Triangle Warning Light with the "!" in the middle
09-04-2004, 01:45 PM
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Triangle Warning Light with the "!" in the middle
Can someone tell me what that light is to be warning me of? 
The other day, I depressed the brakes, to hear a grinding sound (something like a pencil stuck inside a fan). The warning light in the shpae of a triangle started blinking when I took my foot off the brake and began to accelerate. I took my ML320 to wher I bought it, and they said I needed new front and rear brake pads, and there was something hitting the roters. I thought that the diagnose seemed plausible, and $650 later after the new pads were installed, the next day, it started doing it again. I referred to my owners manual, and it says it has to do with the ETS. It doesn't happen everytime I hit the brakes. Has anyone else experienced this before. I would like to tell my dealership that they misdiagnosed my problem, and that the brake pads were not the cause. Thanks for your response.
The other day, I depressed the brakes, to hear a grinding sound (something like a pencil stuck inside a fan). The warning light in the shpae of a triangle started blinking when I took my foot off the brake and began to accelerate. I took my ML320 to wher I bought it, and they said I needed new front and rear brake pads, and there was something hitting the roters. I thought that the diagnose seemed plausible, and $650 later after the new pads were installed, the next day, it started doing it again. I referred to my owners manual, and it says it has to do with the ETS. It doesn't happen everytime I hit the brakes. Has anyone else experienced this before. I would like to tell my dealership that they misdiagnosed my problem, and that the brake pads were not the cause. Thanks for your response.
Last edited by 1998ML320; 09-04-2004 at 02:35 PM.
09-04-2004, 02:42 PM
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That would be your ESP or Traction Control, when the wheels loose grip, it activates the ESP which tries to stop the slipping by adding more grip to that wheel, it happens when you brake hard too and the car slides, you can even deactivate it completely by pressing the ESP button on your dash which turns off the traction completely.
09-05-2004, 03:37 PM
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2002 ML320
Originally Posted by Viktorious
That would be your ESP or Traction Control, when the wheels loose grip, it activates the ESP which tries to stop the slipping by adding more grip to that wheel, it happens when you brake hard too and the car slides, you can even deactivate it completely by pressing the ESP button on your dash which turns off the traction completely.
09-05-2004, 07:50 PM
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2002 ML320
Originally Posted by saturnstyl
But they did offer 4ETS, and the light serves the same purpose = low traction.
09-05-2004, 08:24 PM
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4ETS uses the brakes..... Anything that will affect brake operation will affect 4ETS.
4ETS simply applies the brakes to slow a spinning wheel, which will cause power to be sent to the other wheels, through the differential. Power will take the path of least resistance.
The light flashes or illuminates to remind you to drive more carefully; you are losing traction. If the system is disabled and unable to assist your traction, you should drive more carefully.
No doubt there is a problem with the system, and it should be checked immediately as there is the potential for a major brake system problem there.
4ETS simply applies the brakes to slow a spinning wheel, which will cause power to be sent to the other wheels, through the differential. Power will take the path of least resistance.
The light flashes or illuminates to remind you to drive more carefully; you are losing traction. If the system is disabled and unable to assist your traction, you should drive more carefully.
No doubt there is a problem with the system, and it should be checked immediately as there is the potential for a major brake system problem there.
Last edited by saturnstyl; 09-05-2004 at 08:29 PM. Reason: added info
