M-Class (W166) Produced 2012-2015

2013 ML550 long crank, multiple codes

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Old Oct 9, 2025 | 10:27 AM
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2013 ML550 US spec. Air+Offroad pkg
2013 ML550 long crank, multiple codes

My 86k mile ML550 has had exceptionally long crank start cycles lately...like 5 seconds, which Ive suspected being a bad cam adjuster for a while (timing chain slap at startup too...yes I got the oil check valve right after initial delivery in 2013). Today engine light came on and used a cheap scanner to get codes. P1CCF - insufficient fuel pressure at startup, U0121-87 - ABS/ESP lost comm, U0146-87 - lost comm with central gateway, U1164 - invalid TPMS tuner. Thoughts? Prior experience? I want to avoid taking it into a shop and they chase and replace parts for each code unnecessarily.
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Old Oct 9, 2025 | 06:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Leetom
My 86k mile ML550 has had exceptionally long crank start cycles lately...like 5 seconds, which Ive suspected being a bad cam adjuster for a while (timing chain slap at startup too...yes I got the oil check valve right after initial delivery in 2013). Today engine light came on and used a cheap scanner to get codes. P1CCF - insufficient fuel pressure at startup, U0121-87 - ABS/ESP lost comm, U0146-87 - lost comm with central gateway, U1164 - invalid TPMS tuner. Thoughts? Prior experience? I want to avoid taking it into a shop and they chase and replace parts for each code unnecessarily.
Did you try deleting the codes, and see which ones come back?

For a long crank, I can only associate the insufficient fuel pressure at startup. The fuel pump/sender/filter combo is typically due for replacement at 150,000 miles, but the quality of the gas may also have an impact. Do you often run the tank to the low fuel mark?

Access to a more MB-aware scanner to monitor live data while cranking?

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Old Oct 10, 2025 | 04:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Leetom
My 86k mile ML550 has had exceptionally long crank start cycles lately...like 5 seconds, which Ive suspected being a bad cam adjuster for a while (timing chain slap at startup too...yes I got the oil check valve right after initial delivery in 2013). Today engine light came on and used a cheap scanner to get codes. P1CCF - insufficient fuel pressure at startup, U0121-87 - ABS/ESP lost comm, U0146-87 - lost comm with central gateway, U1164 - invalid TPMS tuner. Thoughts? Prior experience? I want to avoid taking it into a shop and they chase and replace parts for each code unnecessarily.
It could also be the reluctor wheel on your intake cam. They slip back after time and put the cam timing out past the allowable amount of 7 degrees maximum. You should probably invest in a pro level scanner that reads MB codes and live data.
I had the same issue with my ML500 and after changing all the cam adjusters , tensioners and everything else in there I still had the same issues.
I have done a repair thread on Benzworld about this.
P001685 with long crank. Just search that and you’ll find it. I have tried to copy and paste on this forum with no luck. It’s not very mobile phone friendly.
It’s helped out a lot of people at no real cost for the repair.
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Old Oct 10, 2025 | 10:02 AM
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What happens if you use the physical key, turn it to "on", wait several seconds for the fuel pump to prime up (you might even hear it running, and can tell when it turns off), THEN turn it to "start"?
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