed sensors on either wheel with the multimeter when spinning the wheel which has me thinking its an issue with wheel bearing or the magnetic wheel/sprocket its just hard to believe both are an issue so I am just scratching my head. Anyone reading this I would love your thoughts and suggestions to help conquer this.
I don't think it's a wheel bearing issue, that is more of a mechanical item and you'd have other symptoms if they were both bad, and unlikely at the same time. You can test bearings out by pulling on the tire/wheel alternately on opposite sides looking for play. I doubt it's the hub itself either, unless you have a bunch of gunk build-up. I assume you looked carefully when replacing the brakes and used good amounts of brake parts cleaner in the process.
You may be experiencing ABS module failure, and this is not uncommon. You might want to read up on that issue. New ones are about $930 (here) but you may be able to find one from another car to swap, that way it wouldn't require you going to the dealer to have it coded.
Good luck.
Again thx for your help I really appreciate it and if anyone else has any suggestions/ comments I would love to hear them.
My wife comes home one day and tells me the dash is lit up like a Christmas tree. I has EBD ABS and traction control errors. Spoke to my mechanic and he said its likely a wheel speed sensor but he does not usually work on Mercedes so his code reader was no good for that car. He tried it but sure enough it was no good for my mercedes
So I said the hell with it came on this group asking for what code reader would be good and I purchased it. It is the icard MB II and it works great. Ran the code reader and sure enough it told me the right rear speed sensor was not sending a signal. So I went online trying to find some decent priced ones which I found at Rockauto.com they were like 30 bucks each. I replaced the right rear which is very simple to do. Put you car on a jack then remove your wheel. You will find one small bolt that's a torx bolt not sure the size but if anyone needs to know I can check it. Remove the bolt then very carefully wiggle the sensor out of the hole. Be careful as they can be in there very snug and I was not with one and had it snap off and was a good while getting the hole cleaned out. Next you remove the fender skirt. This is just a few nuts and a few plastic plugs. The plastic plugs you take a small flat head and wiggle out the centre plastic nail not totally out but out a bit then plug the rest of it out Remove the skirt and you will find there the other end to the sensor is...it plugs in up under the wheel well. There is a meta clip that holds the sensor in so you will need to remove that. Remove the old one and do all the steps in reverse. No need to reset the codes all will happen on their own once the computer gets the signal from the sensor.
I replace the right rear sensor put all back together and then bring the car out. Errors are still there and now the car goes into whats called limp mode. This apparently is a protection thing that many European cars use to protect itself from damage whereby the car will not go over I believe its 20 kms per hour. Not knowing what this meant at the time I was very concerned. I resent the codes with my code reader only to realise then I had both rear sensors reading that they were faulty. Now I was confused and worried. I put the car back in the garage and then headed back online. Most I read indicated possibly the cheap sensors were the issue. So I went out and bought the expensive ones locally that were $376. 00 for two . Ran back to the garage installed these and then tested the car but again same issue. I returned the sensors for a refund and then scratched my head as to what to try next. So I read somewhere about testing the voltage from the plug that the sensor plugs into up to the abs control sensor. So I get my multimeter and connect the alligator clips to the two pins that I pop in the holes and I get 11 volts. Same on both sides so I was guess this was all good. I then put the sensor in the hole that it supposed to be in and I spin the wheel with the other end of the sensor connected to my multimeter. I get nothing from each wheel. No signal at all and from what I read online I should get very low voltage. So now I have to figure out what creates the signal on the wheel/axle to send to the sensor which is then sent to the ABS control module. Its called a reluctor ring.
This little fella is attached to your axle and as the axle spins its magnetic and sends the speed at which the axle is turning to the wheel speed sensor. So I thought this must be my issue. So I began taking **** apart as in the wheel first then the brake caliber bracket the brake caliper etc. Had to let go upper and lower control arm etc. Slid axle out then removed the ring well actually one fell apart the other was not better.
Put it all back together and tested the car. All lights went out and the car went out of limp mode.
The ring issue was a big job replacing them removing the axle was not too bad but getting the suspension back together was brutle.
Anyway if anyone is having issues like this one with these lights. I would first scan with a good code reader that tells you which one is gone. Easy quick job is to replace the sensor but if that does not fix the issue the rings may be your problem especially if you are in a climate like we are here in Newfoundland with snow ice and salt on our roads. If I can help anyone with this process please contact me as this was difficult with little to no help and I will help. trlee32@hotmail.com
Enjoy the car car out of limp mode now! The code reader will come in handy for the rest of your ownership experience.
My wife comes home one day and tells me the dash is lit up like a Christmas tree. I has EBD ABS and traction control errors. Spoke to my mechanic and he said its likely a wheel speed sensor but he does not usually work on Mercedes so his code reader was no good for that car. He tried it but sure enough it was no good for my mercedes
So I said the hell with it came on this group asking for what code reader would be good and I purchased it. It is the icard MB II and it works great. Ran the code reader and sure enough it told me the right rear speed sensor was not sending a signal. So I went online trying to find some decent priced ones which I found at Rockauto.com they were like 30 bucks each. I replaced the right rear which is very simple to do. Put you car on a jack then remove your wheel. You will find one small bolt that's a torx bolt not sure the size but if anyone needs to know I can check it. Remove the bolt then very carefully wiggle the sensor out of the hole. Be careful as they can be in there very snug and I was not with one and had it snap off and was a good while getting the hole cleaned out. Next you remove the fender skirt. This is just a few nuts and a few plastic plugs. The plastic plugs you take a small flat head and wiggle out the centre plastic nail not totally out but out a bit then plug the rest of it out Remove the skirt and you will find there the other end to the sensor is...it plugs in up under the wheel well. There is a meta clip that holds the sensor in so you will need to remove that. Remove the old one and do all the steps in reverse. No need to reset the codes all will happen on their own once the computer gets the signal from the sensor.
I replace the right rear sensor put all back together and then bring the car out. Errors are still there and now the car goes into whats called limp mode. This apparently is a protection thing that many European cars use to protect itself from damage whereby the car will not go over I believe its 20 kms per hour. Not knowing what this meant at the time I was very concerned. I resent the codes with my code reader only to realise then I had both rear sensors reading that they were faulty. Now I was confused and worried. I put the car back in the garage and then headed back online. Most I read indicated possibly the cheap sensors were the issue. So I went out and bought the expensive ones locally that were $376. 00 for two . Ran back to the garage installed these and then tested the car but again same issue. I returned the sensors for a refund and then scratched my head as to what to try next. So I read somewhere about testing the voltage from the plug that the sensor plugs into up to the abs control sensor. So I get my multimeter and connect the alligator clips to the two pins that I pop in the holes and I get 11 volts. Same on both sides so I was guess this was all good. I then put the sensor in the hole that it supposed to be in and I spin the wheel with the other end of the sensor connected to my multimeter. I get nothing from each wheel. No signal at all and from what I read online I should get very low voltage. So now I have to figure out what creates the signal on the wheel/axle to send to the sensor which is then sent to the ABS control module. Its called a reluctor ring.
This little fella is attached to your axle and as the axle spins its magnetic and sends the speed at which the axle is turning to the wheel speed sensor. So I thought this must be my issue. So I began taking **** apart as in the wheel first then the brake caliber bracket the brake caliper etc. Had to let go upper and lower control arm etc. Slid axle out then removed the ring well actually one fell apart the other was not better.
Put it all back together and tested the car. All lights went out and the car went out of limp mode.
The ring issue was a big job replacing them removing the axle was not too bad but getting the suspension back together was brutle.
Anyway if anyone is having issues like this one with these lights. I would first scan with a good code reader that tells you which one is gone. Easy quick job is to replace the sensor but if that does not fix the issue the rings may be your problem especially if you are in a climate like we are here in Newfoundland with snow ice and salt on our roads. If I can help anyone with this process please contact me as this was difficult with little to no help and I will help. trlee32@hotmail.com
A bit of back story:
I got my 2015 GLK 250 last year and was told it was out of warranty when I got it-it had 49,000 km (I'm in Calgary Alberta, Canada). It needed front pads and rotors when I got it, did that along with oil change, all air filters and fuel filter (pretty simple stuff, the car has been really easy to work on).
After a week and a few trips on the hwy I noticed a barely perceptible whine that sounded like it was coming from the transmission-sounded like it was coming from the center console or D/S footwell. Called up the dealer that I got it from, they basically said all deals are final blah blah blah. I started reading this forum and started worrying about the transfer case bearing issues... I took it to the mercedes dealer (Country Hills Mercedes-I HIGHLY recommend them) and got them to do a tranny flush and check it over for the sound. They called me up later that day and said my wheel bearings were bad. I said ok... how much is it going to cost me. They said NOTHING it is still under warranty for 2 more months! They did it, I got it back, the whine was still there, I brought it back, they couldn't replicate... At this point I was thinking it was going to be just like my Ford experiences where they never find the issue and I have to fix it myself to resolve the issue. But when I came to pick it up-I was about to lose it on them-they asked if I would like to, I could take it out with the shop foreman to show him the sound.
That was a first for me. Like I said above, when I had Fords before the dealerships always tried to make me feel like I was crazy and I just ended up getting fed up and fixing the issues myself (suspension issues, locking hubs etc.). I had already started looking for parts to pull apart the transfer case, pull the bearings and replace them-wouldn't have been fun but definitely possible.
So long story short, the shop foreman was awesome, he went out with me and I showed him the noise (happened when lifting off the throttle at 100 KPH and 122 KPH). He agreed that it was there and I dropped the car off a couple days later for them to go over with stethoscopes/microphone ears in different spots. They called me back and said a bearing is gone in the transfer case, they have ordered a new transmission and transfer case (like some of you mentioned-it is 1 unit) and they replaced my entire transmission and transfer case under warranty with less than a month remaining! It was at 55K km when they replaced it (I was doing a LOT of driving).
The GLK currently has around 79K km, and still working flawlessly.
Thank you again everyone, if I hadn't read this forum I wouldn't have been so pushy to get them to diagnose and fix the issue before my 2 months for warranty ended.
Last edited by R Tap; Apr 6, 2020 at 10:46 AM. Reason: forgot title









