Desmond White

Hey MB world,

I have an S430 w220 MB and for some off reason I'm getting this esp malfunction and it won't crank nor start. This is what happen I went through a car wash. Came out the other end parked it and proceeded to vacuum with my car still running. Before you know it, it started to run weird as hell and the check engine light came on. So I shut off the engine asap to prevent any further harm. then I tried to start it again . It wouldn't turn over, so later I replaced the starter and break light switch to see if those where the problem although I needed a new starter anyhow it was not the culprit. Idk what else to replace because nothing under the hood gotten wet adter the wash but it did showered inside my car now I know I have leaky sunroof. Any light that can be shed on the reason why it won't crank or start. Oh yeah I checked all my fuses too.

ItalianJoe1

Floor got wet on the passenger side, damaged something in the main power distribution box there. Pull everything out and start checking for water damage. Under the carpeting is a ton of electronics.

tusabes

If you have comprehensive coverage on your auto insurance file a claim , your car is totaled.

if you don't have insurance and want to try fixing yourself , There is water under your passenger side carpet , pull it up starting from under the dash

the water is damaging your rear SAM under your rear passenger seat as the water travels under the carpet .


See here
https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w220/265605-2nd-s-flooded-week-s-owners-keep-your-drains-clean.html

amstel78

Yikes. The drain tube at the front passenger cowl section by the wipers was probably clogged and water entered the cabin. Sucks...

cybertronicify

Pull the battery cable off now. There are two SAMs that can get water into. Front passenger side and under the rear seat. Since auto car wash uses a large amount of high pressure water. Might have flooded one or both SAMs. Check the drain hole under the hood on the passenger side near the windshield. Then check if the SAM under the rear bench seat is wet.

But you may be lucky and the fuse block under the front passenger footwell just blew. Its under the carpet/foam/metal.

Desmond White

No signs of water at all bone dry it is also no corrosion and they are well intact. That goes for the front passenger and for the one in the boot. How can you tell if they are blown? Also i havent got a rear sam unit under my rear passenger seat just a rear seat control module, motorola box for the phone, and a small square box that's for the alarm.

Desmond White

I have insurance but I love my car I don't want to give it up. I'd just like to find the suspected problem and fix it.

wallyp

Water damage is only one of many possible causes for a no-start condition. At this point, you only have two choices - learn how to do some serious trouble-shooting, or pay someone else to do it.

There are numerous threads on this and "the other forum" on starting problems. You can go to the blue areas at the top of the page and find the thread title that says, "...START HERE..." and find some threads on the subject.

Having a STAR/DAS system (the MB computerized diagnostic system) is pretty much a requirement to do the trouble-shooting efficiently, which means going to a dealer ($$$$), or finding an honest, competent independent shop ($$$), or buying a STAR/DAS system ($$$ and a lot of time and effort to learn the system).

tusabes

you have water damage . You said it showered inside your car , from where was it showering inside your car ?

Desmond White

Through the sunroof

DrDoe

I found my boy 04 S430 in this situation today. No crank, no start. He haven't drive the car for about a week and there's very little rains so I was about to give his car a jump. Here's the surprise:
I got a chance to test out my DIY vacuum chamber and pulled 3.5qt water out.
Is there a drain in the battery compartment? If not, where's the best place to poke a hole?

tusabes

I'm going to look into starting a class action for water damage in the battery area . Cost me $7000 damage .

Heres another one full of water


If your friend is interested please provide me the vin of the car with that problem , and his contact info via private message

ItalianJoe1

Lol good luck with that.

Where was your water leak, around the trunk seal or the back lights?

DrDoe

I didn't think about pulling the battery out of the car until I saw the sunken sink. Pulled the battery. Looks like there's a change to the design of the battery compartment
There's a tiny drain hole and it was plugged
Everything is good after I trickle charged the battery. No damages done.

DrDoe

There were sand and dust blocked the drain by the passenger rear tail light. I cleaned out the leaves before the rainy season but I neglected to see the sand
However I think these leaves blockage caused the problem somehow...

ibeforreal

Tusabes, after seeing that picture of the pool of water, I'm checking my battery housing TODAY.

DrDoe

If I didn't have battery issue I would not looked at it and couple more car washes would raise the water level to the battery posts...
The trunk hydraulic pump will be the first to go for cars with auto open/close option.

tusabes

Remember to document it and take pics if you find water

the last class action for water entering the AC intake under the windshield got everyone a free repair or reimbursement for money spent on past repairs . It's time this trunk leak gets the same treatment