Pre-safe Function Limited recurring issue?
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Joined: Jun 2015
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2005 ml350
Pre-safe Function Limited recurring issue?
Hey gang,
2012 S350, had it since May. Last 2 weeks started seeing this error message popping up, as well as the blind spot detector and ABS symbol with "Inoperative See Oper. Manual".
Sometimes turning car off, then on clears it, but it's happening much more frequently now (almost every time). Op Manual seems to think cleaning the sensors will fix it, I've cleaned all I can find and no deal.
Can't find any references to it on this forum, other forums seem to have little luck finding the issue, one did say a MB software update fixed it (in Germany!), one said a new sensor fixed it.
Anyone have experience with this gem of a problem? Thanks!
2012 S350, had it since May. Last 2 weeks started seeing this error message popping up, as well as the blind spot detector and ABS symbol with "Inoperative See Oper. Manual".
Sometimes turning car off, then on clears it, but it's happening much more frequently now (almost every time). Op Manual seems to think cleaning the sensors will fix it, I've cleaned all I can find and no deal.
Can't find any references to it on this forum, other forums seem to have little luck finding the issue, one did say a MB software update fixed it (in Germany!), one said a new sensor fixed it.
Anyone have experience with this gem of a problem? Thanks!
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 764
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From: North Carolina
2010 E350, 2015 S550
Mine did that once after sitting at the airport idling for about 40 min in really hot humid weather. it cleared after I started moving a few min. later. What a relief. My E also has the distronic, blind spot assist, etc. etc. It came up with the same message after driving through torrential rains. Again, it cleared itself after a few minutes in lighter rain.
Yours could be something as simple as a dirty sensor, or a loose connection to the radar unit. I am sure the dealer can pull the effor codes.
Hopefully it won't be a big issue.
Yours could be something as simple as a dirty sensor, or a loose connection to the radar unit. I am sure the dealer can pull the effor codes.
Hopefully it won't be a big issue.
Thread Starter
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2005 ml350
Alright, thanks so far. I'd rather not take it to the dealer when I have a good local, independent mechanic in Phoenix mechanic, but may have to do it at least once! I'll post if I get this fixed...
Thread Starter
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2005 ml350
Well, I haven't noticed a correlation, but I'll watch closer. What I DO notice is that it's reporting probably 80% of the times I drive, but when it does work sometimes. Blind spot detection is odd, tho - most of the time when it's working now, there's neither a yellow nor a red triangle in the mirrors when there's nobody in the blind spot, and it just turns red when there is.
Before this indicator started, I believe the triangles were always yellow when it was operational, then they turned red when someone was in the blind spot.
Can someone with this working tell me what is normal for them when it's operational and nobody is in the blind spot - clear or yellow?
Going into the independent mechanic tomorrow to see what error codes are present, I'll post.
Why do you ask whether it's during accelerating?
Before this indicator started, I believe the triangles were always yellow when it was operational, then they turned red when someone was in the blind spot.
Can someone with this working tell me what is normal for them when it's operational and nobody is in the blind spot - clear or yellow?
Going into the independent mechanic tomorrow to see what error codes are present, I'll post.
Why do you ask whether it's during accelerating?
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 764
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From: North Carolina
2010 E350, 2015 S550
The triangles are yellow when you are below 20 mph. This tells you that they are inoperative. Above 20 mph, the triangles are only red when a car is in your blindspot. If you signal a lane change when the triangle is red, they flash and signal an audible warning. Otherwise, the triangles are not lit up indicating that there is no threat.
If your distronic is not functioning, I believe that the blind spot assist is disabled but I am not certain on this.
This is well explained in the owners manual. If you don't have a manual, you can download one for free from MBUSA.
Also, neither the blind spot assist, distronic or cruise work below 20 mph.
If your distronic is not functioning, I believe that the blind spot assist is disabled but I am not certain on this.
This is well explained in the owners manual. If you don't have a manual, you can download one for free from MBUSA.
Also, neither the blind spot assist, distronic or cruise work below 20 mph.
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2005 ml350
Ahhhh, that makes sense now, thank you! I have read much of the owners manual, but did not see that part in there yet, on blind spot detection, appreciate you posting that. Independent mechanic hooked up his puter today and saw a slew of errors, he and I speculate its from when my battery died a couple of months ago. These systems apparently start shutting down subsystems when voltage is below 12v, and perhaps the error messages may have contributed, so he cleared them all, I'll drive it and see what happens, and I'm guessing I'll be back soon when it happens again. May have a wiring wear issue in the harness, as I saw on another forum, but I'll give an update here later
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Super Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 764
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From: North Carolina
2010 E350, 2015 S550
The battery dying may have been the key. There are tons of sophisticated electronic systems on these cars, none of which like sub-normal voltages. I had a battery near it's end of life once before it was obvious that it was having a hard time starting the car. Strange things started happening to the electrical systems. At first I thought I had an electrical gremlin. Turns out that the battery voltage would drop below a certain level after starting the car and that was causing the issues. Hopefully that's all you have had happen.
Last edited by mnje350; Oct 16, 2015 at 08:49 PM.
Thread Starter
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2005 ml350
Alright, back from the inde mechanic. He found a recurring code saying the speed sensor of one of the wheels was bad, replaced it for $150 and seems to have eliminated the code, after a day's driving anyway. No telling what may have caused it, this started happening 3-4 weeks after the battery died, but right around the same time as an awesome rain storm for phoenix (which is probably not much for all your areas! Thanks to you guys for the extra info!
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2006 E55 AMG - RIP Stolen, 2011 S550 Magno Alanite Grey
grille changed?
Have you by any chance plastidipped the front grille, or changed it to an aftermarket? I've changed my out to a matte black aftermarket grille, and I have the same issue.
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2005 ml350
Nope, haven't replaced the grill, but I do believe there are sensors in the black plate looking portion of the grill, so I would not be surprised that covering that portion would cause this same issue.
Mine is working perfectly, now that the speed sensor was replaced!
Mine is working perfectly, now that the speed sensor was replaced!
