SL/R230: The dreaded ESP-ABS light
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 101
Likes: 8
From: Australia
2003 SL500
The dreaded ESP-ABS light
Just after telling the "world" I love this car - this morning driving in it threw an ABS- ESP light with the malfunction message saying to take it workshop.
I cannot find a definitive fix or DIY on this fault. There is no dead pedal or non responsive brake system and the steering wheel is still in the straight up position
It could very well be an Aux battery on the way out as it is 12 months old which I will swap out tonight and see if it fixes it
then I find a thread around the brake light switch being faulty which sends a fault code through the SAM what ever that is.
Has there been a common thread/fault that the board users are aware of. Any advice will be appreciated
My car is an 03 with the 5.0L
Peter
I cannot find a definitive fix or DIY on this fault. There is no dead pedal or non responsive brake system and the steering wheel is still in the straight up position
It could very well be an Aux battery on the way out as it is 12 months old which I will swap out tonight and see if it fixes it
then I find a thread around the brake light switch being faulty which sends a fault code through the SAM what ever that is.
Has there been a common thread/fault that the board users are aware of. Any advice will be appreciated
My car is an 03 with the 5.0L
Peter
Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 103
Likes: 7
From: South Australia
2004 (MY05) SL55
Just after telling the "world" I love this car - this morning driving in it threw an ABS- ESP light with the malfunction message saying to take it workshop.
I cannot find a definitive fix or DIY on this fault. There is no dead pedal or non responsive brake system and the steering wheel is still in the straight up position
It could very well be an Aux battery on the way out as it is 12 months old which I will swap out tonight and see if it fixes it
then I find a thread around the brake light switch being faulty which sends a fault code through the SAM what ever that is.
Has there been a common thread/fault that the board users are aware of. Any advice will be appreciated
My car is an 03 with the 5.0L
Peter
I cannot find a definitive fix or DIY on this fault. There is no dead pedal or non responsive brake system and the steering wheel is still in the straight up position
It could very well be an Aux battery on the way out as it is 12 months old which I will swap out tonight and see if it fixes it
then I find a thread around the brake light switch being faulty which sends a fault code through the SAM what ever that is.
Has there been a common thread/fault that the board users are aware of. Any advice will be appreciated
My car is an 03 with the 5.0L
Peter
Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 233
Likes: 101
From: San Francisco
Current: '07 SL550 & '14 GLK350. Previously owned: '06 ML350, '05 SL500, '99 ML320 & '98 SLK230 (RI
Just after telling the "world" I love this car - this morning driving in it threw an ABS- ESP light with the malfunction message saying to take it workshop.
I cannot find a definitive fix or DIY on this fault. There is no dead pedal or non responsive brake system and the steering wheel is still in the straight up position
It could very well be an Aux battery on the way out as it is 12 months old which I will swap out tonight and see if it fixes it
then I find a thread around the brake light switch being faulty which sends a fault code through the SAM what ever that is.
Has there been a common thread/fault that the board users are aware of. Any advice will be appreciated
My car is an 03 with the 5.0L
Peter
I cannot find a definitive fix or DIY on this fault. There is no dead pedal or non responsive brake system and the steering wheel is still in the straight up position
It could very well be an Aux battery on the way out as it is 12 months old which I will swap out tonight and see if it fixes it
then I find a thread around the brake light switch being faulty which sends a fault code through the SAM what ever that is.
Has there been a common thread/fault that the board users are aware of. Any advice will be appreciated
My car is an 03 with the 5.0L
Peter
Have someone check your SBC. It's probably the beginning of the SBC going out. Luckily, it's covered for 25 years from the date of manufacture.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 37
Likes: 2
SL500 '03
This works for me several times, sometimes as you mentioned battery has to be disconnected and reconnected and turning to steering wheel lock to lock to fix the problem.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 101
Likes: 8
From: Australia
2003 SL500
That's exactly how my car behaved the first time it did it. The next time, I got the same errors, but this time, I had no brake, well, almost nothing. I had to press the pedal all they way to the floor just so it can slowly stop. Shut the car down, waited a couple of minutes restarted it and it worked like nothing happened. Then 2 months later it did it again. Took it in to the shop and it was the SBC, which Mercedes replaced for free.
Have someone check your SBC. It's probably the beginning of the SBC going out. Luckily, it's covered for 25 years from the date of manufacture.
Have someone check your SBC. It's probably the beginning of the SBC going out. Luckily, it's covered for 25 years from the date of manufacture.
how does that work
peter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 436
Likes: 79
Former R230, W220 and W221 owner
I had the same thing happen about 2 months ago- ESP/ABS lights- restarted car- all good
a week later- SBC error and brakes went out with loud beeping noise- turned car on/off and it went away. Took to the dealer and they replaced SBC for free- SBC is covered under a 25 year unlimited mile warranty
https://diag.net/msg/m3y7g7vpgqbuxu7wn5okyk5szu
a week later- SBC error and brakes went out with loud beeping noise- turned car on/off and it went away. Took to the dealer and they replaced SBC for free- SBC is covered under a 25 year unlimited mile warranty
https://diag.net/msg/m3y7g7vpgqbuxu7wn5okyk5szu
I had the same thing happen about 2 months ago- ESP/ABS lights- restarted car- all good
a week later- SBC error and brakes went out with loud beeping noise- turned car on/off and it went away. Took to the dealer and they replaced SBC for free- SBC is covered under a 25 year unlimited mile warranty
https://diag.net/msg/m3y7g7vpgqbuxu7wn5okyk5szu
a week later- SBC error and brakes went out with loud beeping noise- turned car on/off and it went away. Took to the dealer and they replaced SBC for free- SBC is covered under a 25 year unlimited mile warranty
https://diag.net/msg/m3y7g7vpgqbuxu7wn5okyk5szu
looks like covered in the USA only
probably risk of being sued
Trending Topics
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 992
Likes: 245
From: Tucson, AZ
'20 X5 M50i; '17 Ram 3500; Golf Cart; Bikes; Scooters
ESP-ABS error can be many things.
It is usually the normalization warning for the steering sensor. I may also be a bad ABS sensor or connection. A trip to Autozone to pull codes will probably show the source. If you don't have an SDS, do this first.
Here's a good article and the potential source: http://www.mercedesmedic.com/esp-light-reset/
With brake errors you could be experiencing is the pump motor that runs the SBC is working intermittently. If the pump runs the next time you start the car, it appears 'fixed'.
If it stops, or the car runs low on voltage (bad alternator or battery), it will usually throw a red warning "STOP - do not drive - SBC - Visit workshop".
This is because the SBC pump MUST run to provide the brake by wire pressure to the system. If it does not, the pedal goes to the floor and you have very weak braking. This is the pump you hear when you put your key in position 2 just before start. All SBC parts (pump, reservoir, controls) are covered by the 25 year warranty in the USA. I had a bad reservoir and the dealer replaced ONLY the reservoir, not the whole assembly.
Let us know what your issue was when you get it cleared.
It is usually the normalization warning for the steering sensor. I may also be a bad ABS sensor or connection. A trip to Autozone to pull codes will probably show the source. If you don't have an SDS, do this first.
Here's a good article and the potential source: http://www.mercedesmedic.com/esp-light-reset/
With brake errors you could be experiencing is the pump motor that runs the SBC is working intermittently. If the pump runs the next time you start the car, it appears 'fixed'.
If it stops, or the car runs low on voltage (bad alternator or battery), it will usually throw a red warning "STOP - do not drive - SBC - Visit workshop".
This is because the SBC pump MUST run to provide the brake by wire pressure to the system. If it does not, the pedal goes to the floor and you have very weak braking. This is the pump you hear when you put your key in position 2 just before start. All SBC parts (pump, reservoir, controls) are covered by the 25 year warranty in the USA. I had a bad reservoir and the dealer replaced ONLY the reservoir, not the whole assembly.
Let us know what your issue was when you get it cleared.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 436
Likes: 79
Former R230, W220 and W221 owner
ESP-ABS error can be many things.
It is usually the normalization warning for the steering sensor. I may also be a bad ABS sensor or connection. A trip to Autozone to pull codes will probably show the source. If you don't have an SDS, do this first.
Here's a good article and the potential source: http://www.mercedesmedic.com/esp-light-reset/
With brake errors you could be experiencing is the pump motor that runs the SBC is working intermittently. If the pump runs the next time you start the car, it appears 'fixed'.
If it stops, or the car runs low on voltage (bad alternator or battery), it will usually throw a red warning "STOP - do not drive - SBC - Visit workshop".
This is because the SBC pump MUST run to provide the brake by wire pressure to the system. If it does not, the pedal goes to the floor and you have very weak braking. This is the pump you hear when you put your key in position 2 just before start. All SBC parts (pump, reservoir, controls) are covered by the 25 year warranty in the USA. I had a bad reservoir and the dealer replaced ONLY the reservoir, not the whole assembly.
Let us know what your issue was when you get it cleared.
It is usually the normalization warning for the steering sensor. I may also be a bad ABS sensor or connection. A trip to Autozone to pull codes will probably show the source. If you don't have an SDS, do this first.
Here's a good article and the potential source: http://www.mercedesmedic.com/esp-light-reset/
With brake errors you could be experiencing is the pump motor that runs the SBC is working intermittently. If the pump runs the next time you start the car, it appears 'fixed'.
If it stops, or the car runs low on voltage (bad alternator or battery), it will usually throw a red warning "STOP - do not drive - SBC - Visit workshop".
This is because the SBC pump MUST run to provide the brake by wire pressure to the system. If it does not, the pedal goes to the floor and you have very weak braking. This is the pump you hear when you put your key in position 2 just before start. All SBC parts (pump, reservoir, controls) are covered by the 25 year warranty in the USA. I had a bad reservoir and the dealer replaced ONLY the reservoir, not the whole assembly.
Let us know what your issue was when you get it cleared.
but they went ahead and replaced SBC anyway- they had 2 codes stored that pointed to bad SBC
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 168
From: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
SL 350 R230 (3.7L with AMG Speedshift autobox)
Hi All
This older thread has been helpful in regards to me new issue I have on my Mercedes SL350 with 180K miles, I have the ESP and ABS light come on my dash and my steering feels heavier.
I thought it may have been down to a low voltage rear battery as I had not used the car for a while and I got the 'convenience functions not available' message, as the battery charged when I drove after 15mins, I turned car off back on and the ABS ESP lights were gone and my steering felt normal again, however when I started car fews hours later the ESP ABS lights were back with heavy steering.
I will plugin my diagnostic and see what I can see today.
I have turned steering wheel all to left and right thinking it could be steering angle sensor, but no joy.
I will check the brake switch as they can cause an error through the system.
I will check each ABS sensor in case one is bad.
Will update soon, let me know if there is anything else I can check.
This older thread has been helpful in regards to me new issue I have on my Mercedes SL350 with 180K miles, I have the ESP and ABS light come on my dash and my steering feels heavier.
I thought it may have been down to a low voltage rear battery as I had not used the car for a while and I got the 'convenience functions not available' message, as the battery charged when I drove after 15mins, I turned car off back on and the ABS ESP lights were gone and my steering felt normal again, however when I started car fews hours later the ESP ABS lights were back with heavy steering.
I will plugin my diagnostic and see what I can see today.
I have turned steering wheel all to left and right thinking it could be steering angle sensor, but no joy.
I will check the brake switch as they can cause an error through the system.
I will check each ABS sensor in case one is bad.
Will update soon, let me know if there is anything else I can check.
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,847
Likes: 3,497
From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Certainly sounds like a bum battery, though the steering is mechanical, isn't it? Hook up your scan tool and do a SAS calibration.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 168
From: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
SL 350 R230 (3.7L with AMG Speedshift autobox)
So latest update:
Plugged in my Maxicom and also iCartsoft and both show rear right ABS Speed sensor fault.
Took car for a drive and checked the live data, there is no speed showing on the sensor.
Went to remove it, and its corroded in, so now drilling out.
I have ordered new ABS sensor .
All Fixed now, heres how I resolved:
Plugged in my Maxicom and also iCartsoft and both show rear right ABS Speed sensor fault.
Took car for a drive and checked the live data, there is no speed showing on the sensor.
Went to remove it, and its corroded in, so now drilling out.
I have ordered new ABS sensor .
All Fixed now, heres how I resolved:
Last edited by A1EK; Mar 9, 2024 at 05:36 AM.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 5
Likes: 3
From: Aberaeron, West Wales
ML350 (W164), SL500 (R230), 911 (996), Mini JCW GP3 (F56),MGB Roadster (1969)
So latest update:
Plugged in my Maxicom and also iCartsoft and both show rear right ABS Speed sensor fault.
Took car for a drive and checked the live data, there is no speed showing on the sensor.
Went to remove it, and its corroded in, so now drilling out.
I have ordered new ABS sensor .
All Fixed now, heres how I resolved:
https://youtu.be/7rreGeIfSVs
Plugged in my Maxicom and also iCartsoft and both show rear right ABS Speed sensor fault.
Took car for a drive and checked the live data, there is no speed showing on the sensor.
Went to remove it, and its corroded in, so now drilling out.
I have ordered new ABS sensor .
All Fixed now, heres how I resolved:
https://youtu.be/7rreGeIfSVs
Could you confirm which Maxicom you use and if you find it better or not than the iCarsoft (which is what I use)
Also I've exactly the same issue, what part number did you order for the sensor ?? Was it A2305402017
Many thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 168
From: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
SL 350 R230 (3.7L with AMG Speedshift autobox)
HI There
I love my iCarsoft and its been a live saver, I still use it in place of my Maxicom sometimes, but the Maxicom is bi-directional and you can programme keys etc, it also does have a deeper set of tools, but depends on the car.
As for the version its a Maxicom Autel MK808, I didn't bother with the bluetooth adaptor, just went with cable as it saved £50
https://amzn.to/3QmYJmz
I love my iCarsoft and its been a live saver, I still use it in place of my Maxicom sometimes, but the Maxicom is bi-directional and you can programme keys etc, it also does have a deeper set of tools, but depends on the car.
As for the version its a Maxicom Autel MK808, I didn't bother with the bluetooth adaptor, just went with cable as it saved £50
https://amzn.to/3QmYJmz
