jurga

I purchased a 1999 ML320 recently which has low miles - only 46,000 miles. The current problem is puzzling. For everday driving on local roads no problems. Highway driving no problems. However, when we take this one exit ("L" shaped exit ramp) off the highway which slopes down and to the right and then we are downtown faced with several city blocks of traffic lights. Consistenly, every time, after taking this exit and going maybe a block or two, The dashboard gauges light up like a christmas tree. The BAS/ESP, Check Engine, Brake lights all come on and then the transmission only allows us to use the low gear to drive. After waiting a couple of minutes, turning the car off and then restarting the lights go out and the ML drives normally again. The Check Engine stays on, but eventually goes out after several restarts of the engine. Since purchasing this vehicle, I have replaced the brake pads back/front, front brake discs, MAS, vibration damper, transmission electrical plate, battery, rear crank seal, motor mounts, upper oil pan seal and of course not to mention labor. My mechanic is sending his kids through school off this vehicle repair.
I finally got the codes:
ETC - 132,134,135,136,137 - all stored
ME2-SFI - P0720,P00700-106 - Not Defined
ESP - C1022(CAN Fault Control Unit w/ME-SFI),C1024(CAN Fault Control Unit ETC) - Stored
ESP - C1032(CAN Fault Control Unit Inst. Clust),C1030(CAN Fault Control Unit Transf Case) - Stored
AAM -
ICM - B1040(CAN Fault Control Unit MR engine control) stored
ICM - B1041(CAN Fault Control Unit Traction Systems) - stored
ICM - B1089(CAN FAult Control Unit Transfer Case) - stored

The mechanic drove it to the same exit ramp and got the same codes. He brought his laptop to read the codes. THe ML320 acted the same way when it exited from another steep ramp which curved to the right. He then cleared all of the codes and then drove a short distance before getting another set of codes. It only appears to happen in this area.....nowhere else. Could there be a latent electrical capacitance built up and not discharged yet from the lateral acelerator sensor ? He feels it might be the ESP Control Module

Any help would be appreciated.

benz-tech

shot in the dark. it sounds like something is shorting out the engine can bus when driving over a bump,or around a corner. look for chafed green and gree/white wires. also check all grounds under hood and the ones hidden in the pass side kick area- where the colored plastic is not the carpet. these have been known to cause some weird stuff. the only other cause i could think of has to to with aliens from outerspace.
but before your local parts thrower tries an esp module, since this problem can easily be duplicated, have him watch the engine can voltage during the failure to see what it does- too high, poss bad ground, too low and its shorting at wires or in an ecu. good luck.

jurga

An update........My wife just called and said that she bipassed the exit ramp and is in an area of downtown near the exit ramp on a flat surface road where we believe there is an area with a ton of radio/tv/satellite frequency in the area and as usual, the dashboard lit up like a christmas tree.....I am talking to her as we speak. We now definitely believe it has something to do with a magenetic/electrical surge because of the intense radio/tv/satellite frequency in the area.

roberthelfrick

Guess benz-tech is right about the aliens from space.

jurga

At least that would explain it but no such luck. Someone suggested insulating the fuse box/computer module with aluminum foil but I am worried that it might affect the AAM and the short wave radio frequency locking mechanism