MBMidas

Hello all, hoping to get a little help here. I got a 2004 SL500 that was in a light front end collision, which I took on as a project for the significant other. One issue that I can not seem to get a clear answer to is this Tele aid message at start up. Is it really only a dealer service item? I have a foxwell NT510 that I used for all my cars, but apparently the model is not the one that works with this car...I can't even download Mercedes to it. So I have been doing a bunch of research around the OBD2 bi directional scanners, but I can't seem to find out if they will access this Tele aid S.O.S. I was leaning towards the Autel ms906bt. Anyone have any suggestions? I trying not to consider STAR yet because I have many other vehicles that I could use a unit like the Autel on.

Thanks for any help!

Tokyoite

please search the forum. the question of scanners, which ones work, which ones are recommended, why other models (such as yours) don't work with Mercedes cars etc. has been discussed and beaten to death.
e.g this one. https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...osis-tool.html
or this one. https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...of-faults.html

bobterry99

At least one member here is using a Foxwell NT510. The particular model may include a suffix, like Elite. At $135 there is no better value to be had. Still, I would prefer to spend $250 and have Star Diagnosis. I'd much rather look at a 14" PC screen than a small LCD, and Star Diagnosis has some unique capabilities which on occasion can be helpful.

MBMidas

Please understand I did search the forum for days as well as all over the internet. I try to do my Due diligence before reaching out...which is why I posted.

My nt510 is not the elite version and I am due for an upgrade anyways. I was trying to see if there is device out there that will touch this tele aid before going the star route. I also did reach out to the mercedes ninja fella for possible help to.

just anxious to get this thing buttoned up and back on the road!

bobterry99

In my reply I overlooked your mention of Tele Aid. As uber-member Rodney has explained in the past, Tele Aid is obsolete and no longer supported by M-B. A simple change in the coding for the instrument cluster can essentially eliminate it from the vehicle. That is one of the "unique" features of Star Diagnosis which I referred to.

MBMidas

Ok.... so that answers my question. I must use star for that. Thanks!

So does anywhere have a reputable suggestion for where to purchase? So many threads have me spinning and not sure where to get it.

bobterry99

This looks pretty good to me: MB C3 + HDD. I would purchase the multiplexer and cables along with a hard drive containing the Star Diagnosis software and other useful programs. That will run you $238. Then I'd buy a Dell D630 from eBay for about $50. You need no hard drive and 2 GB of RAM.

The hard drive should practically be plug-and-play with the Dell D630. If the Star Diagnosis software turns out to be less than satisfactory, you can download a free copy of Star Diagnosis from my One Drive account. This free copy is very slightly superior to all others in that it runs faster and has been found to have more features.

Gene Fiorot

Does anyone know why at the website store when I want to add the product to the kart it keeps saying "add the missing information?

MBMidas

I just ordered the one from aliexpress. I am gonna try the less expensive route. I appreciate all your help!

You have to select either with hardrive or without before adding it to your cart. There's like four pictures withe the different configurations to buy.

pmercury

iTrader: (2)

Just read the reviews on my Xentry install by Workshops and MBworld users and you will notice the difference between vintage, chinese and other stuff

sweseman

Total outsider here - I wanted to thank everyone who took time to post about the diagnostic systems. Indeed, there is so much passion in just this thread that you all have me thinking that if I decide to get something really fun, I should definitely check out the R230s. Trouble is I am a taller guy with a long torso and I dream of a car (other than a pickup truck) in which I don't have to slouch to see the traffic lights. In addition, as a teenager, I made a promise that by middle age I would make sure my sons were in the sports cars as I had seen too many sad middle agers trying but failing to look hip in a roadster etc. Anyway, I digress, I tracked bobterry99 from another forum/thread because he seemed to always respond substantively after a new person was chastised and directed to the search function. Very rewarding posts.... I will likely come crawling on my knees to a proper supplier after my Asian clone hardward falls apart; that is if I don't do more damage to my car than I expect and have to crawl on my knees to a dealer. Have pitty on my genglement, I purchased a low miles wagon and I am in heaven. <------ Note to moderators, this is not an invitation to criticize me for posting in the wrong forum - - - - I promise I am seriously considering a super fast R230 right now!

matk

The Foxwell 510 Elite works with our cars, more info here

https://mbworld.org/forums/mbworld.o...d.php?t=771691

sweseman

Thank you for taking time to reply and the Foxwell suggestion. I very much enjoyed and appreciated the time you spent setting out in detail your experience with the Foxwell.

Of course you must understand that I need programming capability. This is critical. I just imagine one of my sons jumping in one of the cars (we have an W211/E500 sedan and now the wagon) and calling out "Dad!!!!!!!, what did you do to the dashboard all it does is flash Warning everywhere. Mom said you would break it." Reply: Oh it drives fine I am just experimenting with different kinds of messages . . . I've got this. . . . ."

In seriousness, I will certainly order the Foxwell and share my experiences. I intend to start a thread on the W211 entitled "How Not To Do Things" and see if I can't draw in some comedians. Regards

MBMidas

Little update...I got the C3 in the mail and installed it into an dormant laptop that I had laying around with a bad hard drive, used a usb to serial connector but unfortunately was not able to get a connection. I am just going to wait for my dell to come in this week.

Anyhow, I have everything on this car buttoned up and took it for my first test drive. Very impressed with everything...runs and rides great! The only problems I now have to contend with is recharging the A/C and the windshield washer fluid not working. For the A/C, I vacuumed the system and then got some oil into it, but once I started adding the 134a...the A/C shut off and now the "AC Off" flashes three times and just stays off.

Then the windshield washer fluid gremlin...I had to replace the hood on this car, but I kept all the original lines and nozzles. These all worked before I replaced the hood. However, I am now not getting any power to the pump. I put power to the pump and it works, but it does not work when I push in on the stalk at the steering column. The headlight washers work though. Hoping this star diagnostics can help pin point this a bit I guess.

bobterry99

The AC-OFF button flashes to indicate that the system is low on refrigerant. The automatic control will not signal for the compressor to run in this state. I suggest waiting for the Dell and then using your Star Diagnosis to manually control the compressor, as I suppose this will override the low refrigerant condition and allow you to charge your system with the compressor running.

MBMidas

Thanks!

I got good news and bad news now.

I was able to connect to the car with the c3 last night, I got through almost all the error codes and was able to diagnose the washer pump to a simple fuse that apparently someone stuck in the wrong spot. However, I am 99% sure that it wasn't me and the pump was working before I replaced the hood.

The bad news, I just tried connecting agian to charge the A/C, but now I can't connect to the multiplexer for some reason. Getting an error that the voltage supply at diagnostic socket circuit 30 and or 31 is faulty. Is this thing a brick already?!

Not to mention that now my SRS light is on...which was never on.

bobterry99

There should be a green LED on one side of the multiplexer. It turns on when the multiplexer is receiving power from the diagnostic socket. If you haven't got it, then make sure the cable is properly connected to the car's OBD-II socket.

MBMidas

Yes, the multiplexer light is on. I disconnected and reconnected all the cables many many times with no luck(along with rebooting). I did send the seller a message...their question back was asking me if i activated the software. Seems like a odd question. I did mention to them that it was working the other day....so maybe that means it was activated. I don't know. All the searching online is resulting in various issues. I think I may end up purchasing the Autel 906BT now anyways as I got through the Tele issue. Now I just got to find the SRS fault and recharge the A/C. Hopefully!

bobterry99

I know exactly what error you have, and I think I've had it myself.

There are members of other forums who have expertise with the multiplexer hardware. I'll see what they suggest.

MBMidas

bobterry99

Possibly, somehow the serial port setting got changed? If you go to Device Manager and look at the ports you should see the serial port set to COM2.

pmercury

iTrader: (2)

send a email to China

MBMidas

Serial port is good. Waiting for China response.

bobterry99

The Chinese can assists with getting software to work, but they can do nothing about hardware issues. And this certainly looks like a hardware issue. Likely you'll have to return your multiplexer and cables for a refund or exchange.

If and only if you have a spare hard drive around with 80 GB or more capacity I suggest it might be worthwhile downloading the free Star Diagnosis software that I have available. But if you have a hardware issue, that effort would be in vain, of course.

A friend has been using his Star Diagnosis for four years with no issues. Prior to that he had gotten a multiplexer that worked just a few times, or maybe it never worked at all -- I don't recall. Last week he got the same error you see when trying to connect to a '99 SL, yet he found it worked with another car. Then a day or two later he returned to the '99 and it worked.

Meanwhile, waiting for more ideas from the other forum...

MBMidas

Good info....thanks!

Do you think in the mean time that the autel 906 will help? Not a whole lot of reviews with the sl500 that i can find. Little salty at $1200 for a guess as to if it will suit my needs.

I have to at least get through this srs code to get my enhanced inspection done.