S-Class (W221) 2007-2013: S 320 CDI, S 350, S 450, S 500, S 550, S 420 CDI, S 600

ABS/ESP Errors - How I Resolved Mine

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Old Jan 4, 2020 | 03:19 PM
  #1  
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From: Baha
W221 s550
ABS/ESP Errors - How I Resolved Mine

Abs esp see the manual pops up whenever i reached 20km/h. Tough steering no night vision .. Etc.

​​​​​​First mechanic used diagnostic and told that the whole module is gone.
2nd said the same and he reprogram the unit. But still.
3rd he said the same. He erased the error and he gently knocked the module with a small hammer multiple times.
The sign gone and my car is running fine for a month now.
​​​
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Old Jan 4, 2020 | 04:00 PM
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For those old enough to remember 1962 - Commander Colin Maud, The Longest Day “My old grandmother used to say anything mechanical, give it a good bash.”





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Old Jan 4, 2020 | 06:23 PM
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Oxidization of connectors, oil/grease migration, etc -- yes, it can sometimes be mitigated by either a good whack (vibration causing a wiping action) or remove and re-seat the connectors. I'm glad yours turned out well, and I hope it stays fixed permanently. None of that worked for mine.
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Old Jan 6, 2020 | 06:39 AM
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Which module?
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Old Jan 7, 2020 | 05:15 AM
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Problem due to internal electronic of the ESP module damage and I get it repaired by an electronic shop, they removed fron plastic cover to reveal circuit board, after done they reseal with silicone.

Seem this problem is known problem and will happen to all W221.
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Old Jan 7, 2020 | 09:15 AM
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Can it simply be swapped out with a used unit?
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Old Jan 7, 2020 | 09:40 AM
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From: Baha
W221 s550
Originally Posted by Zerocarpileup
Can it simply be swapped out with a used unit?
It is two parts (electronic/mechanical) but cant be sold separately. I cant give u an answer how easy it would be because i have never tried.

Watch some vids on youtube to get an idea.
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Old Jan 7, 2020 | 09:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Zerocarpileup
Can it simply be swapped out with a used unit?
Nope. An ABS/ESP control unit from a donor car cannot be made to work. Dealer can't do it, indy shops can't do it, and after a few months of searching I never found a shop that could clear the programming or re-program a used one. I found a couple of places that said they could, but one or two followup questions convinced me they had no idea what they were talking about and wouldn't guarantee anything.
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Old Jan 7, 2020 | 10:59 PM
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So what’s the resolve here guys? Surely this isn’t the Achilles heel of the w221 is it?
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Old Jan 7, 2020 | 11:48 PM
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No... you just go to the dealer and pay them for a new one, and installation. Cost me $1600 out the door; if I'd been in TX I know it would have been cheaper. M-B of Laredo had the part a few hundred bucks cheaper, but I wasn't confident my local dealer wouldn't try to screw me if I bought from someone else.
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Old Jan 7, 2020 | 11:53 PM
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Thanks for the information. Did you have the same messages I had (posted in another thread)?

Active headlamps inoperative
parking brake see oper
abs abc inoperative see oper?

Last edited by Zerocarpileup; Jan 7, 2020 at 11:57 PM.
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Old Jan 8, 2020 | 12:16 AM
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I had ESP disabled, Parking Assist disabled, heavy steering at low speeds, Night View didn't work, no cruise control. DAS showed communication failures with module N47/5. This is sometimes caused by bad wheel speed sensors or just too much brake dust and crap in the hubs, but if it's the control module... try re-seating the connector. If that doesn't work then it's time for the Universal Repair Tool. You know... the little rectangular gadget in your wallet that makes people give you things.
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Old Jan 8, 2020 | 07:15 AM
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Originally Posted by Zerocarpileup
Thanks for the information. Did you have the same messages I had (posted in another thread)?

Active headlamps inoperative
parking brake see oper
abs abc inoperative see oper?
Check this ad well (brake)

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Old Jan 8, 2020 | 10:13 AM
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I have the same issue and have hunted in vain to find someone to rebuild my module. No luck so far. Best price I found so far on the part is here https://parts.keyesmercedes.com/oem-...ule-2219010700 $969. My understanding is you still need the dealer, or someone with STAR to initialize it. When spring comes, I'll be doing this.

But yes, same symptoms where seemingly nothing worked!
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Old Apr 4, 2021 | 12:34 PM
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Update:

Esp light popped again two months ago. I had to reset steering angle sensor SAS by entering the vehicle into dyno mode, esp off the turn lock to lock.

It solved it for a while then popped again but no luck by lock to lock method.
I found out my car tyres were torn from inner part.
replaced both of them, then did electronic alignment and the steering wheel back to normal by itself.
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Old Apr 4, 2021 | 01:18 PM
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the fault this post describes is the exact fault you get on any brand of car if it has ESP...

first they tried the special corrode to time gunge on one of the link wires from the multiplug to the circuit board..... that lasted a bit too long and by the time they realised this they had already moved on to the far more reliable dies at 7 years trick that's so prevalent on a BMW... they just invented sticky brushes on the ESP pump motor...

that's why whacking the pump motor worked for a few months.... make the brush guides to tight at the factory and after a few years of carbon dust they start too stick... the big fix is to replace the brush pack with a better quality ford part.
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