ESP/ABS inoperative
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 35
Likes: 2
From: Houston, TX
2011 E550 Coupe, 2008 S550, 1997 S320, 1997 E320, 1985 300SDL, 1968 250S, 2003 Jaguar XJ8 VDP
ESP/ABS inoperative
I had a abs/esp inoperative warning and the dealership said both batteries needed replacing. I just had the abs module replaced 2k miles ago, and the warning went away when I drove long distances. The car is driven approximately once a month, so not frequently. I suspect that the issue was the batteries, as I e also had the wheel speed sensors replaced. Can anyone shed light on this? Thanks so much.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 18
Likes: 7
From: Sweden
2004 W220 S500 swb
I don’t know if it is still the same procedure like in the W220, but after a battery disconnect for whatever reason, it will give a couple of warnings in the cluster.
Once back on track with new fresh batteries, you would have to turn the steering wheel fully to the left and right, turn of ignition, start car again.
Now the messages would be gone. As I said before, depends on If it is the same with W220 and W 221.
Once back on track with new fresh batteries, you would have to turn the steering wheel fully to the left and right, turn of ignition, start car again.
Now the messages would be gone. As I said before, depends on If it is the same with W220 and W 221.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 857
Likes: 501
From: Washington, DC
2007 S600, 2007 Chrysler 300 SRT8, 2000 C5 Corvette, 2017 Mustang GT, 2023 300C, and a 2019 Lincoln
W221 is very voltage sensitive. If your batteries (in my case two batteries - a starter battery and a consumer battery - one in each end) are not putting out good voltage, you need to find out if you have a parasitic drain that is slowly killing your electrical system. It could also be insufficient output of your alternator. Any codes?
If it is just simple driver inactivity, you need to put on a battery tender. My Corvette can drain a battery in three weeks of sitting in the garage idle. And my S600 is smart enough to know when voltage is too low and it will shut electrical stuff down.
So if you have slowly killed your batteries, and then don't drive it much, it will shut down what it thinks are unnecessary systems.
If it is just simple driver inactivity, you need to put on a battery tender. My Corvette can drain a battery in three weeks of sitting in the garage idle. And my S600 is smart enough to know when voltage is too low and it will shut electrical stuff down.
So if you have slowly killed your batteries, and then don't drive it much, it will shut down what it thinks are unnecessary systems.
