Dinkyboy

Hi, I have a 2003 SL55 AMG. I am having a strange problem. The STAR whilst diagnosing the whole car is unable to communicate with the instrument cluster. The cluster is working fine. All gauges working normal. All fault lights like seat belt etc are all fine. No issues here. However STAR is not able to establish contact with the cluster. Due to this, there are number of faults coming up which are all related to the cluster.

What could be wrong here and what is the fix?

Thanks.

Plutoe

Post the quick test result---------post the screen shot of when you double clicked on the IC line----post a screen shot of the SDscan results----and I sure hope this is not a customer car, because you are way over your head!!

Rudeney

I have one of the cheapest-of-the-cheap Chinese multiplexers that does not work on the pre-MY2005 cars for some systems. It will talk to the ECU, TCU and a few other parts, but not the EIS, IC, SRS, etc. I bought an new RS-485 interface style mulitiplxer and it's just fine.

dinkyboy1

No. This is not a customer car. I own the car. I only send the car to authorised MB dealer's workshop. I guess they know how to work the star. They are also quite zapped.

mertd93

Were you able to solve that issue?

Rudeney

Like I said, some of those cheap Chinese multiplexers go out and the symptom is being unable to read some systems on pre-MY2005 cars. I would verify that your SDS setup is/not the culprit by trying it on another pre-MY2005 car.

mertd93

Rudeney

It's not the software or laptop that fails, but components inside the multiplexer. The multiplexer is actually two units in one. The circuitry on one side of the board handles the pre-MY2005 protoocols, the other handles the MY2005 protocols. These cheap Chinese electronics fail, and it's usually the pre-MY2005 side that dies first (bad capacitors are usually the blame). But if you used that same multiplexer on other pre-MY2005 cars, then it's working.

mertd93

Rudeney

It's possible the problem is the EIZ (EZS). It has to go through there to get to the ICM.

mertd93

Rudeney

Honestly, I don't know, but for SDS to get to the ICM, it has to go through EZS. It's just a guess!

mertd93

I think you might be correct on the EZS being the problem, just don't know if I want to spend the $ for a new one yet.

Tylerhayles

did this ever get solved have the same problem in my car, sds cant connect to control unit

MikeJ65

By control unit, are you referring to the ICM (instrument cluster) like the OP, or some other module?. Assuming it is the ICM, do you have numerous modules that are throwing codes that they can't communicate with the ICM? If so, it is almost certainly a CAN Bus issue so check your CAN hub under the driver's side carpet. This tends to get wet and corroded. If everything seems to be working, but you just can't communicate between SDS and the ICM, check pin 15 on the diagnostic port. The pins can get pushed back out of the socket and not connect. Pin 15 only serves the ICM and headlight range controls, so SDS will still work with every other module.

Tylerhayles

thanks alot this helped il double check and yeah it connects to every other module just not the ICM i just get the [i] in the result margin
also my cluster is causing a battery drain to so wondering if thats linked.
i think i do get the odd code sometimes ( cant communicate with A1 cluster)
okay il check the obd pin 15 and can hub, im in the uk so right hand drive, so is that still on right hand under carpet? Thanks alot very helpfull

MikeJ65

There is a CAN hub in each footwell, but I am pretty sure that the ICM goes to the one on the driver's side, whichever side that is.

Tylerhayles

Is there any more detailed info on this? Star cant access the icm, i checked both can hubs in footwell all seems fine also check the pink cable on obd diagnostic thats all connected, want to get this sorted
also think thats the reason my smartTOP roof control dont work because it has to go through cluster

in the picture can see every other module has a part number and is ok the icm has nothing

progonat

I have the same issue on a 2003 SL500. NO communication with the IC, every other module works just fine. It's not the scanner. I have tried both good working C3 and C4.

MikeJ65

On the early R230's, the ICM connects to DAS through pin 15 of the diagnostic port (X11/4). Pin 15 also communicates with the headlight range controls HRA-FL and HRA-FR. Since I don't see these, I think you have a problem with the port or the wire. DAS will give you a line with empty P/N and ! for mandatory modules, but optional modules will just not show up if it doesn't find them.

Check to make sure that pin 15 didn't get pushed into the socket and that there is continuity from pin 11 on the ICM to pin 15 on the diagnostic port. You could also have an issue with the diagnostic cable or relay box (not likely since you have tried 2). If you have continuity to the diagnostic port, check the cable to see which pin on the round connector goes to pin 15. Then check continuity from pin 11 on the ICM all the way to that pin.

Tylerhayles

i found under the carpet in passenger footwell (RHD)
there was a pink cables plugged into the canbus when I disconnected this i could connect to cluster! Very strange

Housniab

I have same problem but my obd scanner reads only ECM and TCM only and can't get to read other modules. The car has no codes and if I disconnect any of other modules I get error code . I tested the can bus from the splices the signal is good I checked the obd 2 connector it has power and ground 16,4 ,5 and 61 ohm in pin 6,14 car works good but the only problem is I can't read other modules the scanner did read other modules before . Any help would be appreciated thank you

Tylerhayles

thats crazy normally the situation is it dont read a module or 2 let alone all off them, something has to be down with obd port or a fuse or something
diagnostic socket is fuse 15 and 20

Housniab

All fuses are good and I just changed front fuse box and I changed the all can splicers no luck I unplugged each module to check if any of them is the problem , now I'm looking into the EIS because the the pin 14 and 6 and can B can C meet there . I took it off and it looks good checked the pins continuity they all good . I don't know what else I should do

Tylerhayles

im wondering if something is corroded , this has confused me