Cranckshaft position sensor trouble.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 21
Likes: 12
From: California
2005 E320
Replacing parts at random is not to way to go, I agree with that. Last resort I can always take it to the shop, but what kind of fun would that be? I want to make sure that I didn’t miss anything. As it turns out the whole problem with crankshaft sensor was caused by failing ignition coil on cylinder 2. Can you believe that? No indication, no code, just sitting there pretty and causing all the havoc in the computers. I was just about to replace the auxiliary battery and at one point I completely disconnected it and try to start it up. There were about million codes in the ECU but somehow it blew ignition coil fuse. So, I figured there is something going on in the ignition coil circuit. Eventually it threw misfire code on cyl 2. I swapped coil from cyl 2 to cyl 1 and there it was, same code on cyl 1. I am embarrassed to admit this, but I replaced this coil some time ago with a generic one. I know, you guys will chew up my ***, I should’ve bought Bosch brand and you are right. Again, I learned my lesson even thou it almost put me in an early grave, ha, ha.
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2008 E350, 2012 ML350, 2014 E350, 2015 ML350
very good , enjoy 
Also, it reminds me to add another question to the forensics/diagnostics of a failure:
1 - have any part been changed recently?
2 - have the vehicle been scanned for codes? Are all codes recent? If too many, delete ALL and rescan,.
3 - Any other symptoms?
4 - ...
It is like going for a medical check up
Since you are around the coils, did you see/check your ground about there? You do not want to stress your ignition system. 1 coil died, and your 2nd coil did earlier. Sure we can blame the cheap one, but was it or else?
Last edited by JCM_MB; Feb 10, 2023 at 11:32 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 21
Likes: 12
From: California
2005 E320
Actually, I dissected (I like to dissect things) the generic coil and as it turns out there was a spring missing between the coil terminal and the cable. So, the spark kept jumping from the coil terminal to the cable with some resistance already and eventually developed corrosion and even more resistance. And there you have it, perfect storm for CAN bus network. Tomorrow I still want to check the ground, etc. Thanks for the help.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
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From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Replacing parts at random is not to way to go, I agree with that. Last resort I can always take it to the shop, but what kind of fun would that be? I want to make sure that I didn’t miss anything. As it turns out the whole problem with crankshaft sensor was caused by failing ignition coil on cylinder 2. Can you believe that? No indication, no code, just sitting there pretty and causing all the havoc in the computers. I was just about to replace the auxiliary battery and at one point I completely disconnected it and try to start it up. There were about million codes in the ECU but somehow it blew ignition coil fuse. So, I figured there is something going on in the ignition coil circuit. Eventually it threw misfire code on cyl 2. I swapped coil from cyl 2 to cyl 1 and there it was, same code on cyl 1. I am embarrassed to admit this, but I replaced this coil some time ago with a generic one. I know, you guys will chew up my ***, I should’ve bought Bosch brand and you are right. Again, I learned my lesson even thou it almost put me in an early grave, ha, ha.
I replaced all coils at 100k miles preemptively.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 21
Likes: 12
From: California
2005 E320
I have a little problem matching the original coils because my car is FLEX. Apparently, there are little different from standard gas ML350. My car has original, MB A2769060160 coils, Bosch brand 0221604032, but because of the FLEX thing I can’t find anything to match my vehicle. I will have to call the dealer.
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2008 E350, 2012 ML350, 2014 E350, 2015 ML350
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 21
Likes: 12
From: California
2005 E320
Thanks for the link. Actually, I did buy other stuff from these guys before. I was looking at it yesterday, but the only problem is they don’t have an option for ML350-FLEX and other websites do. When I choose FLEX option on the other websites there is no match. I don’t know if that make any difference, maybe not I just couldn’t find out.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 21
Likes: 12
From: California
2005 E320
I am still little baffled why the failing coil didn’t reveal itself the first 5 days until it completely died and it kept showing Crankshaft sensor code instead? Would Xentry software make any difference compare to my MB ICarsoft 2V scanner? I know the Xentry is much more sophisticated software but if there is no code indication what else it could had seen? Just wondering. 
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2008 E350, 2012 ML350, 2014 E350, 2015 ML350
About BOSCH Crankshaft sensors. This is very interesting!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dtv1kRNF_U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dtv1kRNF_U
Not a chance that Bosch is wiring backwards intentionally.
There is video from Pine Hollow Auto Diagnostics with an older MB where the CPS signal between two different years is reversed , but though the parts look the same from afar, the parts number are different and the OEM specifications are correct for each part number.
It is a long video 4 parts, here is the link to the last one
Last edited by JCM_MB; Feb 13, 2023 at 06:05 PM.
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2008 E350, 2012 ML350, 2014 E350, 2015 ML350
