ERRORS AND CAR SHUTDOWN, WON'T RESTART.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 448
Likes: 3
From: CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
2003 S430, 2014 E350
ERRORS AND CAR SHUTDOWN, WON'T RESTART.
So, today I went to Big Bear Lake. There was a blizzard there, and we were in the snow for 8 hours. Driving. Suddenly driving down the mountain. I see the ABS light come on, and I see ABS malfunction. Great! Ignored it and just practiced threshold braking every time. 2 minutes down the road, I see BATTERY MALFUNCTION. Almost immediately, the car started stuttering and the instrument cluster was flashing and the car turned off. (span of 10 seconds) I pulled out a multimeter and tested the battery voltage, it was fine. semi healthy 11.84 V with a 300 watt load. (Lowbeams and Fog lights and Tail Lights) I turn the key to "START" and nothing happens, absolutely nothing. The dash says i'm in PARK so that shouldn't be the issue. I took the battery off and reconnected it after a couple of minutes. Still no cranking. Everything in the car works, headlights, wipers, radio, seat controls. The car is now stuck on the side of the road. What might be the problem? I shouldn't be the air intake vents on the passenger side, as the grilles were covered in snow.
One thing that I did notice, was my right side mirror kept on moving up and right. And it didn't respond to my button presses either. This was 4 hours before the car broke down.
Please if you know anything about this, reply to me.
Thanks!!
One thing that I did notice, was my right side mirror kept on moving up and right. And it didn't respond to my button presses either. This was 4 hours before the car broke down.
Please if you know anything about this, reply to me.
Thanks!!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 448
Likes: 3
From: CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
2003 S430, 2014 E350
Tusabes, Thanks for the reply.
I pulled the passenger footwell carpet back and took the foam along with the metal plate off. It's completely dry. I then checked the cabin air intake vent, and the drain hole was not clogged.
Do you know, how would I be able to get to the rear sam under the rear seats?
As for the ECU, there is it under the hood?
I pulled the passenger footwell carpet back and took the foam along with the metal plate off. It's completely dry. I then checked the cabin air intake vent, and the drain hole was not clogged.
Do you know, how would I be able to get to the rear sam under the rear seats?
As for the ECU, there is it under the hood?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,151
Likes: 533
Mercedes
The styrofoam board with the metal plate is at the top of the footwell, that doesn't get wet - did you pull the carpet up all the way to the front seat bottom? That's where the water collects by the front seat bottom under the thick rubber foam carpet pad
Yes ecu is under the hood , look in all those black plastic boxes holding the electronics
I don't know how to remove the rear seat bottom but someone else hopefully will chime in
Yes ecu is under the hood , look in all those black plastic boxes holding the electronics
I don't know how to remove the rear seat bottom but someone else hopefully will chime in
Last edited by tusabes; Jan 6, 2016 at 08:55 PM.
The rear seat bottom has two levers. One on each side. Pull them out and the seat will come out....
Ps: I still believe it is a weak battery especially with the mirror working on it's own. How old is your battery ??
Ps: I still believe it is a weak battery especially with the mirror working on it's own. How old is your battery ??
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 448
Likes: 3
From: CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
2003 S430, 2014 E350
I took the car to my local mechanic. After two hours they found out the startee is broken. Could it be that the starter engaged when i was a driving. Loading down the electricial system and damaging it? I still dont get how a starter can shut down a car while driving. The car was drvivng fine, but, suddenly shut off and would not restart. This morning when i was at the shop looking over. I heard clicks for a couple of times.
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 131
From: Cape town
not a merc
My first thoughts are that it stopped charging the ABS usually will show a fault first of low voltage. However it could very well be water damage the ABS ESP unit sits in the left side fuse box and the often get damaged from water also the Front fuse box including the SAM could of gotten wet causing a no crank condition. If it takes a mechanic to hours to figure the starter is faulty it's clear he does not know very much about a mercedes. You are correct the starter will not cause the car to cut out. Put it on star Diagnose and check for faults in front SAM and ESP. Good luck
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 448
Likes: 3
From: CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
2003 S430, 2014 E350
Okay, well so $680 later the car is running fine. Not exactly sure what's the problem but the computer tests all passed. I measured continuity for both the starter solenoid and starter motor. Both has 2.2 ohms. Normal?
The fuse box is melted, and that tyco relay is also melted. This could mean that the relay caused the starter solenoid to turn on and give the starter motor power. After the starter shorted out, the voltage dropped and the computers dropped out.
The new starter sounds very weird, it sounds like gears grinding. Is that normal for a OEM Reman starter? It doesn't sound like the old starter or any other W220 I heard of.
The fuse box is melted, and that tyco relay is also melted. This could mean that the relay caused the starter solenoid to turn on and give the starter motor power. After the starter shorted out, the voltage dropped and the computers dropped out.
The new starter sounds very weird, it sounds like gears grinding. Is that normal for a OEM Reman starter? It doesn't sound like the old starter or any other W220 I heard of.
