ML God

Just wanted to let you all know I have been a Mercedes Tech for 6yrs I startedworking on the ML the day it came out. It is now 90% of my work. so fire away with your questions. I will do my best to help!

1MAX2NV

Ok, I'll go first!

I've read up that apparently 2004 ML's are supposed to come Sirius-Sattelite Ready. Is this true?

S55inPA

hello ML God,

i have a question for you.

it seems that the ML's quality problems have given
MB a big black eye. if this is true has MB aggressively
attacked the problem? if it is only partially true can
you tell us how MB addressed the problem issues.

ML God

I have nothing to do with the front office management of Mercedes. All I do is fix the vehicles. Yes there are a lot of promblems with these vehicles. I have no idea what MBZ plans of doing to the vehicle...If you think these vehicles have prombles then you should check out the new 211...(E-Class)


As far as Sirius-Sattelite I have heard nothing about this option...I have yet to have a 2004 come across my stall but I will check what I have and let you know

timdf

I'm sure you'll find yourself very welcome here - especially with your MB background.
Maybe this board will get a little more traffic.....

RezaR1

I visit this forum once in a while but had not registered until today. After seeing that there might be a resident "ML GOD" I registered. So hopefully you will stick around and help out. I know I will appreciate your insight and advice and I am sure others will do as well.

Eich

Thanks for your offer ML God !

My girlfriend has a 2000 ML 430 and the brakes screech and squeal like crazy. It's downright embarrassing to drive a $40k+ vehicle that screeches at every stop. Every owner of an ML that we talk to complains about the same noise.

Have you solved this problem on any ML's ? Will MB fix it under warranty if we are persistent enough? All we get when we complain about this issue is that the noise is normal.

timdf

Our ML does that, as do most ML's. However I've found that pressure washing away the build up of brake dust every few weeks seems to help a good deal.
But you're right, dealerships will say it's normal and do nothing to help apart from offer to change your brake pads / rotors for lots of $$$'s as they are considered wear items.

ML God

\we are replacing the brake pads and rotors. mbz also gives us this past to apply to the pads. I have only heard mbz covering this under warrenty if the vehicle is within 12k miles hope this helps

Eich

Thanks. We're at 40k miles. I'm thinking of replacing the pads and rotors myself, liberally applying the anti-squeal stuff to the back of the pads.

UncAl

Really?

ML God

[I am sorry you are right...I got the 2001 confussed with the 2000
modle

timdf

knowledge of this and other ML boards. For instance I happen to have detailed knowledge of the MCS unit right down to individual component level ;-) and I'm sure there are other 'specialists' around.

Whereas I suspect you're an expert on all the well known mechanical / electrical issues of the ML ! Hey after 6 years of dealing with ML's - who wouldn't be an expert :-)

vraa

Welcome to the forum ML God! I'm vraa nd it's nice to know that we are getting more knowlegable people everyday.

ML God

Thank you all for the welcome. I will try and answer every question I can. Since I work at a dealer I dont deal so much with aftermarket stuff...but I will do my best with everything else

ML God

I just found out the 2004 is satelite ready. it will be a factory and dealer installed option. I dont think it is Sirius....someone told be it was an off brand Bluetooth?? Thats all I know!

Stiggs

My check engine light came on about 2 weeks ago...I have an appointment.....after about a week it shut off on its own. The light first came on the day after I filled her up at the gas station. Guess what....had to fill her up again...the very next day after fill-up the check engine light came on again for a second time. Something up with the gas cap?? It seems to be on pretty tight!

Stiggs

Here;s another good question for ya...its long so bear with me!!
About a year ago I installed some fog lights (hella FF100's) at an independent truck shop. They are hooked up so that I can use the OEM button in the dash and so that the green indicator light will light up in the instrument cluster. About a month ago they stopped working (off and on). When I would press the button, the green light would light up...but no fog lights. One time when I was driving I had the fog lights on and then they magically went off. poof!! Then next time...they worked. Seemed like a short to me...but I know zip about electronics. Brought her back to the truck place and they fixed it....for free!!! Or so I thought! Just yesterday I hop into my beast and press the fog light button...guess what...no fog lights...but my green light is there!!

So finally, here's the question....what did those dweebs do at the truck shop?? And better yet...can I do it? The way they fixed it seemed to work for about a month. Bad wire?? Bad fuse?? bad truck?? I'm not confident enough to go digging through the fuses or the wiring under there. Here's the best part....when it was all finished at this truck place, I asked the guy who works there what the problem was? He said he didn't know. Someone else worked on it. He said it couldn't have been too big a problem. well I was in a hurry and didn't feel like pressing the issue...I was just happy to have them fixed. Don't ask, don't tell...you know.

What's your take on this God?

(oh yeah, of course I will be bringing it back to the truck place...just a pain in the butt, even if it is free. And how many more times will it be free??)

ciscokid

ML God:

My 98's battery died and the tow truck driver tried jumping it.
The truck started but with all the idiot lights on -- was able to limp to my local independent shop at about 40mph max.

The all hell broke loose ... the master mechanic/owner was not away on vacation -- his assistant couldn't start it -- had it towed to the dealer. Yep ... the truck got started but the key's logic was messed up -- ended up replacing the key -- $230 !!! What a rip-off !! The tow truck driver supposedly screwed up the whole ignition computer.

Is this true? Also -- how come the 98s can only have 8 keys max?

Thanks

djdragan

hi,

i own a 2003 ml350 inspiration edition that has a bad hesitation problem meaning when im at red lights the ML starts to shake and hesitates to move forward for about 5 seconds when the light turns green. what sucks is even if you press on the accelerator pedal the ML stays put then it suddenly jolts forward. this happens when i turn also which is very dangerous. it happens between 1-5 times a month.

it's very accident prone. my dealer did diagnostics tests, changed the chip and so far found nothing. i dropped it off at the dealer for a week or so so they can hopefully find the problem. if not i will start the lemon law process. what do you feel could be wrong with your experience?

GDawgC220

I believe all MB's with either the flip key with transmitter built in or smartkey, there are only 8 replacements alloted for each ignition computer. After that, the entire ignition computer must be replaced. I'm guessing for security reasons?

-G-

ML God

Ok here goes!!
If it is an Evap code then for wh ever reason the 99 modle year had a bad promblem with the Canister shut off valve leaking. it is up by the spare tire..real easy to fix. Also other common issues would be the O2 sensor....or a bad Mass Air flow sensor setting a code P0170 and P0173

Sound to me like they made a bad connection the factory has a connector there for Fog lights..It is down by the washer bottle. All the fog lights we installed we were able to use this connector without any cutting or crimping...check there first.

Well if the dealer told you they changed he chip in the ME Control module then he is lieing...There is no chip to replace...it isnt a Ford or GM... Could they have reflashed the control module?? It is hard to say ...could be a lot of things I would have to see if there were any codes present..

Sounds like you have a lot wrong...If all the lights were on in the dash a new key isnt going to fix that!! If you had a bad key, your vehicle would start then dye right away. I hope for 230 dollars they did more then replace a key. Did he pull codes out of the control modules?? and yes after 8 keys you need to rekey the car and replace the ME control module and AAM module...I know 99 are like that too. I am not 100% on how many are available for 2000-2004

UncAl

My point exactly! But, hey, the more the better, right?

russell

Hello ML God,

Have you heard of 2002 ML with Bose radio option which has the stereo to mono or vice versa problem? My truck dies this all the time, when the truck is not moving, the radio sounds wonderful with stereo effect, once it starts to move, the sound changed to mono. Some times the sound will switch back to stereo for very short period of time than it changed back to mono.
Do you know a way to fix this problem? Thanks a lot. Russell

ML God

Yes there is a promblem with your amp. There is a certain VIN range and production date of the amp that if it falls in we are supposed to replace the amp. There is a DTB about that!