Electronic Transmission Control Module question...
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 217
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From: Fort Worth, Tx
97 SL500
Electronic Transmission Control Module question...
The car is a '97 SL500 with about 45K miles. The check engine light is on and the dealer sez that they need to replace the ETCM. As far as I know, the car is operating just fine, just the light is on right now. The dealer wants $750 to replace. The car was recently in minor accident that required the bumper to be replaced, the air bags did not deploy, but the roll bar did (which the dealer had already reset). The light came on immediately after the car was picked up from the body shop by another dealership employee, so I haven't seen the problem first hand since the dealer still has the car.
So my questions: What's the risk on continuing to drive the car until something really stops working??? Could the accident have caused this??? How much would this cost to replace at an independent shop???
So my questions: What's the risk on continuing to drive the car until something really stops working??? Could the accident have caused this??? How much would this cost to replace at an independent shop???
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Berkshire, UK
2004 SL55, 2015 A250d, 2016 GLC250d
The ETC is the gearbox controller. I didnt think it was connected to the check-engine light in any way.
[But EU cars of that age didnt have a check-engine light]
I'd get down to a local garage that has a scantool and get a list of the fault-codes that are causing the check-engine light. I beleive all local garages in the US will have a scan-tool
Normally if ETC is broken, either gearbox goes into "emergency mode" (which means 2nd gear only) or does really odd things. - but your car is running fine, so Id be slightly wary that this would help , and you'll then be asked to pay for the next thing they want to change ...
R
[But EU cars of that age didnt have a check-engine light]
I'd get down to a local garage that has a scantool and get a list of the fault-codes that are causing the check-engine light. I beleive all local garages in the US will have a scan-tool
Normally if ETC is broken, either gearbox goes into "emergency mode" (which means 2nd gear only) or does really odd things. - but your car is running fine, so Id be slightly wary that this would help , and you'll then be asked to pay for the next thing they want to change ...
R
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Joined: Dec 2001
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From: New York
14'G63 AMG ,1994 Mercedes E500, 2020 Range Rover HST
I know it has nothing to do with your car but i have a 1997 C280 and my trrany does really wier things to me so meaby is that ETC is broken but my check engine light did not go on.
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
Aren't you still in warranty?? The dealer can read out the exact fault and replace the offending part. The accident and/or the body shop could certainly cause this problem.
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 392
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From: Belgium
Originally posted by hubert
...when the dealer takes it to check if any codes come up theres nothink accept for some non active codes...
...when the dealer takes it to check if any codes come up theres nothink accept for some non active codes...
What are these?
Can you tell me which codes it are?
I am very curious about that "non-active".
Patrick
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Berkshire, UK
2004 SL55, 2015 A250d, 2016 GLC250d
If you do decide to fork out the $750, ask for the old part (just to prove they changed it!) and a guarantee that that will fix the problem with check engine light for you.
I'd still get a local garage to reset the check-engine light and read out the fault codes (and post them here) with a bog-standard scan tool ...
R
I'd still get a local garage to reset the check-engine light and read out the fault codes (and post them here) with a bog-standard scan tool ...
R
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Joined: Dec 2001
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From: New York
14'G63 AMG ,1994 Mercedes E500, 2020 Range Rover HST
Yea me too but this is how the dealers treat people that dont know too much about cars. Sometimes i get so pissed off that im thinking to write a letet to somebody that seats higher than those service addvisors meaby somebody in Germany.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 392
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From: Belgium
Do you really think there is someone in Germany who will stay awake from you?
(I do not know if this is a way of saying in English, but it means when something bothers you that it makes you not falling asleep)
Patrick
(I do not know if this is a way of saying in English, but it means when something bothers you that it makes you not falling asleep)
Patrick
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,160
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From: New York
14'G63 AMG ,1994 Mercedes E500, 2020 Range Rover HST
Dont you remember that incident in Korea , this guys SLK was breaking so much he went by a dealer somewhere and smashed the whole car the television and news was there ant that dealership for him not to say anything on TV they gavr him a brand new SLK so meaby i try that. Anyway so what you think might be wrong(look for a new tranny or what).
