Limp Home + Windows
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
12 S350, 87 SDL, 75 300D
Limp Home + Windows
Hello every1,
Please allow me to describe the issue i`m having with my 98 ML320.
The previous owner tried to open the window, by pushing the button, and tranny went in limp mode. I understand that he drove it like that until he fried the tranny, then he bought a used tranny, went to the dealer, had it replaced, and drove fine for about a year NOT TOUCHING THE WINDOW SWITCHES AT ALL. After a year or so, he tought, ahh, lets give it a try, to open the windows.
As soon as he did, tranny went into limp home mode again, and he stopped driving it, fearing that he`ll damage this tranny as well.
I just bought the vehicle in this condition, from him.
I scanned the vehicles DTC and i had a P0700, which i understand is a general tranny malfunction code, which i erased, but tranny is still in limp mode.
I can only think that there is a short somewhere, but i understand that there wouldn`t be anywhere where wires could touch eachother.....
Please try and point me in the right direction
Thank you for your time
Please allow me to describe the issue i`m having with my 98 ML320.
The previous owner tried to open the window, by pushing the button, and tranny went in limp mode. I understand that he drove it like that until he fried the tranny, then he bought a used tranny, went to the dealer, had it replaced, and drove fine for about a year NOT TOUCHING THE WINDOW SWITCHES AT ALL. After a year or so, he tought, ahh, lets give it a try, to open the windows.
As soon as he did, tranny went into limp home mode again, and he stopped driving it, fearing that he`ll damage this tranny as well.
I just bought the vehicle in this condition, from him.
I scanned the vehicles DTC and i had a P0700, which i understand is a general tranny malfunction code, which i erased, but tranny is still in limp mode.
I can only think that there is a short somewhere, but i understand that there wouldn`t be anywhere where wires could touch eachother.....
Please try and point me in the right direction
Thank you for your time
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 7,107
Likes: 765
From: Bronx, N.Y.
2002 ML 320 & 2006 ML500
You have no alternative but to remove the Center Console to look for pinched wiring or added wiring somewhere under the console.
You will have to inspect the wiring leading to the window switches and the shifter assembly. Concentrate on the wiring harness' Z51/6 and 7 which are both shared by the window switches and the shifter mechanism.
You will have to inspect the wiring leading to the window switches and the shifter assembly. Concentrate on the wiring harness' Z51/6 and 7 which are both shared by the window switches and the shifter mechanism.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
12 S350, 87 SDL, 75 300D
You have no alternative but to remove the Center Console to look for pinched wiring or added wiring somewhere under the console.
You will have to inspect the wiring leading to the window switches and the shifter assembly. Concentrate on the wiring harness' Z51/6 and 7 which are both shared by the window switches and the shifter mechanism.
You will have to inspect the wiring leading to the window switches and the shifter assembly. Concentrate on the wiring harness' Z51/6 and 7 which are both shared by the window switches and the shifter mechanism.
I shall start to take it apart Thursday or Friday. I`ll post updates

Thank you again for pointing me to that.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
12 S350, 87 SDL, 75 300D
You have no alternative but to remove the Center Console to look for pinched wiring or added wiring somewhere under the console.
You will have to inspect the wiring leading to the window switches and the shifter assembly. Concentrate on the wiring harness' Z51/6 and 7 which are both shared by the window switches and the shifter mechanism.
You will have to inspect the wiring leading to the window switches and the shifter assembly. Concentrate on the wiring harness' Z51/6 and 7 which are both shared by the window switches and the shifter mechanism.
I was gone for a while, and i just got done inspecting the wiring.
I didn`t see anything wrong. No pinched wires, the plugs look ok, the harnesses are neatly arranged. They don``t seem to have been moved since the car was built.....
What do i do now ?????
Please help.
Thanks


