How common do SAMS fail on these cars?
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Clk w209 AMG
How common do SAMS fail on these cars?
I would like information on the Signal Acquisition Modules
Recently I've been working on my S430 narrowing it all down to SAM problems in the front left and rear
There seems to be a lot of wrong diagnostic on cars due to SAMS going out causing other functions of the car behave strangely.
I've heard these cars have water design problems but aside from this...
Are this "signal routers" common to fail ? How much do they typically last?
Recently I've been working on my S430 narrowing it all down to SAM problems in the front left and rear
There seems to be a lot of wrong diagnostic on cars due to SAMS going out causing other functions of the car behave strangely.
I've heard these cars have water design problems but aside from this...
Are this "signal routers" common to fail ? How much do they typically last?
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2009 E350 4M Avantgarde;mistress 2002 S600; wife 2014 C300 4M
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Clk w209 AMG
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2003 S500 - Toyota Corolla (in the rain)
As Tusabes stated you probably had some type of moisture/water in your car to cause the SAM to fail. I wouldn't say that SAM failure is a common problem unless they get wet. Have you pulled up the carpet to check for moisture?
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From: CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
2003 S430, 2014 E350
The SAMs do not fail (usually). Unless you jump the car improperly and send an electrical spike down the wires and fry them. Or you get them wet, check out how to prevent both of them in the stickies.
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Clk w209 AMG
Thanks for the replies, I think the voltage regulator might need replacement I noticed a subtle dimming of the lights (very subtle) I know its not intended to be like that... thinking voltage regulator might need changing and could cause electronics to fail in some way on-top of the water design issue and to my amazement after changing the spark plugs today (huge job.. took me 5 hours) the sparks looked bad from a scale 1-10 a solid 7...the car ran alot smoother and the dimming of the lights was reduced.
I know if the damage is done. The sam needs replacement. I will change it soon. But im analyzing what might be the root of all this evil...
I inspected front driverside and rear sam's the front sam looked okay but after taking a look at the diagrams and comparing the systems that work intermittently on my car that sam might be gone (since when I bought the car it had cables jumped instead of fuses.........
) Its going to be replaced.
After looking at the rear nothing looked suspicious and I found no traces of water or corrosion.
The only part that im having problems with corrosion is where the battery is located and the fuselink near that area that I had to replace (replaced the fuses inside the junction box).
I know if the damage is done. The sam needs replacement. I will change it soon. But im analyzing what might be the root of all this evil...
I inspected front driverside and rear sam's the front sam looked okay but after taking a look at the diagrams and comparing the systems that work intermittently on my car that sam might be gone (since when I bought the car it had cables jumped instead of fuses.........
) Its going to be replaced. After looking at the rear nothing looked suspicious and I found no traces of water or corrosion.
The only part that im having problems with corrosion is where the battery is located and the fuselink near that area that I had to replace (replaced the fuses inside the junction box).
Last edited by Dmtypr; Dec 24, 2015 at 05:49 PM.
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From: Southcoast England
CL500 216
A SAM is an electronic storage device, they can fail on all cars, some are worse than others, on cars with 2 front SAMs a short in one can kill the other. We are now at the point where some models lose their rear lights because a rear SAM has lost its memory, or some lose one headlamp. No ECU's like water or damp. The 220 is no worse than any other car in this respect, and better say then the 230.
There is a big problem in the motor trade in that mechanical engineers/fitters do not understand electronics, and why should they its a field all on its own.
There is a big problem in the motor trade in that mechanical engineers/fitters do not understand electronics, and why should they its a field all on its own.
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2009 E350 4M Avantgarde;mistress 2002 S600; wife 2014 C300 4M
you need somebody with a DAS/SDS system to diagnose a bad SAM before you change anything. According to Eric in China SAM failures are very rare, and he is an authority on this.
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Clk w209 AMG
It all points to buying a DAS/Xentry hardware/software package mechanics are too impatient and un-skilled when workig with computer systems in my experience the last time they scanned the car with a STAR I had to further troubleshoot since the guy working on the car could not provide me with codes or a clear input on what's happening on the vehicles network. I'll buy the SAMS (cheap on eBay with same part number) and build a good informational thread on my results. Thanks for your inputs !
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Joined: Sep 2012
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From: Montreal, Quebec
2009 E350 4M Avantgarde;mistress 2002 S600; wife 2014 C300 4M
It all points to buying a DAS/Xentry hardware/software package mechanics are too impatient and un-skilled when workig with computer systems in my experience the last time they scanned the car with a STAR I had to further troubleshoot since the guy working on the car could not provide me with codes or a clear input on what's happening on the vehicles network. I'll buy the SAMS (cheap on eBay with same part number) and build a good informational thread on my results. Thanks for your inputs !
A DAS/SDS system clearly identifies problems with a SAM.
If an operator doesn't know how to use it, change operators.
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not a merc
Sam failure is common on these cars if you jump start it for sure. It will surely kill the output stages that drives the lamps. Secondly is water ingress. Blocked drain pipes at lower part of windscreen. Also front fuse box covers that are not seated and properly locked. Water will enter them. Under normal everyday use they do not normally fail. Pretty easy to diagnose with diagnostic tools. I have a w220 in my shop now that the left front sam has no communication due to water ingress. Also it damaged the ESP next to it and the fuse box above the SAM. This car will start and run but you cannot switch it off. You remove the key and it still runs..all caused by water. Good luck
