Eich

2010 ML 350. Recently, I've been getting this message intermittently. When I turned the car off then back on, it would go away for multiple days. Today, it seems to come on all the time.

Right before the message appears, the wiper makes one sweep of the windshield (despite the wipers being turned off completely). Once the message is displayed, none of the steering column-mounted controls work: Turn signals, high beams, steering wheel buttons, cruise control, shifter paddles. Even the gear shift lever doesn't work well. To get it into park, I have to hit the button multiple times.

Any thoughts on the fault? I've seen some posts about the battery being an issue. But wouldn't I notice the car struggling to start if the battery was going dead?

UPDATE 3/15/2018: This issue was solved by replacing the Steering Column Module.

Maj. Dundee

Please UPDATE YOUR PROFILE in USER CP to include the ML year and model, gas or diesel.

Maj. Dundee

When does this message appear, cold start, while driving?

Have you checked the battery voltage when the message appears?

Eich

Thanks for the reply. The message appears after approximately 10 minutes of driving. First the wiper makes one pass on its own. Then the message. However, this morning, on the way to work (a 15-20 minute drive), the message didn't appear at all. Yesterday, it appeared regularly.

I've updated my CP but my original post has the correct information in it. 2010 ML 350.

I haven't checked the battery voltage yet. I just found out how to do that after some searching here. I'll check that this afternoon.

Maj. Dundee

Yes I know you included that info in the body of the message, but when a thread goes past 10 pages, the person wanting to post info. has to go back to the first post to see what veh. you own. But you didn't indicate if it is gas or diesel.

You can bring the voltage reading with or w/o the eng. running through the Inst. Cluster menu or use a multimeter directly at the battery.

Eich

Sorry - my ML350 is Gas. I didn't realize that the 350 came in diesel (thought it was only a 320).

Am I correct that to bring up the voltage, you have to triple-click the reset button? I didn't see the voltage in any of the standard menus.

Maj. Dundee

Here are all the models and look how confusing everything is when trying to help someone. Just add gas next to 350 in your profile.

As to bringing up the voltage, I have no idea what your owner's manual instructions are.

Eich

I see! Didn't realize there were so many combinations, thanks! I've added 350 GAS to my profile and signature.

I purchased the car used back in August and I don't have the owner's manual but I'll look for it online.

Eich

I also ordered a Launch Creader CRP123 yesterday via Amazon. It should arrive today and I'll do a scan to see if any codes are set.

Eich

OK - just went out at lunch and got the voltage display by triple-clicking the R button with the key in position one.

12.2 v with the car off
13.4 v when the car is first started
14.2 v after it's running a bit
13.0v when I first step on the gas
14.2 after I get past 15 mph
14.1 when I come to a stop light

Just after a short trip to the grocery store, I started the car and then the ESP inoperative message came up. I cleared the display and the same voltage readings came up. But this time, everything on the steering column seemed to work OK except for the cruise control.

Maj. Dundee

Fill in the blanks.

https://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/servi...owners_manuals

Eich

I just drove the ML for about a week without any warnings but then it came back again this weekend. I scanned for codes today and found the following:

• L6/1 (left front speed sensor): Check installation position of sensor
• L6/3 (left rear speed sensor): Check installation position of sensor
• Check component: N49 (Steering Angle Sensor)
• Steering Angle Sensor is not initialized
• No CAN message was received from the control unit N80 (Steering column module)
• Speedtronic occassionally nonfunctional

Looking at one of the videos someone posted, I didn't notice that there was a "position" for the speed sensors.

And again, when this occurs, non of the controls on the steering column work.

dc2k

do you have esp and abs lights on aswell?

Eich

"ESP inoperative" is the message that always comes up in the driver information display. As well as the Yellow Triangle warning light. But no ABS light. Occasionally, I later see "DSR inoperative" as well.

It's really a bit dangerous when this happens as I have no turn signals, no horn, no high beams, no wipers. I've been leaving the wipers in the automatic position since they still work automatically when this occurs. But I'm not able to change anything from the steering column when this happens. And if I turn the car off and re-start at a traffic light, all warnings go away and the steering column controls work again until the next time this occurs.

ItalianJoe1

Your steering column module is on the way out. They fail quite often on the 164 chassis.

Eich

Eich

Or a part number for the Steering Column Module? I can't seem to find it with Google, Rockauto and Ebay searches.

Maj. Dundee

Eich, what is the problem and what do you want to replace?

Eich

Sorry - isn't my problem described in this thread? I'm not sure what more you're looking for exactly.

The poster above suggested that my "Steering Column Module" was going bad. I'd try replacing that if I could find the part number.

Maj. Dundee

Sorry to bother you.

Eich

Not sure what you mean? You're not bothering me. You were offering advice at the beginning of the thread, which I appreciate. But I'm not sure why you're asking what problem I have or what I'm trying to replace now.

Is there something more you'd like me to specify? Clearly, you have a lot of experience on this board and have helped a lot of people. But what you're asking me now, I don't know how to respond to.

Eich

Maybe this is the part?

Control unit: 164-545-87-16-80 otherwise known as Position Sensor, Control Unit.

Maj. Dundee

Yes, it could be that part but you should remove the module and have a look see as there might be other parts that are broken. That part has had 10 replaced by versions.

Here is a great video on how to remove that steering col. module.

Eich

Many thanks Maj. Dundee !! I Just ordered the part and we'll see how it goes this weekend.

Eich

By the way, I cleared all the trouble codes and then drove the ML again until the "ESP Inoperative" message appeared again. I scanned again for codes and the only one that came up was:

"No CAN message was received from control unit N80 (Steering column module)."

I hope that the "Steering column module" is the part that I ordered "164-545-87-16-80 Position Sensor, Control Unit"